6 month DD seperation anxiety during settling in day at Nursery

[chilemia]

Help!

I go back to work next week and my DD had her first settling in session at Nursery today on her own, I dropped her at the nursery and then 30 minutes later had a phonecall saying that she was very upset and could I go and calm her, the minute she saw me she stopped the tantrums and smiled.

I'm now taking her every day this week with the aim of weaning her off me (ie I'm going to sit in the staff room when she seems happy) I'm really worried that she's still going to be like it next week when I go back to work. Any ideas or reassurance would be great- I've left her lots of times with both sets of grandparents and although she's had the odd tantrum it's never lasted for longer than 10 minutes and they've always managed to calm her down.

How long have you been settling her in at Nursery?

Are there any songs that your DD knows?

What about a favourite toy?

The nursery I use often tell the parents to call back in 30 minutes if they had left when the baby was unsettled, to assure the parent that the child was ok.

Obviously your baby knows her grandparents - however it will take time for her to get to know the Nursery staff, surroundings and new routines.

At 9 months my baby is very settled at nursery.

I would say it took a month for both of us to get used to it - but this is on a part-time basis.

Sometimes my baby cries a little when I drop him off or pick him up.

I am sure the nursery staff will learn how to settle your baby.

It is very tough.

Hopefully someone will come on with more knowledge about separation anxiety.

My DD is 7 months and has developed a touch of separation anxiety too. What hasn't helped is that we went on holiday for 2 weeks with her sleeping in the same room as us, then she had to go back in her own bedroom when we returned :(

She has been very clingy this week and waking up lots in the night crying, but stops immediately as I go in and smiles. We are trying to play lots of peekaboo type games involving us leaving the room/hiding, then coming back, so she knows we aren't gone for good. Other than that, I don't know, we're in the same boat, suggestions welcome!

Peachmuffin we went a couple of times last week but I stayed with her I did take a toy but she doesn't seem super attached to any toy at the moment, I'm off again today so will keep you posted!

Great news we went yesterday and one of the nursery nurses suggested that I put her down with her back to the door and let her play for 5 mins before sneaking out- that worked with no tears! Back again today and tommorrow and will try that again.

Great.

The No-Cry Separation Anxiety Solution by Elizabeth Pantley has some good ideas in it.