Turning Nursery Nerves Into Confidence: 4 Things That Helped Me
Meet Juanita, mother and member of our fantastic Parent Panel*; a diverse community of Bright Horizons parents sharing their experiences of raising happy, thriving and confident children. In this blog, Juanita how she eased her anxiety during the early days of her little one starting nursery.
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Starting nursery was a milestone I knew would be exciting for my child, but I had not realised just how emotional it would be for me. The first few days were filled with mixed feelings: pride at seeing them take this big step, but also worry, guilt, and even a little heartbreak at saying goodbye. I found myself wondering how they would settle, whether they would miss me, and if I had done the right thing. Over time, I discovered a few simple ways to manage these worries and ease the transition for both of us.
- Talking to other parents
One of the biggest comforts came from connecting with other parents who were going through the same thing. Hearing that they had the same anxieties, whether it was about children settling in, making friends, or missing home, made me feel less alone. A good way to start these conversations is at the nursery gates during drop off or pick up, or by joining an open day where you can meet others in the same situation. Those small chats helped me realise my worries were normal and gave me a sense of community.
- Creating a consistent goodbye routine
Drop-offs were tough at the start, so having a small ritual made all the difference. For us, it began with singing an upbeat song together on the way to nursery, which set a cheerful tone for the morning. When we arrived, we shared a cuddle, a high five, and then a wave at the window before I left. That little routine gave my child a sense of security and gave me confidence that we would both be okay once I walked away. Over time, this consistency helped turn a stressful moment into something calmer and more predictable.
- Reminding myself to give it time
In those early days, I was impatient for everything to feel normal. But I soon realised it takes time for both parent and child to adjust to such a big change. As the weeks passed, I started to see my child’s confidence grow: smiling at new friends, running to join activities, and telling me about their day with excitement. Each of those moments reassured me that nursery was a positive step forward, and that my initial worries would ease with patience.
- Getting to know the staff
Building relationships with the nursery staff made a huge difference to how I felt. Taking a few minutes to chat at drop off or pick up gave me reassurance that my child was in safe and caring hands. Hearing little updates from the team about what my child had enjoyed that day was a wonderful boost. The more I got to know them, the more confident I became that my child was happy and thriving in their care.
If you enjoyed this blog, you can check out more of our early childcare resources in our Family Resource Zone!
And, if you're not yet a Bright Horizons parent, but are interested in what our nurseries can offer your child on their exciting educational journey, book a personal tour at your local nursery today!
