Sounds like you're doing all the right things to help him settle in. Doesn't make it easier for you though, does it?! It's HEARTBREAKING walking away as they cry. My DD was 11 months when she started and would scream as I walked away and then cry for 10 minutes or so for the first 5-10 drop o***. (I'd then go off and have a cry myself). Then it went to brief tears (no screaming) and a bit of 'mum, mum, mum' but they said she settled within a few minutes. Now it's all I can do to get a 'goodbye' - ie, she's off playing with something and I go and sign her in, put her stuff away and then go to give her a kiss and she looks at me like "oh, you're still here?!".

I guess you just have to use your judgement (and work with the carers) in deciding how much distress is 'too much', and how much is just going to be an unfortunate part of helping him to settle. I was confident in the carers to make the call if DD got too distressed - and they affirmed this by calling me back early once when she seemed unusually upset and didn't settle in the usual time-frame. You know from leaving him with your parents that he can separate so there's a good sign that he should be able to adjust to this new scenario. Fingers crossed it happens very soon for you both. xoxo