Toddler suddenly inconsolable at drop-off

[justwren]

My two year old has started nursery three days a week. The first two weeks were fine, but suddenly he's become inconsolable every time I drop him off. I have to leave him screaming the place down.
Is this normal? Will it be forever?
Should I be worried about separation anxiety, does it indicate something worrying?
Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks!

In my experience it’s normal. DS did similar. It’s basically just that they’ve sussed the routine 2 weeks in and are ultimately protesting because they’d prefer to be at home with you.

Thanks. I feel so guilty leaving him crying. Even though it's a great place, staff are wonderful.

It’s still very early days, don’t worry.
It’s probably just sinking in that it’s going to be a regular occurrence now that the novelty has worn off.

It doesn’t mean that he doesn’t like being there, just that it’s difficult being parted from you, which is natural.

What do the staff say about how he’s been/what he’s been doing?

How is he when you go to collect him?

V normal - in my experience as a childminder it's usually because they've seen another child doing it so they're copying

My 2.5 year old DS still goes through phases of crying at drop off and he's been going since he was 14 months. He is absolutely fine within 5 minutes of me leaving and I know he has a good time but he would probably still prefer stay at home with me.