Settling in period at childminder/nursery?

[lovingpickles]

I know this is a "how long is a piece of string" question but how long does it take for a 10mo to settle in at nursery/childminder? Is 1 week too little time to allow?

My dd started nursery at 21 months and it started fine - actually seemed settled on day 3. But after three weeks she suddenly had a crisis and we started from scratch again. If at all possible, I'd try to have some leave "in your back pocket" in case things go wrong. It tears you apart when you see they really need you again/still.
At our nursery they said for all children that the parents should have 3 weeks available.
However, my son started with a nanny aged 11 months and as we had met her once a week for a few months beforehand, and he was still in his home environment, we didn't need any formal settling in time. We then changed nannies when he was about 20 months and that took about a week - but it was still in his home environment.
I don't know if you've posted on the "childminders, nannies etc" section, but there are loads of experienced childminders on there who would be able to give excellent advice???

I'm a childminder.

I would say a week was too little, I'm afraid. Mainly because 9-12 months is a time when seperation anxiety peaks. I usually allow settling in sessions over two weeks before mum has to go back to work (as first days back are stressful enough) and then one month of the 'proper' contract which we review at the end of.

As simic also pointed out, it is quite common for your baby to take a few steps back at different times.

Hi,

no personal experience of this yet but am reading a book at the moment called "Letting go as children grow" By Deborah Jackson and it has a really intersting bit about trusting children to get used to new surroundings in their own way. In the example a little girlwatched her fellow nursary children for months without speaking though she was lively at home. Then one day just burst out of herself and quickly became a popular and active member of the group.

I know this is older than your lo but it hink it took her about 3m...worth a look if youu can get hold of the book.