My dd was exactly the same as yours and oh my days, i wish id been warned beforehand of the stress it causes you!!!

I started her at 2 1/2, fine at first then she would be very clingy, wouldnt let me leave her etc etc. Id watch her through the window & when i picked her up, she was the same withdrawn & sucking her thumb.

It has taken a while after ME having fits and crying at the teachers to help me cos i couldnt go through it anymore, i was praying for the day when she'd just run into nursery happy and say bye. They told me that shes fine when i leave, she was just simply trying it on with me.

So we came to an arrangement that instead of just saying bye and leaving her to get involved in an activity area, i would actually hand her over to one of the staff and do it that way and it has finally worked. Its took a year!!!!!!! She now seems settled & happy to go to nursery but im surprised i havent gone grey.

Talk to the staff and work something out, they will help you. Best of luck, i know how you feel xxxx

My first dd had to go to a nursery at 10 months and she hated every minute !!!! but I had to work so there was no other choice. It took her ages to settle in but after a few months she was well in there lol. after a year I gave up work but continued to take her and she loved it. She is now in full time school and even starting there she was in front of the head teacher 4 times in three days but thankfully she seems to have settled down now (fingers crossed) dd 2 is 2 years old now and she seems to have taken to pre-school like a duck to water luckily I have to call her back to give her a kiss good bye lol xx

thanks very much. she 2yrs 7 months. im just really worried about her and it just feels like all the other kids are enjoying it. shes quite insecure at moment and keeps saying i love you mummy and wants lots of hugs which is understandable. i just feel so sorry for her that she is left with a room full of strangers but she has to go at some point. i am also 21 weeks pregnant and i wanted her to go before the baby arrives so she doesnt feel like she is being pushed out. it breaks my heart to see her so unhappy x

I would say that this is a very typical reaction to starting pre-school. I expect your LO was fine the first time because there was so much to take in and she wasnt aware that mummy was going to leave her and not come back for a while. Now she realises this, she may be finding it hard to accept. My DS started nursery when he was 2yrs (part time) and it took him months to get settled. He cried when I dropped him off and was quite 'wobbly' during the sessions for quite a while. It used to break my heart having to leave him and I worried the whole time he was there but I trusted that the staff would let me know if he was really upset. I know it is hard but I would really stick with it and Im sure your LO will get used to it over time. My DS runs into nursery now and cant wait to wave goodbye to me! I have many friends whose LO's also go to nursery/pre school and literally every one of them has experienced the same thing so you are not alone. Good luck and stay strong x

how old is dd hun?

dd started pre school two weeks ago and has been 4 times. she keeps telling me she doesnt like it. she was fine the first day but has cried on and off for all the other 3. when she is there she is withdrawn and just lays on the carpet sucking her thumb. she has joined in a little bit with singing and sat at the snack table. has anyone had experience of this or can offer any advice. she is quite shy and has never been away from me and dh or grandparents/auntie. thank you x