Moved-new daycare: How long for transition?

ColesMommy0606

DH & I just moved back to New England from FL about a month ago. Our DS has been attending a new daycare for almost 3 weeks. Every morning the drop off process is horrible. This morning he started protesting in the parking lot. 

He's been attending daycare since he was 3 months old, La Petite Academy from 3 months to 1 year and The Goddard School from 1 year to about 20 months. He's always loved school and we've never had this problem. Other than occasionally whining on Monday mornings he's always gone right to his teacher and started playing. We actually would have to bribe him to leave school on some days. 

Now it seems like he's happy when we tell him he's going to school but as soon as we get there he starts screaming "no!" and hysterically crying. I've tried staying with him until the morning activities start, I've tried leaving right away. I'm not sure if this is a sign that he really hates the school or if it's just part of the whole transition. 

How long would you give the transition process before considering changing schools?

Thank you 

jnealet

That's a tough one because its not just a transition to a new daycare, its a whole life change for your lo.  How is he after you leave?  Do the teachers say that he's doing ok?  How does he talk about school when he's home?  Does it sound like he's having fun - I know he probably can't give you an indepth review but does he seem happy when you talk about school?

ColesMommy0606

Yes, it's been a big change. He has good days and bad days with the whole move thing. 

He seems happy when we tell him he's going to school but then when we pull in he screams. I've never experienced this before, normally he's trying to wrestle out of his car seat to get into school!

I call and they say it takes him 10 minutes to settled down. I called today, an hour later and he was still crying and saying "mommy!". I've asked him if he likes his teacher and he says yes. I've asked if he likes school and he says yes as well.

I don't know if he's just having a hard time with the whole change in general or if he's bored at this daycare.  

NicoleWright8

We switched daycare when DS was 18 months old. It took about 3 weeks of dropoff meltdowns before he got used to it which was hard because he had always done well with transitions. Our pedi suggested doing a drop off routine so he would learn what to expect every day. So I would get him out of the car, let him ring the doorbell, ask him for a kiss, hand him off and say "bye bye. Mommy will be back later". It really seemed to help. Good luck! 

jenn_darrin1515

I would give it at least a month before I even started looking around...my girls took a full 3 weeks to transition at 15 months...in your case your LOs whole world has changed, so I would definitly give it more time...I like the idea of insistuting a morning routine for him, I think that will be helpful for him to know what to expect....GL!