Going to Nursery

It can take a few weeks/month for them to settle so id keep at it. Is he okay when he's there?

i would try to find play groups instead that way he can have other little friends and you can be nearby so he doesn’t feel abandoned

I’m not sure if you’ll traumatise him by persevering but I think the benefits of nursery for socialising is overemphasised, especially under 3. Do what your instinct tells you! I’ve got my boy at home with me/ close family and wouldn’t have it any other way for now. X

My stepdaughter did this for a while, but the moment we left she was laughing and playing, just need to persevere! It does get easier! Xx

Three days in a row is maybe a bit of a shock to the system. Could you just try 2 days a week to begin with, maybe with a break? Maybe he was just exhausted. I’m not very good at coming up with educational things to do so my LO being in nursery is great (not that I have an option) because she knows some letters, numbers etc and has been taught some skills that it wouldn’t have occurred to me to think of teaching her.

Why do you feel he needs to be away from you at such a young age? It's really the best thing for him to be with his mum right now. We meet up with other mums and their toddlers for playdates and go to some groups but I wouldn't even contemplate sending my daughter off alone.

I agree with Alice. It’s completely overemphasised. I wouldnt send mines under 3. My son went to pre-school at 3.5 and my daughter will be the same. If it’s purely for socialising local play groups or regular soft play visits are enough. He’ll benefit more being with you❤️❤️

@Alice I’m just so scared of F’ing it all up. He is such a good boy. He’s kind and gentle, he sleeps and eats well. We don’t have tantrums or problems really, he has the odd moment once in a blue moon but I’m an ignore the crazy parent and he snaps right out of it 😂 I have worked so hard to have a strong attachment. We co sleep and from the moment he wakes up to going to sleep he’s a real pleasure to be around. And I’m scared he’s going to think I’m not coming back or he’s going to feel abandoned ect. I don’t need to send him it’s a choice I just don’t want it to be the wrong one if you know what I mean x

@Lauren the first 5 times he was fine he’s only there 3 mornings for 31/2 hours. But he took about 45 minutes to settle the last time when he got upset 😢

@sydney yes this is my fear that he will feel abandoned 😔 we do go to play groups x

I had my son in preschool starting at 2.5. For about 6 months. We moved so had to withdrawal him but we also had a baby in those months so it was forsure helpful for me postpartum. However he would often not want to go and it became really stressful to take him so I am happy to have him back home. This was an option for our family and i think what was best for him.

If it’s an option and you feel happy having him at home - excellent, they really are the happiest with their moms for the first three years.

@Jennifer it sounds like you’re a great mum with a good thing going with your boy. You probably just need to back yourself. You can always change your mind X

@Nicola I don’t feel the need for him to be away from me. He’s my shadow from the moment I open my eyes till I climb into bed beside him. I’m a solo mum by choice so it’s just me and I’m his everything and he is mine. It’s not a case of wanting him to be away from me it’s a case of not wanting to hold him back if he wants to seek out others to play with independently. I want nothing more then to keep my little bean close. I understand not everyone has that choice or privilege to be able to stay at home I just wanted to seek out other’s opinions & ask if anyone had gone through this. Regardless of whether or not you would contemplate this decision others have and have no choice but to do so. I think those of us who are privileged enough to have the choice should remember that.

My LG has been in Nursery since January, she goes 2 days a week and there's only been a handful of occasions where she hasn't cried on drop off. I'm always reassured that she settles within 5/10mins. They send photos etc of her joining in and having fun to give me peace of mind. She's come on so much since being there, albeit the leaving her upset is very hard but I know its doing her good being around other little ones, learning to share and play with different toys/activities. I work so my MIL has her one day, then 2 days at nursery. The rest of the time she's with me. Weigh it up, the pros and cons. If it's causing you both too much stress you can always try again in a other 6 months or so xx

Honestly, if I had the opportunity, I would keep him at home and start a bit later. We’ve decided that our little boy will start nursery lightly after his third birthday. There’s a nursery very close to us, and we often bump into little groups when we’re out and about. We always wave to them and say hello! I sometimes ask him if he’d like to go to nursery to play with other children, and he always says, ‘No! Mummy home!’ At this age, they don’t need peers to learn social skills, they learn by interacting with adults, not from other toddlers who are still figuring it out themselves. So if you’re worried about that, there’s really no need to rush it.