Leaving DD at the child minders for the first time

[LiviAnne]

Hi,
I am looking for some advice from all you experienced childminders and Mums.

My 15m daughter is going to be starting with a childminder, three days a week, in September. Up until now she has only been left with Grandparents and is quite a clingy child.

I am going to be taking DD to the childminder today and one day next week to try to settle her in. She will then start with one whole day the first week in Sept, then two days the second week etc.

I am pretty nervous about the whole thing, and I was wondering if anybody had some advice of how best to spend the two days I have in August to settle her in. Should I stay and play with her? Leave her for ten minutes? Leave her the whole day?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
LiviAnne

When I did this, I took DS's favourite toy, a pashmina that I used to wear quite a lot, and his bottles etc. He was 18 months and on the first day, I stayed with him for an hour or so until he was happily playing and then left him for an hour. The second day, I stayed for half and hour and then left him for the rest of the morning.

The childminder had my mobile number and knew I was only at the sports centre down the road so I could come back immediately if he got upset.

He cried when I left each day (which made me feel guilty) but she texted me each day when he stopped crying and it was only a couple of minutes.

We've had two childminders so far. The first, it became obvious quite quickly he wasn't happy - he didn't want to get out of the car. The current one, he climbs out of the car, runs up the drive and slaps on the door to be let in.

Go with your instincts, you'll be able to tell if your LO is happy.

Thanks so much for the advice.

The CM ended up taking control and telling me to leave and call her in an hour. I did that, and apparently she is completely fine. CM said that my LO won't stop smiling!! I think the only issue might be that she doesn't want to come home. What a relief!

Glad you posted this. I've got the same to come in a fortnight's time. Dreading it. DD (1) very clingy too!