2 year old not settling into nursery

[FJR1008]

My just turned 2 year old has always been highly sensitive, and is only used to being left with parents and grandparents. He is only starting nursery 2 mornings a week, but his first week went terribly. He sobbed quietly most of the time he was there. I think it's important for him, for socialising. However, I don't know how long I can put him/me through this, any positive stories were your 2yo have settled after a couple of weeks? We went for a settling in session, but my gut tells me that staying with him will make it harder in the long run. The nursery staff are brilliant, and would ring if he ever got too bad (I know this is true as it has happened to a friend, and I also know some of the staff)

The other kids seem to be settling much quicker. Just after advice of how long to keep trying before giving up? And any similar stories? Thanks ☺️

If you don’t have to send him because you have other childcare or you stay at home sometimes then i think it would be ok to wait for another year, 2 is still quite young. He could socialise at baby groups where you are in attendance with him. It won’t be long before he has to go to school full time. If you have to send him then I find play therapy very helpful. Use some of his dolls to act out dropping him off at nursery. Let it play out how he wants he might say “mummy don’t go!” Then you can say your line “I’ll be back later” etc.
Read books about nursery. Watch tv shows about nursery (there’s a new one on ceebebbies about starting schoo). They need lots of prepping for changes. I give toddlers their preschool boosters and I can tell the ones who’ve played doctors before coming and the ones who’ve been told nothing.

Unless you need to send him in for work waiting until age three is better as this is when they want to play with their peers in a social way.

Most children at age two take two weeks to a month to be fully settled, depending on personality and how
many days they attend. Many will still make a fuss at drop off even when they are fine as soon as the parent leaves. I think under 2.5yr is
one of the harder ages to settle as they are angry as well as upset but may not yet have enough speech to
say how they feel or what they want.