Continuity and structure are still very important at that age, so it isn’t strange your son responds with being unsettled after the changes in your family and the changes in his daycare. If anything don’t add more changes, but keep as much as possible the same routine and be there for him. He might not be so happy when you drop him off, but he’s ok when you pick him up. Many children of that age go through a stage of separation anxiety. My 4 yr old still winces and clings on to me when I leave her at childcare. I just make my goodbye brief and leave, because I know she’s totally fine. I wouldn’t worry to much, seems your boy is just adjusting to the new circumstances.

It may be the changes of staff leaving that has him feeling unsettled. Children form attachments and it is emotionally traumatic when separation takes place. He does not have the language skills to tell you. Also the new baby has altered the family dynamics. Speak to the director of his center and ask her how things are going with these changes. The fact that he is okay when you collect him suggests he is adjusting.

With a couple of his carers leaving, it would be upsetting for him. If you are able to, I’d see if you can go along for an hour or so when he’s there, to see how he interacts with the other carers and children. It may be that there’s one or two children that are picking on him, and he doesn’t know how to deal with this. Or there may be a carer that is less than friendly to him. Good luck, I hope you find a solution.

He obviously doesn’t like change so changing day care centre is not the answer …. Is there any males at the centre ? If you can I would go spend some time with him there and see what is happening

I would consider changing daycare centres.

there are some good comments here

Hope he is happier there now.

Hope he’s a happier little munchkin now

did you ever find why he didn’t want to go?

Did you end up finding out the cause for him being reluctant to go?

i would go with him for a bit

Maybe go with him for the day and observe to make sure that there isn’t something happening to him there. “Bullying ect”

Sounds like he has had a lot of change in the last couple of months, maybe there is another child he is not getting along with. My son used to clash with another child, so he never wanted to go to preschool so I changed days and we haven’t had a problem since.

How did you go?

Good luck and I hope you find something out

Please don’t blame yourself. This happened with my child and we eventually worked out that one of the babies (younger than her) was hitting and biting her. The teachers had no idea!

He’s probably doesn’t like all the changes that has happened, its a bit scary when you have new carers at day care and not use to the ones you normally have. Good luck and I hope you find something.

I know you said you have spoken to the staff at daycare, what would be good is if you were allowed to stay at the day care one day to see what goes on but I don’t know if they would allow that.

Children can have a very odd way of seeing things sometimes.
They over hear things that we say that can be totally innocent but they take them the wrong way.
You have your son in daycare but you dont say if you are going to work and the baby is in childcare also or if you are dropping your son at childcare and then going home with the baby. If you are going home with the baby is it possible that he is suddenly seeing this as a way you can get rid of him to spend more time alone with the baby?? Remember that you are dealing with a childs way of thought which at times can be so very complex.

Have you ever been late in picking him up? Perhaps he was scared that you were not coming to get him.

Dont for get as far as the baby is concerned when it was first born it was pretty boring but as the baby gets older it becomes more of a human being and feeling jealous can creep in at any time.

It could be a phase as my two boys went through this, But if he is still getting upset maybe a family daycare would be better for him. I found these to be like going to a loving family friend for the day. Also as they have the same career everyday they will be able to tell you more about your child than a big center would. I think he just loves being with his mum and dad.