[nwparents]

Our son is 18 months old now, and has been in daycare a few days a week for the past 9 months. He never cried when I would drop him off until recently - the last two weeks or so.

What is going on!? Why is he all of a sudden hysterical when I leave him at daycare?

Any advice forum friends??

[carlyincali]

My thought is either he is starting a clingy phase right now; or he might have had some sort of traumatic experience at the daycare.

I'm not sure what I would do if I were in your shoes. But I would be very concerned.

[beachdreams]

Honestly I would not freak out yet. Bailey goes through phases off and on where she does not want to go to daycare but when I pick her up she is usually having so much fun she does not want to leave either. I would talk to the teachers and see if there have been any changes etc and go from there.

[mom2behappy]

You should first speak with the teachers and see if there have been any major changes such as a change in teachers or aides, another question is how is he when picked up? i would not just write it off as a clingy moment especially if there is crying involved.

[curlyqgyrl]

Hopefully your daycare would have told you if something big happened. It probebly is just seperation anxiety. I see it in most of my daycare children from ages 8 months-5 years. They go through little phases like that. If he is happy during the day at daycare and happy when you pick him up or doesn't want to leave daycare at the end of the day, that is a pretty good indication that it is NOT something that happened at daycare. I have a few kids that cry every single morning when they get dropped off, and they have been coming for over a year. But then they are fine right after mom or dad leaves and when they come to back they don't want to leave ME.

[JillnChris]

I don't know, I think I would be worried. If it is something the daycare doesn't want you to know then they aren't going to tell you. This is the only way your child has to communicate with you right now.

[kimy]

They go through a separation axiety period at around 18 months again.. It's probably that but ask if anything else went on at Daycare..
Kim

[tooskis]

My son went through a similar period recently at around 21 months. He used to just wave bye and not care when I left him at daycare and then in recent weeks he got a bit more clingy and cried when I left. There were two thinks I noticed: 1) There is a new teacher who I can tell he doesn't really care for. She's not mean, just stoic and monotone when she talks to the kids. She doesn't give him the same warm and fuzzies the other teachers do so when she approaches him in the morning, he's not receptive. 2) He really likes watching certain shows in the morning now - Wiggles, Mickey Mouse, etc. If I get him out of his highchair and let him sit in front of the TV even for a few minutes, he doesn't want to leave and immediately becomes fussy. This carries over into being fussy during the car ride to daycare, fussy getting out of the car and fussy when I leave him. I caught onto this issue quickly and we adjusted our routine at home. So far -- so good!!

[gibbs7263]

I am a big freak about things like that. I worry about the worst at daycares if you get my drift........ My daughter was 3 1/2 when she started going and just a few months ago things were hysterical for her. I was very concerned that something was going on. However when investigating she said one of the teachers were mean to her. I asked why and she said that she was playing in the teachers purse. Aha! Now I know she was OK. Just didn't like someone else reprimanding her. I would ask the teachers if anything is different. Even now my daughter does it for a show and she is 5. SHe only acts hysterical if I drop her off rather that DH.

[KKR213]

I think it is the age too. John started crying again for a few weeks at drop off but has stopped by the time I am outside (I peek in the window to make sure). At John's daycare, all the kids in his age group seem to be having a hard time at drop off lately.

Does your son cry for a long time after you leave?

But I would definitely ask the daycare if there has been a change in staff or routine. A friend of mine's little boy gets upset after coming in from the playground.

Hang in there!

[CandaceT]

My bio son has gone through some phases like that too. As parents, I think we're prepared for the separation anxiety to start around 9 months of age, but maybe just assume it gets better as they get older. Not too long ago, I read that it actually peaks around 18 months. So my guess is that's what's going on. But, of course, it's always a good idea to be vigilant about what's going on at daycare so we can advocate for our precious children when it's warranted. I've made "constructive suggestions" to the director of our daycare on a couple of occasions when I observe things that I'm not particularly comfortable with (like teachers cleaning the room instead of picking up a child that's crying or something).