My 2yo son started child care early November. Prior to that he has always either been in my care, or my Mum's (she would have him while I was at work). I'm currently on Maternity leave, we had a baby girl in September. I wanted to put him into Child care for two reasons, firstly, for the social aspect, secondly, early in the new year, I have to return to work. I know that my Mum having him the hours I will have to work will be too much for her. So I am trying to ease him into it by having him go 2 days a week, and as of the new year will be 3 days.
He gets upset every morning when we get into the car park, sometimes before we even leave the house. I usually stay in the centre (out of sight) once I have taken him into his room, until it know he he has stopped crying. Some days are better than others - There have been days where he's stopped crying and he's walking around outside, quite content before I've even left the building.
This afternoon, I picked him up, later than usual. The kids were outside and I saw him before he saw me. He was walking around. Not running, not playing. He went and sat beside his favourite teacher, and when I walked up to him and said hello, the look he gave me broke my heart. He saw me, then turned to his teacher said "Mummy"' in a shaky voice, then looked back at me, dropped his lip and burst out crying. It's like, he was so relieved to see me, which makes me think, that he must feel like he's been abandoned!
The teachers said he had a "good day". He ate lunch (for the first time) and afternoon tea. He had a sleep, and there were no tears after initial drop off.
Have other Mother's experienced this with their kids? Does it get easier? Did you do anything to help?
5 Replies
Hahaha it's common for kids to do this. He's just adjusting and he is fine! It's just when he saw you he remembered he was upset when you left not that he was upset all day. It sounds like he is settling in well and in the long run your doing the right thing.
I am going through this now with my 2 year old son!!!!!!! He has been in daycare since may and is in 3 days a week. He still cries most mornings when I drop him off and then settles as soon as I leave!!! Then when I pick him up he does the same as your son and cries!! I think it's normal but it's soooooo hard as I feel so guilty!!!!! But as long as he is settled when you leave then that's all you can hope for. I have even rung centre a few times during day and ask how he is and he is normally fine and running around. It just takes time to adjust and he is only still very little. All the best! Just no you are not alone!
I work in a day care Centre and it is very normal! Hehe it's hard but trust me it's probably harder for you then him. Usually they cry at first but once you leave they have a good day. He's probably still adjusting to everything but trust me kids end up loving day care!
My loved one has been going 3 days a week since she was 10mo. She's now almost been there 2yrs and cries and protests about going before hand every time. I regularly leave after drop off almost in tears myself even now.
Like you we eased into it gradually over 8 weeks.
I know that generally she likes daycare but would rather be with me.
I can't lie, it took her 6 months to really settle in to daycare.
My advice is this:
* persist
* keep a very open line of communication with his carers and centre management
* while he's there call for an update on his welfare as often as you need
* communicate with him why its necessary for him to go
* consider a different type of daycare, perhaps the larger group doesn't work for him
* be super considerate of his needs during this phase
* communicate with him about how his day was each time, draw his attention to positive aspects
* know that you are doing the right thing for his future
X
Totally normal, they never like to say goodbye and often cry when u pick them up as it is the end of the day and they don't like seeing the other parents coming in to collect their kids. As long as he settles after u leave and the carers say he has had a good day then he's fine. Don't kill yourself over it it's not worth the stress. They would tell u if he was unhappy all day. I was exactly the same with my first and now I know they are actually fine and learn so much and you have to do it so no point in worrying yourself silly! Enjoy the one on one with your baby and be glad your son had 2yrs of family care. Lots of kids are in care from 6 weeks of age and are there 5 days a week : )