So anxious about 1 year old going to nursery

[mummyof12021]

Hi everyone,

My LO who is 1 year and 2 weeks is starting nursery tomorrow. It's only his settling in days, so as much as I feel anxious I know its only for a few hours each day for 3 days. He will then start full days next week (depending how he is this week). I go back to work in 5 weeks and the thought of leaving him just fills me with dread. He's breast fed, rocked/cuddled to sleep, has naps on me or in his tranquil room. I just think it's going to be all too much for him.

I have visited the nursery to do paperwork and he was in his room with other children for about an hour. He was crying on and off and when I went to get him he was inconsolable. I worry so much that it's going to be too chaotic for him - like how will his sleep be? The germs! Everything!

That sad, he loves children and people in general, so it's not like he is a shy baby. He loves any attention people give him.

I also know it's great for development, but I've read so many articles saying nurseries are good for developing, but not anything else.

I have to go back to work, there is no choice there.

The other worry is the days I'm working I'll be in London, so his dad will pick him up. I worry that he will be too tired when I get home and I won't be able to bath him etc. I know I'm going to see how the routine is as I'm not rushing back to work, but I worry my partner isn't going to be able to do as good a job as me (sorry, it's just the way I feel atm)

I haven't left LO at all! Well, I think 2 hours here and there with his dad, my mum and he was fine, but this is a whole different scenario.

He's an ok sleeper, but I also worry it's going to bugger his sleep and I'll be even more sleep deprived.

It would be so nice to hear positive stories, but some realness too would be appreciated!

Many thanks x

DS started nursery at 11 months. He used to cry at every drop off and became so overwhelmed to see me at pickup that he would start crying again.

We had about a week of this and now he prefers being at nursery to being at home! He doesn't even look back anymore, he gets to the door and runs off. He was a little behind in his development / social skills when he first started but he's like a complete different toddler now!

I have absolutely no regrets and the staff are brilliant with him. Just prepare for all the bugs/illness!

@Trinxsy thank you!

Can I ask whether you'd left him before at all? Had he been used to other people settling him etc.

X

Firstly, bless you. It's bloody hard. My son went to nursery at 1 years old, is never really left him before that but like you I had to return to work. My mum gave up work for 10 years when she had me so I always felt extra guilty for not being able to do the same for him. I remember sobbing when I dropped him off for settling in sessions, feeling like the worst mum in the world and having to cry on my drive into work for the first few weeks after he'd cried at drop off. Nursery were great in fairness, they always encouraged me to call if I wanted to check that he'd calmed down or just to ask how he was. He's now 4 and he loves it there so much, he gets so much social interaction with all his friends and he's learning a lot there too.

My second child is now 10 months old and we've had to go with a different nursery for her as we've moved house so aren't close enough to my son's nursery to justify the commute there. She'll start when she's one too, and even though I know she'll settle and eventually probably love it just as my son does it still feels wrong to be thinking of leaving her with someone else. I'm sure your little one will initially take some time getting used to it (as will you) but hang on in there and it will work out for you both 😊