Toddler not settling in the nursery

[Ivee89]

Hi, my 20 month old is struggling to settle in the nursery. He cries every time I drop him off and I am told that he gets emotional throughout the day and at times he's inconsolable. He goes 1 day a week( 8.00-1800 but i often drop him off for 8.30 and collect 17.30)
He has been going there since he was 9 months.
He is also always so happy to see me and so keen to leave the nursery.
He is going to a different nursery, 3 full days a week from September. Will it get better once he goes more often? Does anyone have experience with this? if not, how did you deal with it? Not going to nursery is not an option as I have to work, for obvious financial reasons.
He is always so happy and chatty at home, I can't believe he doesn't speak in the nursery and is unhappy all the time.
He is very much mommy's boy, spends 90 percent of his time with me,day or night.

1 day a week isn’t enough for him to be in a routine there OP. If it were 3 days or more, or even half days he would form a bond with his teachers and the other children. At the moment his only safe person is you.

Aww, has he recent moved into a different room? That can be a hard transition as it’s like starting all over again. My dc had a hard time with this for the first 2-3 weeks.

I’d think if the being consolable during the day goes on for too long there must be another issue. Maybe he just doesn’t like the people? Hopefully a change will be good in September after the initial upset and he will build stronger relationships with the key workers once he’s there more often. He will also be getting to the age where he starts making friends which makes it easier.

1 day a week is no use, as each week it’s all a struggle again, it’s not enough consistency or routine for a small child. We have pre schoolers who struggle with one day of nursery, they need a bit more consistency of at least 2 days if not 3.

Agree with everyone else, one day isn't enough. Hopefully a new setting and three days will sort it for you.

Thanks everyone, your replies have given me some reassurance that it will get better.