DS not settling Help please

[CazzaB]

HI guys,

My 11 month old is not settling at nursery and it is breaking my heart! I am due back to work full time in 3 weeks and we have had a couple of settling in sessions. Both times I have left him for an hour and both times he has sobbed pretty much for the whole hour . I have to go back to work and am just hoping and praying that he will get used to be apart from me. Has anyone got any tips or similar stories with happier endings?

So sorry for you, it's horrible isn't it?! My ds (9 months) has been in nursery for 2 weeks - he screamed through his first settling in session and was a bit miserable for the next one. The first proper day he burst into tears as soon as he saw me and I thought I was never going to be able to leave him again, but somehow managed the next day (dh dropped him off!) and he was much much better, the nursery staff said he had been happy and smiley. I think he is enjoying it now. As you still have three weeks, maybe you can break him in gently by leaving him a little bit longer each time? I think he needs to form an attachment with the nursery staff and also learn that you are coming back to get him. I'm sure it will get better.

Thanks so much for your reassuring words. I just feel like I am abandoning him after being with him pretty much 24/7 over the last year. It has been hard to leave him before as I don't have family local so he is always with either me or my dh.

I work at a nursery and we have children there from newborn to 5 years.

Often when we have new children who are young they take an adjustment period. This is not abnormal and should pass. Give it a little while for him to get to know the surrounding and the staff and before you know it he will be fine.
xx

My dd (10mths) has been at nursery since she was 7mths. The first few weeks were a little tough, but she loves it now and practically leaps out of my arms when she gets there, so she can play with all the lovely toys. so be brave and stick with it.