Help settling at nursery

[gymgirl11]

Hello,

We have a 19 month old DD who is going to be attending nursery for two full days a week, however, we've had a bit of trouble during her latest settling in session.

Just for background context;

The first two were fine. We stayed for 30 minutes the first time (of an hour session) and 15 minutes the second time (of an hour and a half session) and no issues apart from a few tears the final 5 minutes of the 2nd session.

The third session went badly. It was a 2 hour session and my DH struggled to leave the room as our DD kept running to him. He finally left 30 minutes into the session but 20 minutes towards the end we received a notification telling us that DD had been unsettled the whole time, crying, coughing quite badly & a few flemmy/sick incidents due to becoming very worked up.

She starts 2 days beginning of August and we have some flexibility with picking her up if she gets too distressed, however, come September nursery for two days is our only viable option for child care as my DH has to return to work full time. I already work 30 hours a week.

Does anyone have any tips on how we can help with this period of change?

The situation is causing a bit of panic for me & DH after the third disastrous session.

TL;DR - Any tips on how to settle a 19 month old into nursery.

I don't think the nursery should have let you in on the settling sessions tbh, this always makes it harder as the kids assume your always going to be there.

As everything, it takes time. My son took a good 6 weeks to settle in and even then still had the odd tears at drop off.

Talk to her about what's going to happen, give a big cheery bye bye and leave. Don't hang around.

Thank you for your comment. We did know it would take time for her to settle in, hence my DH not starting work for another 6 weeks so we could hopefully settle her.

For her final session it would probably make sense to drop her off at the door and go.

This is my preferred tactic but my DH is a bit more reluctant to just "leave" her and run even though I've explained this is what I think is best.

I don't think the nursery should have let you in on the settling sessions tbh, this always makes it harder as the kids assume your always going to be there.
Absolutely this. It’s just confusing that a parent has been staying but is then suddenly leaving. It sounds harsh but the sooner she learns nursery is where she stays but mummy and daddy say bye and always come back the better. Cheery goodbye, a kiss and leave. Come back after an hour, then it increase the interval so it’s at the end of morning session, then lunch, then the whole day. Two days a week isn’t very frequent so tears at drop off are very likely for a while but so long as she starts to enjoy herself once you’ve left (by all means ring or ask them to send a picture) then I wouldn’t worry.