Nursery drop offs and picks ups

[TheScatterGunApproach]

DD went to a childminder until she turned one, and was completely unfazed by being separated from us!

She started at nursery when she turned one and on her daily progress sheet they always say that she has settled in well.

However she is suddenly very clingy when dropped off and picked up, and is being much more clingy overall!

DH thinks maybe the hustle and bustle of nursery is too much for her and we should go back to a childminder.

I think we should persevere with the nursery.

Could it be the nursery unsettling her? Or is it the stage she is at?

Can you tell she's our first

How long has she been going? I find DS (3) still sometimes has patches where he gets upset in the morning but mostly he loves it.

she just started a couple of weeks ago

I suspect it'll just be the change and it being new. My dcs were fine with preschool and then when school started they all went through a phase of being clingy. I would persevere but bear in mind that it will pass. The more concerned you are, the more concerned your dd will be so be upbeat, cheerful, matter of fact, firm but loving and she'll get through it. Good luck.

Even if she finds the leaving part difficult, it does not mean it is the wrong place for her.

See how she goes, please try not to let her pick up on your ambivalence, as FrankMustard says, and check with the staff how long it takes her to settle once she's in the nursery. In most cases, kids are happy after a few minutes.

Good luck. I know it feels horrible !

If she is under 2 then a childminder might be better. I switched to a CM when dd was 3 and wish we had done it sooner. There have never been the scenes at drop off or pick up with CM that we used to have at nursery - it really brought home how challenging it must have been for her.At 3.7 she is fine with preschool - some kids grow into that kind of setting quicker than others.