Pillows??

[HPLmummy]

My 13 month old sleeps with a pillow at home, he starts nursery tomorrow (I am currently having an absolute melt down - nervous as hell about it) should I send him with his pillow or will I be judged as I know it isn't completely agreed with? I am not sure he won't settle without it, he's slept with a pillow for a couple of months now so suddenly going without will be strange for him. Also, he sleeps with white noise playing, I play this through my iPad, will they expect me to take my iPad or will they have something there for them?
I'm so nervous. My precious boy just want to know he is in good hands and will be okay!!!😥

You'll probably find that he happily falls asleep in the middle of the floor with 15 other kids stampeding around him. I'm convinced nurseries employ magic sleeping fairies whose existence is hidden from us mere parents for the sole purpose of making us drive ourselves mad wondering why we can't get our kids to sleep that easily (or eat mashed potato or share toys or tidy up - they have lots of fairies)

I might be sleep deprived as my child will only sleep at nursery

Send him with a pillow, no one will judge. I work in a baby room and this would be encouraged if it meant them settling easier :)

Are you allowed to send things in during Covid? Our nursery used to allow comforters and soft toys etc but since returning they aren’t allowed.
Don’t overthink it, you wouldn’t believe all the “never do this and that/ never eat this and that” at home stuff, suddenly disappears once surrounded by their peers. Also a good excuse/ time to break habits

Personally I'd just send him and see how he gets on. DS had a very intricately arranged sleep routine at home complete with white noise, story, black out blinds, etc etc... from the very first day at nursery he slept for 2 hours at a time on a mat on the floor. Sometimes even fell asleep on the beanbags in the main room with a dozen other toddlers milling around. God only knows how, but they all find their own way at nursery 🤷🏼‍♀️ They definitely won't let you leave the iPad I wouldn't have thought

LuluJo1020 your post made me laugh out loud! So true! I agree to send him with the pillow. My boys still take their blankets....actually my youngest insisted on taking blanket and 5 teddies this morning....managed to divert his attention for long enough to keep 'drama llama' and 'jingle the giraffe' in the car, but he clung onto blue bunny, crazy mouse and hospital Ted for a while.

At least today wasn't a 'goggles' day...he often goes to nursery in a bright pair of yellow goggles....worn upside down....such a trend setter!

I can confirm nurseries are magic. My son used to be impossible to settle, took forever and you'd basically have to hold him still until he gave in. They said he was no bother, fell asleep quickly?! I honestly don't know how they did it, but I'm sure he'll be fine.

@LuluJo1020 @Thefaceofboe @OnlyFoolsnMothers @rottiemum88 @Sometimes123 @whatswithtodaytoday thank you all for your supportive comments!!❤️
Today went ok, well, I don't know, my son absolutely balled his eyes out when dropped him off, it didn't help that it wasn't his keyworker who greeted us at the door and then took him away. What's the point in assigning a keyworker and having them with them for his settling in days if she doesn't work on my son's first day? (I asked where she was and the manager said she doesn't work Mondays 🤷🏼‍♀️) but hey ho. It just breaks my heart the way we have to do the hand over at the door, I barely get to say goodbye, in fact I didn't get a chance it was literally a snatch and go 😂 my mum came with us this morning as she will be doing to pick up due to me being at work and I wanted to introduce her, even she said she could see the woman running down the hall with my son! Don't get me wrong, I know these people know what they are doing and I fully trust my son is in good hands, it's just a massive struggle and shock to the system to hand my precious boy over to a complete stranger and see him so distressed.
Is this the current set up for you guys and dropping your little ones off? Please - does it get easier??? Been so upset all day worrying about him. My mum picked him up at 2 (full day is til 6 but just couldn't bare him being there that long) and they told my mum he had been really good, ate a massive lunch, napped for 45 mins and had fun. Of course this is massively reassuring. Just praying tomorrow's drop off goes a little smoother.
Does anyone have any tips for the drop off? Especially with the current Covid measures of having to hand over so quickly at the door? Thanks for all your messages I really appreciate it. Xx

If he slept and ate that's good.

I work in a nursery, honestly the quick handover is actually better, like pulling off a plaster. You have to leave anyway so no use hanging around.

Do they have an online system they can upload photos on so you can see he's playing happily.

I'm sure they'll be giving lots of cuddles to settle him.

My advice is please don’t show a sad or negative emotion around your son, if you project nursery as fun place to be with his friends he will think like that. Now my LO is 3 we talk about what we thinks she will do at nursery enroute in the car, she gives me a rundown when I pick her up- I love it. She loves seeing her friends and playing- there’s only so much we can do at home, especially when I and her dad are working, with covid, with bad weather. Nursery days are full of activities- it gets so much easier as their communication develops.

@wheresmyhairytoe yes they have an online portal thing but they didn't upload anything to it today which was disappointing 😥 can't tell you how many times I refreshed it today 😂😂😂

I remember how difficult the early days were when I dropped my boys off. It does get better I promise x nursery will give your precious child some amazing social skills and levels of confidence. Covid-19 is making everything so much harder, but try be happy when you drop them off (even though you'll be worried/ anxious) . Young children are so astute and they know when you're tense or upset. If mummy is relaxed, over time they will be too.

Honestly it gets easier, I'm practically skipping back down the nursery path when I drop him off these days Our nursery has an app that they update throughout the day but their internet hasn't been working the past week and it's surprising how you miss the updates. It helps once they start looking forward to going too.

Yes we hand over at the door too. I think it's better, nice and quick, but I do miss seeing where he's playing when I went in to pick him up. He did cry at first but it only took three days for him to get used to it. Now he absolutely grins when he sees we're at nursery!

It's a shame they didn't update the portal, do ask them why. At ours you can always ring and ask for an update any time, and they give you a handover sheet at the end of the day.

Many years a go when I worked in a nursery (before the online diary's and updates) we would openly encourage parents to call if they wanted an update or reassurance. The manager would be more than happy to bring the office phone to the room leader or keyworker so the parents could have a quick chat. I'm sure they would still do the same if you wanted to call and check in during the day.

It's a hard transition (for the parents rather than the child 😂) and they will support both you and child through it.

And yes we had secret sleep and food fairies which would wave their magic to make your child eat their greens willingly and sleep better than you have ever known 😂

I work in a nursery and I have to say the drop at the door has been absolutely amazing. Yes sometimes they have a few tears at the door but on the whole the children I look after have settled much better with this arrangement. Children seem to be more upset when parents take longer to leave.