Settling in at nursery - tell me about your experiences

[MrsMong]

DD (12 months) seems to be having a tough time settling at nursery and I need to hear some reassuring stories

Day 1 - I was there 90 mins and then left for 60 mins. After about 45 mins she noticed I was gone and started howling.

Day 2 - left her for 2.5h and she cried most of it, but was consolable

Day 3 (the following week) - left her 7h and she cried on and off, but cried most of the day. She also pretty much refused to eat or drink all day

Day 4 (today) - left her this morning and she was HOWLING

Please tell me it gets better soon.... Please?

As an aside, I am totally happy with nursery, staff are lovely all the other children are happy and contented, so am sure this is just a matter of time, but how long??

Try and be relaxed about it. Children can feed off your tension! She will settle well in about a month I would reckon. [smike]

I think it can be tough for them at 12 months - sounds like she's doing really well though.

DS has been at nursery ft since a tiny baby, so I've seen a lot of children start, and some just do cry in the morning - even some that have been there ages. But they stop almost as soon as mum/dad are out of the door

I agree that the more tense you are, the more uptight your child will be. I notice that it's always the days when I need to be away pronto for a long drive/early meeting that DS will be clingy and teary - normally he bounces off at speed

Thanks Ladies. I am doing my best to be 100% positive and relaxed about nursery with DD and we are talking (as much as you can with a 12 month old) about her new friends and lovely carers are nursery. When I pick her up (and she's howling) I'm cuddling her and asking if she's been a good girl / had a nice time and definitely NOT saying awww poor baby etc.

I do think that nursery is a good experience for babies and toddlers and can teach them so much about interaction and also things I may not think of! Even if I wasn't returning to work (and had enough pennies) I would want DD to go to nursery.

Having said all that, I just want this settling in phase to end quickly. I'll be happy(er) the day the tell me she stopped crying not long after I left instead of crying all day

That was obviously meant to be smile

Hello MrsMong, My DD started off in a very similar way with her childminder (she's at nursery now). It took her a little while to settle to be honest, I'd say longer than a month, perhaps three months. I hope that doesn't sound demoralising, but I just wanted to say in case it does take your DD longer so you know that it doesn't necessarily mean there's anything wrong with the childcare/or your DD! Now my DD is at nursery and she's one of those children that cries most mornings when I drop her off. To be honest, it's torture, but I do also know that she stops once I've left and she's a happy and confident person. Good luck!