Unsettled at drop offs suddenly

[Blankety30]

Hi all,

My son has been going to childcare 4 days a week since he was 9 months old when I returned to work.

He settled very quickly and loved it. Dropped him off everyday with no issues.

For the last month or so he's extremely upset when I drop him off (childminder advises me once I'm out of sight he calls down and is fine).

Unsure why he all of a sudden seems unsettled? It's making me feel awful leaving him. He's 16 months old now.

Sometimes they just go through a phase of getting emotional at drop off / pick up. Ask your CM if they can send you a picture when he's happy and playing.

We're moving this to Parenting at OP's request.

This happens from time to time.
Children become aware of parents absence but I would say 99.99% of the time they settle within minutes.
I’ve also known children to get upset if they hear parents complain about leaving, for example I had a little boy whose mom used to say “I’m so sorry for going to horrible work, I will miss you so much, I am going to have such a terrible day without you...” and it built his anxiety. I had to say to the mom that she was making it a stressful situation. I suggested she would say something along the lines of “Going to the Childminders is a really fun thing to do and when you are finished having fun I will pick you up” the tears stopped very quickly after that x

I always drop him off and tell him to have lots of a fun and that daddy will come and get him after he's seen his friends.

Although since he's been getting upset I've been just kissing his head and saying "love you lots, daddy will collect you later".

I never build it to be something bad, I think he must be in some sort of phase!

Thanks for the replies

Has anything changed at the childminders? Have any of his friends left or is there a new person? Could you ask the childminder if there's been any changes?
My ds was upset for a while at nursery when he got moved to a different room - it was like he had to settle in all over again - he had a different key worker and some of the kids were different, although some kids moved at the same time as him.
It could just be he's going through a phase of feeling like he needs you more. I'd just give him extra focused attention when you do see him. Sometimes if my kids are in a funny mood I'll make an extra effort to play with them when I'm at home with them, do what they want to do, and I'll let chores slide a little for a while.
Hope he's ok - it's sad when they go through these sad times but hopefully he'll be totally fine soon!

Thanks @strawberryredhead

No, there's been no changes. Come to think of it, I think it may be some sort of attachment phase.

This started a few weeks ago and seemed to have become even worse (not sure worse is the correct word) following our few days off together. I had annual leave and we let him have a break too.

He seems to be SO loving at the minute, he's like my little shadow. So as I say, I think he's having a little phase. I just wish how I knew to make it better as it's awful seeing him sad

It won’t last!
They know how to make us feel guilty x

Aw bless him! They're so cute, my ds follows me round the house as I do the most boring things - I'll nip upstairs to grab something and he'll follow me up and then down again!
maybe like the other poster suggested, you could ask the childminder to send you a pic of him happy once he's settled in for the day. Does he seem happy when you collect him?

Thanks ladies!

I just wish I could be with him but unfortunately, work calls!

Deep down I'm probably more upset than him, he has loads of fun while I beat myself up all day! 😂