How long to settle into daycare

[Honeybeebuzz]

DD just turned 12 months and has started daycare, she had four settling in sessions lasting an hr then building up to include a nap. She has started going full days this week (2 days a week only) but if anything things are getting worse, as we pull up in the carpark she starts crying and cries while being handed over. Staff advised she cries on and off when she is there but reassure me its an adjustment period and she'll settle. My first went to the same daycare and seemed to settle after a few weeks. Just wondering how long other babies took to settle and any tips on how to help her be happier going in?

I remember this time well with mine. It ended up taking a fair while before no cry on handover although the staff assured me there was no crying after that.
I tried a number of different drop off styles - handing over quickly, hanging around a while, snack beforehand etc and to be honest none of it made a difference. Over time just got used to it and now there's no issue.

So she's only had two proper days there? It's very hard, but it's early days still. Both of mine took a few weeks to properly settle (not surprising when you think about it, it's a huge change for them, and we can't really explain it to them either), and I think it can take longer if it's only 2 days a week. Are the two days back to back, or separated, like say Monday and Thursday?

My experience was that they were happy and settled during the day before the tears at drop-off stopped. Well before, in DD1s case (sorry!).

My LO cried every drop off and pick up at nursery for 5 weeks.
They go 2 days a week and then 2 to a childminder, they still cry at the childminder drop offs nearly 4 months in 🙈