Separation Anxiety reassurance please for 17mo DD

[RGPargy]

DD hasn't been left with anyone other than very close family and now that i've joined a gym (i desperately need to exercise) and started going 3 times a week i'm having to put her into the creche. She's not very keen on me leaving her there by any means and it breaks my heart every time i leave her there bawling her eyes out. Today she wasn't so bad - she cried at first when i left but i was hovering outside and heard her stop crying because they let her explore the older kids' areas (they 0-2s are in a separate room, which isn't great TBH but not horrible either, IYSWIM. One of the carers last week let her wonder around the older kids' areas with him and this worked a treat.) She was fine all the time i wasn't there today and then when i went to collect her, they said to her "Ellie your mummy's here!" and then she burst into tears again!! She was ok when we left the creche and we then went on to go swimming etc (bit of fun for mummy, bit of fun for Ellie type balance).

I'm finding it hard but i dont want to give up the gym (am i being selfish?) and i dont want her to think that a bit of fuss will let her get her own way either. I also dont want to "damage" her mentally, although i reckon that i'm just being dramatic by thinking that (i hope so anyway!).

Sorry for the ramble but wanted to ask people who might know!!

I have had this with my 24 month old at every nursery drop off and she has been there since 9 months. We have phases of okness followed by a few weeks of crying. I wait outside and hear her stop crying the second the door is closed and when I go pick her up she is having a ball! When she was very small she used to cry when I collected her, I think they just get so overwhelmed to see you it comes out as tears.

I think you are doing the right thing taking steps into leaving her with a crèche for a while. It will pave the way for when you decide to take her to a play group. Being left for the first time at 3 for instance could be a hell of a shock'

You need time off too. I am sure they would come get you if she got really unsettled.

Thank you BBF. I suppose in my heart i know i am doing the right thing, but sometimes it seems easier to just not take her there if she gets upset, if you see what i mean!

They do come and find you if they dont settle after 10-15 minutes, so that's one consolation and i'm only in there for an hour and a half maximum, which isn't that long really in the scheme of things.

I like to treat her afterwards to something nice, i.e. a hot cross bun or as i said in my previous post, going swimming.

My DD created merry hell this morning at nursery and she has been there for over a year - I left in tears and she was fine after a few mins!!!! Ahhhhhhh

It's funny - i remember the same thing with my DS (he's nearly 19 years old!!) but now that it's happening again, it doesn't make me feel any less heart broken!!