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Unsettled 1 year old at nursery and need help

4 replies

clb26 · 10/09/2025 17:09

My son is a couple of days shy of being 18 months old, he started nursery in the under 2s room last week. He was brilliant at the 2 visits (1 hour), brilliant the 1st day, little bit upset during the 2nd day but went in fine.

This his week was his 3rd, 4th and 5th day. 3rd day he was completely fine going in, actually ran and didn't reall look back but extremely unsettled throughout the day and night time he was awake for hours throughout the night. 4th day (yesterday) he was extremely unsettled and screaming going in, but was sent home with a temperature but he was fine once home and throughout the night. 5th day was today, no temperature but he was breaking his heart going in and unsettled throughout the day again and refusing meals but had snack and bottle. He kept waiting at the door and looking out, everytime the day went, he started crying again. Now he's home, he's completely fine.

What can I do? He's taking up a lot of the staffs time and I feel so bad, because I'm not there settle him and comfort him. (I know i can't always be there) I've sent him in with some comfort items but he's never been a one for them and doesn't have favourite's, doesn't have a dummy. I'm so confused because he's been with family before while I'm working, why is he unsettled this week. They want to reduce his hours but honestly don't think it's going to make much difference since he was fine last week going in without me.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
user9637 · 10/09/2025 17:19

It's because he's realised it's not a one off. Is there any way you could get family or reduced hours for him? Full time for 18 months is a lot.

clb26 · 10/09/2025 17:21

user9637 · 10/09/2025 17:19

It's because he's realised it's not a one off. Is there any way you could get family or reduced hours for him? Full time for 18 months is a lot.

He only goes 3 days, childcare is very limited as it is because family is limited due to work and I'm a single mam

OP posts:
user9637 · 10/09/2025 17:29

that sounds so hard. hopefully he'll settle soon xxx

PeatandDieselfan · 10/09/2025 17:40

Some of them take a while to settle. My eldest cried at drop off for about the first 3 months (but was fine a minute or two after I left). I tried to do drop off as quickly as possible and I always behaved cheerfully (even when I was not feeling it!) I kept questioning if I was doing the right thing. Eventually he got used to it, and really enjoyed it, but it was a journey!!

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