Settling into nursery

I would suggest starting her as soon as possible / I think the older they get the harder it is and I’m not sure anything can prepare them … they may do some little books about attending nursery xx

I think I agree with Jade! My little girl started at 18/19 months, it's taken until now to get her settled, and even still she gets upset at drop off. Her nursery has just been suspended by Ofsted 🤯🙃😰 So we are not 3 weeks of no nursery and I am absolutely dreading when she goes back or goes to a new one!! My second baby is going to start in September, he will be 10 months. At first I felt very guilty at the thought of him going so young, but after the really difficult experience of settling my eldest I actually wish I was in a position to have sent her earlier!

I disagree with people saying to start as soon as possible. I appreciate it’s not an option for everyone for a variety of reasons but psychologically children are actually happiest staying with their parents for the first three years.

I think it differs for each child. Mine started going at 11 months and my second will start when he’s 14 months. It has helped my eldest so much with his speech. He actually didn’t want to leave with me at pick up today, he wanted to stay in the garden 😅 Unfortunately you might have tears but at that age it will also prepare them before they start primary school. And I’m sure they will love it in no time x

@Kristine sorry to jump in here, my daughter is also very attached to us and we are planning to get her in preschool at around 3.5 yrs old, so far she hasn’t attended nursery (she’s home with me ). Do you think she will be more understanding then and settle ok? We will probably just do few mornings a week as I’m SAHM

@Jade do you think so? I feel like neither of us are ready for nursery as of yet but I was hoping to be 😫 i know it won’t get any easier

@Kristine I think I may have more of a separation issue than her 🤣😫 I don’t want to send her as of yet, I know she’s not ready for it but I feel as though i’m not too!

@Sophie I hope so! It could be that she settles in well because when I leave her to my in laws, she’ll ask for me a couple of times but afterwards forgets, i’m hoping nursery is the same 😫 xx

In exactly the same boat! My daughter was 2 in February and is also very clingy to me and likes to be with mummy. She'll start preschool when she's closer to 3 and just a few mornings a week to begin with but I'm dreading the thought of it!!

@Habiba I think you have to do what suits you and when . But my little boy started at 13 months - the kids who started at 9/10 months seem to adjust to room changes and everything better . I wouldn’t ever start them that young but I do think the older they they the harder it is . But you’ll know what’s right for your little one xx

It’s so child dependent, we started at 10 months and our son took months to settle (it was horrendous, the day we decided he wasn’t ready was the first time he had a good day so we stayed) and would still cry at drop off. Now he’s two and at a new nursery attached to his school he loves it and runs straight in. Earlier is not necessarily better from personal experience but I’m not sure you can do anything to prepare other than talking about it 😊

Just as a bit of reassurance hopefully, my little girl started about a month ago. She is so attached to me. When we’re at groups we’ve been to since she was newborn she won’t leave my side, needs me to go round soft play etc with her. The first week of nursery she went in incredibly well, no tears, just gave me a kiss and ran in. Since then she doesn’t want to talk about it and once she realises where we’re going she is very tearful. However once we’re there and she sees the nursery workers she gives them a huge smile and reaches out to them. Nursery has said she’s always been absolutely fine there. The second week it took her about 10 mins of upset on the first day before she settled and that was really hard with her calling me and reaching for me as I left her, but as I say she calmed so quickly and had a lovely day. She’s still pretty clingy when shes at home with me and I don’t think that will change!

@Nada most likely! At that age separation anxiety isn’t at its peak anymore and they need and enjoy social interactions with their peers. They will still need to adjust of course but they are older and understand more. Of course, every child is different.

@Kristine thank you for reassurance !!!

I would say that drop off tears are normal. Mine used to cry when I dropped off then not want to leave when I picked up! Wonder if your chosen nursery would temporarily send a pic or video to reassure you that they’ve cheered up quick etc once you’ve left. I know a lot of people do shorter days to settle in too