Nanny or Nursery school?

I have read that toddlers go through another separation anxiety phase at around 18 months, and widget i see your lo is almost 17 months so it could be that as well as starting nursery school.

I'm so glad you had a better morning and that you could see how quickly the kids settle down.

He goes half-day - but his Oupa picks him up, and then I fetch him from there after work.

I've also noticed that he's been very clingy this weekend - every time i leave the room, he started crying for me. And his dad wasn't allowed close to him, he only wanted mommy...

Wow JeanineK, that is so good about your little guy!!

Pluss I'm really happy to read that you saw with your own eyes that the crying stops so quickly, because I also have a very hard time believing it!

Hopefully I will have an easier morning like you had today soon Shame I just wish I could explain to her and that she could understand instead of it being such a process. I am really looking forward to picking her up again today. Does you little guy go half or full day?

I have noticed that since last week and especially on the weekend she has been very clingy, I cannot leave her sight or she gets very upset, even my husband battles to console her which is very unusual! I think perhaps it has to do with the fact that I am the one who drops her off and collects her from school and spends the afternoons with her ??

Lets just say this morning was.. interesting

When I arrived at class this morning, one of the mom's was just leaving (she has two boys, not sure if they are twins or just very close in age) - and BOTH of them was SCREAMING - and I mean kicking, fighting, screaming!! And of course, the second my LB saw them crying, he started as well!!!
There was two of the teachers in the classroom, they each took one of the boys, and the mom left. Literaly TWO MINUTES later, both of them was happily playing, tears forgotten!?!?!?

I was just standing there, staring, LB still crying in my arms, when the teacher came to talk to me - and the second he saw her, he let go off me, and stuck out his arms to go to her!

So... All in all, much better this morning
I know they always say the kids calm down as soon as mommy leaves, but I didn't REALLY believe them, until now.
And the fact that my crying, upset son was willing to leave my arms, to go to his teacher, tells me he is in the right place.

Even though he still cried, today was the easiest day by far.

JeanineK I'm so glad to hear that I am not the only one right now who is going through this. Tell me, how did you little one do today when you dropped him off?

Dinky, I am not sure, but I think you need to do what you feel is right for your little one. It all depends on your situation and when you feel your little one is ready for that. I've always heard people say to start of taking them once or twice a week if you can but I don't know. A friend of mine who's baby is the same age as mine has started doing that now with her boy. He goes twice a week to nursery school and stays at home with nanny the other three. Some people say now it's best to just let them start when you need or want them to start nursery school and take them everyday as they get accustomed much quicker then.

Thank you for your post Huggles!

I made sure that I was very cheerful and excited dropping her off this morning, and she was okay at first and smiled when we arrived. I tried to get her to walk with me to her class as I thought it would help but she clung to my leg and wouldn't budge. I said goodbye nicely to her and explained I would be there after she's had her nap and handed her over & she immediately started crying and as I left I waved quickly and disappeared. When I drove out I could still hear her screaming but I could see the minder was being very patient with her and was walking around the play yard to calm her down. To be honest I felt a lot better dropping her off this morning so it was definitely easier for me which I hoped she would pick up on....I am taking her again on Wednesday.

My son has been in creche since 5 months old so that could make a difference, but some months he'll happily stay with the teachers when i leave, and other months he cries when i leave. He pretty much always stops crying as soon as i'm out the room though. On occasion i've actually stood outside the door to see if it really is that quick (the teacher tells me stops once i leave).

I make a point of not hanging around once i've said goodbye though. I think drawing it out too much could make it worse.

BUT, i also take my time dropping him off.

Our usual routine involves me taking him into the class, standing in the doorway for a minute or so while he looks around the class and assesses where he is etc. Then i keep holding him (he's only just started walking so not sure if this will change this year) while i unpack his bags and get his stuff put in the right places and telling the teacher anything she might know.
All of this gives him time to adjust to his surroundings.
Then i pass him to a teacher. Sometimes he turns around and 'clings' to me, so we make a game where i do a 1, 2, 3 pretend pass (pretend pass, on 1, pretend pass on 2, and then real hand over on 3) which he thinks is funny.
Once he's in the teacher's arms i kiss him and say "bye bye my sweetheart, mommy loves you. See you later" and i walk out the class.

Sometimes he cries and it breaks my heart. But the sooner i leave the sooner he calms down.

I do find that if one of the teachers takes him from me as soon as we've walking into the class and he doesn't have those 5 minutes or so to adjust to the new environment, and the teacher takes him rather than me handing him over, then he gets a lot more upset.

But generally the more time you spend saying good bye and then trying to calm them when they cry and then trying to leave and then still hanging around, the longer it takes them to calm down.
I try and keep the good bye as just that, a good bye. Say good bye and leave. If you're still going to be there for a few minutes for whatever reason (talking to the teacher, unpacking, etc), let your child stay with you if they want, and don't say good bye until you really are ready to leave, and then leave.

But i must admit that leaving when he cries still breaks my heart. It really is extremely hard. But going back to fetch him and seeing that little face light up with delight when he sees me is the best thing in the world.

oh hell now I am terrified!

My LG is home with a nanny at the moment. I thought of taking her to school a few mornings a week from 15/18 months.

Do you think it's easier if they start earlier?