Did you notice a difference in your DC when you went back to work?

[Stefka]

I've gone back part time but will be full time after Easter. It was never the plan but the current financial situation means it has to happen.

I've seen a change in DS who is 17months since I started working. He is more clingly and less settled. I am worried about going back full time.

How long have you been at work? It will be unsettling for him, he has no idea of you being away from him before. ds1 and ds2 started nursery after Christmas (ds1 was 2.5yrs and ds2 12months) it took them at least 6 weeks to stop crying at drop off and another couple of weeks after that for them to be perfectly happy to run off and play and be settled but I've heard of little ones taking up to 6 months depending on their personality

The hardest is to not feel guilty, you're settling into a new routine too, remember you are working for all the 'right' reasons, give him loads of reassurance when you come back and enjoy the quality time, its hard I had to let dh do drop off as I used to cry all the way to work to start with but 3 months on we're getting there!

I don't think he'll be like this for long. I went back PT after 13 months of mat leave last Nov and my DS was quite clingy for a few weeks. He goes to nursery 2 days a week and has a day with daddy on Thursdays. He was cuddling and kissing me a lot more when I started work but he adores nursery now so isn't at all bothered when he goes. He enjoys himself there but loves to come home too. I'm sure your DS will settle once he realises you always come back! Good luck

Thanks it is reassuring to hear that it will pass. I have't been back all that long. He cries when I leave him now which is just awful.

I thought of something else, did you ever discuss dop off with your nursey? we didn't but I know a lot of other mums who did, I never hnaded ds's over to anyone, my parents or friends, so when I thought about it it wasn't supprising ds2 cried when the nursey nurse took him off me in the morning, we got to the point as we walked through the door he would start crying I changed it to me sitting on floor with him trying to get him interested in some toys before 'handing' him over
I'm not sure if it did help as as soon as I got up to leave he started crying again but I did feel better about not doing a drop and run so that was something and maybe it helped him settle quicker, I'm not sure...

He is not in a nursary yet actually - he goes to my aunt which helps a lot. I always wait for a bit. To start with he used to settle straight away but I think now the penny has dropped he doesn't and he cries when I go. I do know he is ok about five mins later. I think it is worse for me than it is for him.

I think you're right it will be worse for you than him we have the guilt about it too! I hope it all settles down soon, enjoy the weekend anyway

Mine became very clingy when I went back to work. I was very lucky that my mum and mum-in-law took turns in looking after him. He adores them so their were no tears when I left for work. The difficulty came once I had done my stint in the office for the week he would want to spend a whole day sitting on my hip being carted around the place. (He's a heavy 10-month old). If I put him down even for a minute he would cry bitter tears. I have now lost my job and am looking forwards to seeing my confident baby back.

My ds is about the same, Stefka, and he has been full-time at the CM's since Feb. I have to say, perhaps surprisingly, that he has been much better since he went full-time. It's like now he knows that's where he goes everyday he just takes it in his stride whereas he used to be much clingier when it was just 2 or 3 days a week. So try not to worry too much, it could well work out for the better. Although then you start feeling bad cos he doesn't miss you so much!

about the same age, I meant to say