My 3 year old started preschool last month straight after a holiday abroad (so a lot going on, and I’m also 21 weeks pregnant) and since then he is messing about at bedtime for up to 2 hours even though he’s exhausted and refusing to go to bed. If we’re strict with him then he’s inconsolably crying. He doesn’t mention much about preschool in the day when I ask him about it but at bedtime he keeps telling me he doesn’t want to go and he doesn’t want me to leave him and gets very tearful. I’m giving him lots of cuddles and reassurance but the last few nights I’ve been having to lie bedside his bed with him till he falls asleep but his “requests” keep escalating, eg. tonight he wanted to sleep in mummy and daddy’s bed not his own. It’s getting exhausting.
Hes fine at preschool when he’s there but on drop off he is screaming and clinging to me and one of the teachers has to pull him off me and carry him away. He was like this at the childminders too when he used to go there but settled after a few months.
Is his behaviour at bedtime as a result of his preschool anxiety? Do I need to just keep providing him with reassurance and cuddles till we ride it out? I am worried this will continue when I have a newborn in September! He only goes to preschool for 12 hours a week split over 2 days. Unfortunately I have no choice but to send him as I’m still working until I start maternity leave in September.