20/08/2026
Do you have a child starting nursery in September?
One of the hardest parts of that first day is often the bit after you leave.
You walk out of the door, get back to the car, and immediately start wondering:
Are they still crying?
Have they settled?
Should I have stayed longer?
Have I done the right thing?
Almost every parent asks us some version of the same question at collection:
“So… did they settle?”
And usually, what they really mean is:
“Were they upset the whole time I was gone?”
So here’s the honest answer.
Some children cry when their parent leaves. Some don’t. Some seem completely fine at drop-off and then have a wobble later in the morning.
All of those responses are normal.
For many children, the tears at the door only last a few minutes.
Not because they have suddenly forgotten you, and not because anyone is trying to distract them from how they feel.
It’s because someone they are beginning to trust is there with them.
They’re held. They’re comforted. Their feelings are acknowledged.
And then, quite often, something catches their attention.
Water.
Dough.
Car.
A favourite toy.
Something to carry, pour, dig, build or explore.
Little hands become busy and, slowly, their body begins to settle too.
A good nursery shouldn’t be trying to stop a child from feeling sad.
We should be helping them feel safe while they are sad.
That means having a familiar person there to meet them.
It means comforting rather than simply distracting.
It means paying attention to what helps that individual child regulate.
And it means being honest with you afterwards - including telling you if parts of the morning were difficult.
There’s also a question we think every parent should feel completely comfortable asking a nursery:
“If my child is still very upset after a while, what will you do and will you call me?”
You deserve a clear answer.
At Wonderbloom, if we’re concerned that your child isn’t settling, we ring you.
We would much rather have an open conversation with you than leave you wondering all day.
And perhaps the biggest thing we want parents to know is this:
The first day is often harder for you than it is for them.
