2 year old in nursery

[MCMP13]

Looking for a bit of reassurance. I’ve put my 2 year old (just turned) in nursery. He doesn’t need to go for childcare purposes - I am at work but he goes to grandparents during the day, I signed him up as he is a very social child and loves being with others, playing, interacting and I thought he would enjoy it to be honest.
He does 3x3 hour sessions a week and he’s hating it. Says he doesn’t want to go to nursery and cries and clings to me at drop off.

How long do I wait before I just pull him out? Is it best to just keep going now as it might be harder for him in the long run going to school etc.

He goes to a school nursery with 2 year old provision and I just don’t know if he’s too young and I should wait a bit until he is a little older.

I’d say if you don’t need nursery and do socialising through baby classes and playgroups etc then leave it. Before 3 I view it as just childcare but I understand the pressure people put you under to send your babies to nursery! I’m sure many posters will disagree with me but I’d say before 3 leave it if you can x

A school nursery will be more rigid than an 0-5 one.
are there others in your area?

If you don't need to, why would you? It's best for him to be with people he knows at this age. The "needing to socialise" your baby is a myth. You can try again when he's ready - and when he's ready, you'll know. Mine went at almost 3 and zero tears because he couldn't wait to go! I know another who went (to the same nursery which is lovely) at 2 and had a horrible time, he was simply too young.

Trust your instincts, biology put them there for a reason.

Derailing the thread but thank you for this. My DD is also not going until 2.5/3 and it’s reassuring hearing a little one settled nicely at 3. In real life and mumsnet people seem shocked she doesn’t get go!

He's not ready ... all children are different. Just be glad he does not have to.

Definitely take him out if not needing it for childcare as he clearly doesn't like it . I don't personally think school nurseries are as nurturing and play oriented as specific preschool settings/ nurseries and a school nursery is more structured which is not great for a little one.
Try again (maybe at a different setting) at 3.

Agree, I find it very sad and I'm glad you're sticking to your instincts against the crowd. I need to be honest though, I did try at 12 months but his cries while trying to settle him in were so heart breaking, I took him and left. It completely changed my world view.

My DD would be exactly the same. It’s her little personality. But I constantly hear about how much kids “love” nursery and socialising etc so I regularly find myself doubting myself. But then I only went a few mornings in the year before I started school and hey I turned out fine…sort of! 😂

I wish I didn't have to send mine honestly. My LO will be starting soon and it will be 3 long days. I'd love to just send for half days if I could! Much younger than yours too will be 16 mo.

Thanks everyone.
I think I initially signed him up as when he is at grandparents they don’t really take him out they just stay at home so he doesn’t really see other kids and have that interaction etc and I felt guilty. When I take him to groups when I’m off work he doesn’t even look back at me and couldn’t care less that I’m there so I really thought he would enjoy going to nursery.

I chose this nursery as it is where he would go to school. There are other nursery’s but I didn’t want him to get comfortable there and then have the big change of school.

When I picked him up they told me he had a great time and didn’t cry etc but I just have a gut feeling i’m sending him too early now.

How many days a week is he at grandparents? If it's quite a bit and he's not getting out and about with them, I can see the advantage of something to get him that stimulation. Alternatively, would they take him to a class/group if you did all the research? Do they take him to the play park or to run errands or things like that?

The other question is how long has he been going to nursery, and does he seem busy and happy when you pick him up? If it's not been very long, tears at drop off can be common even if they are happy once they're in. (Long after settling, my eldest sometimes protested she didn't want to go in the morning and that she didn't want to come home in the evening – and she isn't even a child who particularly struggles with transitions.)

That said, I'm another who preferred a private nursery/preschool (right up to school age). So if this just isn't feeling right, I'd be inclined to take him out and look for another setting, maybe at 2.5 or 3 unless you think he's really not getting the stimulation he wants/needs at grandparents.