Nervous about settling!

[Blev2022]

I'm just looking for positive experiences if I'm honest! My two year old is due to start nursery two mornings a week from his second birthday.
Socially he is not very confident because whenever I'm off work I also have my three year old with us and he uses her as a safety blanket I feel when we go places.
He isn't necessarily super clingy and will go off and play by himself but at times we have been to busy play places he doesn't like being away from me and gets overwhelmed. He's very shy with strangers.
I have adjusted my working hours to the point of extreme stress to keep him from going in earlier but it's becoming completely unworkable. We have no childcare help at all.

I don't know if it's just me being really nervous but I feel sure he won't be an easy settler. Any people already gone through similar circumstances and come out happy at the end?

My 2.5 year old has had no one look after her since birth besides me and my husband- started nursery two months ago and she took to it so well. Don’t get me wrong a few tears in the first week and then all fine. She loves it and it’s so much better for her to mix.

Is it possible for him to attend for more than just two mornings a week? You may find that it takes longer to settle due to the short period of time he's actually there.

Yes definitely if he didn't settle well I could put him in for 2 full days instead. Id like to try putting him in for less if possible just due to tight finances but I'd have to if he was struggling.
My daughter went from being with us until 2.5 to playgroup just two mornings a week and settled fine but they're such different personalities - she has always been very sociable

Thank you for this :)

And totally hear you on diff personalities. My eldest was in nursery at 18 months and was always so happy with anyone, loves everyone- my 2nd was/is always far more sceptical of people and I worried that 2 is an awkward age as they understand the change but not the reasoning. But it was fine!

Will definitely be clinging onto this

The positive is that the nursery doesn't have a limit on settling sessions and can take it as slowly as needed. I don't know if this will make it worse!! But I know he just needs to feel comfortable with one person and he will be fine

My eldest started on 2 mornings and took a long time to settle, he was much better when we increased to full days. Youngest has just started on 2 full days and loves it. Still cries at drop off but we get loads of photos of him having a great time throughout the day.

If you have the option to drop just before breakfast I'd do that. Gives them a distraction straight away.