Two year old unhappy at nursery, not sleeping, what can we doooooooo? (wails)

[Kathyis6incheshigh]

Fortunately my problem is time-limited but it's going to mess up our careers if we don't sort it....

DH and I are both academics on study leave and living in Cambridge up till Xmas. Hence our 29 month old dd is in a different nursery. She hates it (and we're not too keen either - it's noisy, children left to cry, some of staff seem disengaged) but we are probably stuck with it up until Xmas.

She's waking up 4 or 5 times a night and needing a cuddle. We are desperate as we need to be on form to produce research and we're just exhausted.

[sobs quietly]

hi sorry to hear of your problem xx
is it not possible to look into a temporary childminder or another nursery? its so sad that your DD is havin such a difficult time and i feel for you and your family
i recently moved my DD to a childminder after having a bad time of it wit the nursery she was in- we dont live away from our usual home but it was a distressing time for us so i can only imagine how you are feeling. or is there anything that can be discussed wit th nursery itself to maybe make her time there a little more pleasant??
im sorry i could not be of more help but im sure someone will be along soon with more practical advice. big hugs to you and your family {{{{{{{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}}}}
xx ei xx

Thanks Mrsei25!
Problem is that if we moved her we would end up paying twice - you have to pay 2 months in advance and I don't think they'd refund us, because I think they're within the normal range of what nurseries are like IYKWIM. Nursery fees are already wiping out my salary as it is (we have a 1 year old ds as well, though he's fine with nursery).

We've talked to nursery about whether they can give her a few more cuddles but I think to be honest the staff that care are already doing it but are overstretched and the others don't care.

Try finding a childminder? Is your research supervised or could you possibly - til xmas - have her at home, do mornings one of you & afternoons the other, and work a couple of hours in evenings too? you might be much more productive if you got better sleep and had a 4-5 hour stretch of decent work time. In the short term I would suggest alternate night shifts too - the one who's not on duty sleeps on sofa or somewhere with earplugs in. Hope something helps & you have a better solution for after xmas, much sympathies.

Yes Cockles, maybe alternate night shifts would be better than what we are doing at the moment (both waking up then trying to remember whose turn it is to go in).

After Xmas we'll be back at home and she'll be at her lovely usual nursery which somehow manages to be calm and happy and have enough staff despite having exactly the same carer:child ratio!

i would say if even you think the nursary is bad in reality it is probably even worse and i would be reluctant to force her to spend even another session there to be honest.

i see your problem about paying 2 lots of nursary fees...is there anything at all that you can think of to giev you grouns to remove her with immediate effect.

If not notice needs to be given at next session or before.