Hi there, I used to work in the nursery at a child care centre, and i promise you that most of the babies that started new with us had an adjustment period where they would be upset when mum or dad left. Some cried for a few minutes, some cried on and off all day. Some kids settled in within a few weeks, for others it can take a bit longer. It is a big adjustment for the little ones esspeically with seperation anxiety peaking at that age, but the kids so settle in their own time and and she will soon start to enjoy it and make new friends Its a hard time for any parent to know their child is upset and they aren't there to comfort them, but day care really is fantastic for learning and development and socialising and your DD will soon settle in fine.

We always told the new parents to come in and have a play for 5 minutes with the child, then say "goodbye, mummy will see you soon" or something along the lines of that. Sneaking out to avoid upsetting them isn't good because they dont know where you've been. Saying goodbye teaches them that mummy has to go, but they soon learn that mummy or daddy always comes back later. Another suggestion is that when you or your partner picks her up in the afternoon, maybe hang around for 5 or 10 mins and have a play with her there at the centre so she can see what a fun and nice place it can be.

The reason the staff would have said that you going up to breastfeed you DD at lunch time is that it makes it harder on the child to have to say goodbye for a second time, and repeat the process all over again. When you pick up the child at the end of the day they will be unsure if its time to go home or if mummy will go again, therefore upsetting them again.

We did have parents that would come and breastfeed then leave again, and in the end it is the mums choice to do that, but i'm just explaining to you the reasons they don't suggest it.

Good luck with everything, I hope she settles in well soon