Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Nurseries

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum. For more guidance on early years development, sign up for Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

Original poster

Settling-in to nursery.

14 replies

SnugTurtle · 29/04/2025 09:14

Hi all, my 12 month old just started nursery. 3 settling in sessions, and 1.5 weeks for 3 days a week today.

He's quite clingy there just wants to sit on someones lap or being held. And doesn't eat there or take a bottle, even though he eats Oki at home. He naps there. He also been ill twice already so his appetite is bad at home as well. He's still bf.

I've been picking him up a bit earlier, but next week I'm starting work and I won't be able to do that.

Does this all sounds Oki to you? And he will most likely settle in soon? Just looking for reassurance. We don't really have any other options but nursery.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Acc0untant · 29/04/2025 09:34

Sounds completely normal. Can take a few weeks, if not a few months, for them to settle. Mine wouldn't eat anything but the yogurts (or nothing at all) initially. Was glued to her keyworker. We're 4 months down the line and now she eats more than at home and when I go to pick her up she's wandering around picking what she wants to play with without thought to where the adults are.

MudandMoet · 29/04/2025 09:39

I’m going through the exact same with my LO (she’s 8 months) she’s done 2 settling in sessions and now 2 half days (she’s working up to 3 half days) so far she’s had a tummy bug and a cold since that first settling in session so her appetite it low at the moment.

It’s natural to feel these emotions and wonder how they’ll get on without you there but I’m sure in a couple of weeks we’ll wonder what we were so worried about.

Original poster
SnugTurtle · 29/04/2025 10:09

Thank you for sharing, as long as it's normal I'm not too worried. It just seems that all babies around me are settling in in one day. Also, it seems to like staff is complaining that he's clingy, but maybe I'm just overthinking, it's their job right?

OP posts:
Emma543 · 29/04/2025 10:12

Mine was the exact same and now settled brilliantly. They advised me to take in a comforter or teddy from home.
I spent quite a few drives to work in tears at first due to rough drop offs 😅

Original poster
SnugTurtle · 29/04/2025 10:14

Emma543 · 29/04/2025 10:12

Mine was the exact same and now settled brilliantly. They advised me to take in a comforter or teddy from home.
I spent quite a few drives to work in tears at first due to rough drop offs 😅

Thank you, I think that will be me next week. Also, I think I have no tears left to cry.

OP posts:
Acc0untant · 29/04/2025 11:01

SnugTurtle · 29/04/2025 10:14

Thank you, I think that will be me next week. Also, I think I have no tears left to cry.

Show quote history

There's always that element of guilt that you've dropped them off because you need to work and they're sat there at nursery crying that you've gone. In reality most kids are fine after a few minutes and get occupied with something else.

Eventually when you drop them off in the future and they rush in to start playing without even so much as a backwards glance I used to feel internally offended like "erm goodbye then!" But it's brilliant at that point, no more worries as you drive to work.

Sunshineclouds11 · 30/04/2025 11:58

This was us a couple of month ago.
along with bottle and food refusal aswell.

it took her afew weeks to fully settle, she now eats everything plus extra some days.

still no bottle but tbf she was ready to drop it.

she now waddles in screaming and I don't get a second look.

good luck for going back to work

Sunshineclouds11 · 30/04/2025 11:59

Screaming with excitement btw haha

SJM1988 · 30/04/2025 12:05

Mine took ages to settle. A good 4 months with my first. Only 2 months with my second though she refused to eat or nap for the first few weeks.
It also felt like every other baby was fine and mine always had issues at pick up.
It slowly improved and they both love/loved it eventually.

Original poster
SnugTurtle · 30/04/2025 16:52

Acc0untant · 29/04/2025 11:01

There's always that element of guilt that you've dropped them off because you need to work and they're sat there at nursery crying that you've gone. In reality most kids are fine after a few minutes and get occupied with something else.

Eventually when you drop them off in the future and they rush in to start playing without even so much as a backwards glance I used to feel internally offended like "erm goodbye then!" But it's brilliant at that point, no more worries as you drive to work.

Show quote history

Oh thank you! Yeah he doesn't take bottle (at home too) at least he drinks water. Fingers crossed it happens to us too.

OP posts:
Original poster
SnugTurtle · 30/04/2025 16:53

SJM1988 · 30/04/2025 12:05

Mine took ages to settle. A good 4 months with my first. Only 2 months with my second though she refused to eat or nap for the first few weeks.
It also felt like every other baby was fine and mine always had issues at pick up.
It slowly improved and they both love/loved it eventually.

Thank you! I guess I just need to stay calm, and keep trying!

OP posts:
justanotherboymum · 30/04/2025 17:02

Nursery worker here! Sounds normal, I’d say it’s not the norm for babies to start and be completely fine right from the start. Normally there is a transition period of them settling, I’m sure he will eat v soon and it’s a good sign he’s happy being comforted/sitting with the staff. Just keep giving a cheery goodbye when you leave and remember that if he cries on dropoff it doesn’t mean he won’t stop crying 30 seconds later! 😀

MudandMoet · 31/05/2025 21:03

Hi @SnugTurtleI just wondered how your LO is getting on now at nursery? Are they settled?Hope going back to work has been okay for you x

Original poster
SnugTurtle · 31/05/2025 21:09

MudandMoet · 31/05/2025 21:03

Hi @SnugTurtleI just wondered how your LO is getting on now at nursery? Are they settled?Hope going back to work has been okay for you x

Hi, so he eats, naps and plays there. But he still cries on pickup and drop-off but that's fine, he always been emotional. He is very happy after nurses too. Just loads of sickness, almost every weekend 😔 works Oki thank you

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread