How long did it take for your LO to settle in nursery?

I’m in exactly the same boat. I keep getting told to hang on in there and they will love it. Some of my friends children settled in 2 weeks and some 2 or 3 months?! This is the start of the 4th week for my girl and she cries and soon as her key worker says hello. Her eyes are red when I pick her up. I’m feeling really guilty but I’m hoping soon she will start to relax. If she doesn’t by the end of May I’m seriously going to have to reconsider

@Hannah that’s exactly what I’m being told by all my friends. Everyone would be like, it will be difficult initially but once he is settled you’ll be surprised to see his development. That’s the only reason I’m giving it a try honestly.

Yeh exactly. Oh man it’s so hard isn’t it. Keep busy whilst they are in there that’s all I can suggest but also I will re evaluate after another month because I can’t keep putting her through it x

@Hannah yeah I will have to distract myself while he is in, I couldn’t stop crying after dropping him off! Can’t get my head around work as well. Do let me know how did it go for you! All my best wishes for you and your little girl! Hope we’ll get through this soon.

I work at a nursery and usually the settling in sessions and the first few days / week are the hardest. But they don't cry all day long, our job is to find things that distract them and cheer them up until they get used to it, so telling the nursery about your little one's most favourite things to do and eat is really helpful during the settling period. If your little one is really bad they will call you to pick them up to make the day shorter for them and that often makes it a lot easier on them as then they can easily see nursery is not forever and mummy is coming back. My little one had a hard transition because every now and again she would see me and it was heartbreaking, but it's a lot easier now because she doesn't really care anymore as long as her key person is there. Also I find the longer you say goodbye, the harder is it for them too so I used to say a proper goodbye at home before putting her in the buggy and then a quick goodbye at nursery

My LO hates the part where he’s given to his key worker but once I leave and he’s settled he’s having the time of his life 😂 when he first started during the settling period I left him there for the two hours because I know if I had stayed there he wouldn’t have played or interacted with the other kids there but I wouldn’t worry too much I think once they get used to the routine they will gradually settle and be happy during drop offs 🥺 xx

I’m in the same position- I fully sympathise! The guilt of leaving them and also not being able to explain why we are leaving them, just makes it so much harder to deal with. Everyone around me has said it will get better and I am counting down the days this happens! I still cry when I drop/ pick her up and I am dreading tomorrow’s drop off 🥲. Any tips on how to make it easier are welcome!

My son's been going four months and only this week he is close to no crying on handover. He was never left with anyone before apart from his dad so I knew he was going to get a shock. I don't even have any ideas for you but just to say it's quite normal even though horrible to go through

Thanks so much for sharing @Sophie! I’m sure the nursery staff do their best to comfort the kids and succeed as well. My only worry is, currently he is there only for an hour or two, and most of the time he is crying. I hope it wouldn’t have any negative effect on him!🥺 We are now trying to have a short goodbye, which is again sooo hard as he wouldn’t leave me. Each day he starts crying one step before the previous day, like today he started crying just as we reached the nursery. I feel like I’m a terrible mom, his crying face keeps popping up in my head for the entire time he is in. I am so proud of all the moms who have gone through this, including my mom who started work while I was just 3months!!

@Makeillaaa🦋 I am waiting for that time to come, at-least once he is in I want him to enjoy and not cry for the whole time!

@Zee so true!! I can’t stop crying after dropping him. And it’s not getting any easier. Hope we’ll reach there soon!

@Leonie thanks for sharing this! You are soo strong, super proud of you!!❤️