Desperately upset at nursery drop off?

[minibmw2010]

My DS is almost 3. He goes to nursery 3 day a week from about 8.30 - 5. Up to last month it was 8.30 - 3.30 but Nursery changed the hours and costs so now he stays for his dinner. He does love it there, I've seen him playing when he thinks I'm not there, but since the longer day has started he's desperately upset at drop off time. He clings to me and screams 'my Mummy, my Mummy'. He's never done this before. He's always walked into the room without any problems before. He's been at this nursery about 1.5 years now.

I've tried to make sure he's not over-tired or anything like that. At home he's also started giving me lots more cuddles as a way of delaying tactics, if I'm trying to change his nappy or dress him for instance.

The ladies in nursery are trying to help and give him cuddles and try and distract him, but any ideas how I can make this easier on him (and me, I hate seeing him so upset)?

I drop off DS by walking in, taking off his coat and then sitting him down at the breakfast table. No breakfast before we leave in the morning so he's suitably hungry and therefore distracted. DS is younger though.

Hopfully this is a short phase.

I agree with the distraction of breakfast! Also, our nursery always told us not to hang around where they can see you for too long. I used to listen through the closed door, more often than not they stop crying once you're out of sight.

But my DSes both just grew out of it in time.

Can you not just go back to the earlier pick up? It seems daft if you have changed, and it's upsetting him because the nursery changed their conditions, rather than because it is what you needed.

We have to pay £5 extra a day as they no longer offer the shorter hour day so my thinking was if I had to pay it anyway he may as we'll stay for his dinner and some extra play or learning time. Plus i work from home as a legal sec so I had more work time. I think I'll go back to what I was doing which is a kiss and a hug and then pass him to the nursery lady if upset and listen outside the door. Thanks

Is his favourite staff member leaving earlier?

No, I don't think so. Both the ladies in his room do a full day too. I think it's about delaying or putting things off (he's doing similar after bath time too) so maybe he then realises once we are in nursery that he was unsuccessful at putting it off and so gets upset? He used to be so happy going in, hopefully we'll get back to that soon.

I think he is probably feeling anxious about the longer day and possibly has the feeling that you might not come back for him.
his nursery day has got longer and is no longer making sense for him. he is used yo going home at 3.30 so he got used to the cues that signalled to him.that is is nearly home time.
now those timings are different and he has to get used to the new cues.
I think he is in a period of transition and would suggest that you don't leave him till nursery closes but pick him up at the old pick up time for a couple of weeks and gradually extend his nursery day when he has adjusted

It sounds like an awfully long day for him.

It is a long day, yes, but he does sleep an hour in the middle.

Thanks for the messages anyway, I guess it's another phase we need to work through. Cheers