19 Mo. Old Throwing Fits When Dropping off at Daycare.

This is wildly familiar to what I experienced a couple months ago. My son is just short of 21 months, and a couple months ago, he started freaking out when I dropped him off at his daycare. He'd scream and hold on to me for dear life... as if you don't have enough guilt for having to send them to daycare anyway, right?!?! He seemed fine when I'd go pick him up, and sometimes he didn't even want to leave they daycare. I was also concerned, so I started paying extra attention and asking lots of questions. In the end, I am pretty sure it was just a stage, but having said that, you don't want to automatically dismiss something your daughter may be trying to tell you. Just listen and watch carefully. Try to ask her about the teachers and how she feels about them. If you have any doubt that something funny may be going on, then you will most definitely want to investigate. Good luck!

My first reaction to reading your post was to ask the daycare if something has happened to your daughter while in the breakfast room. It could be something a little as a couple of children leaving her out or something someone said. At least then your daycare provider can be aware of the issue, and maybe watch a little closer. It sounds like overall she likes the daycare--it just sounds from your post that it has something to do w/ the area where you drop her off.

If it is just a phase, is there anyway that your husband can drop off and you pick up? That is what we do, I noticed that my 14 month old daughter would cry a bit if I drop her off--but when my husband does she runs to play. I have heard other mommies that have set up their arrangement this way as well--easier on us mom's to get the big hugs and go home with us than for us to leave them w/ tears.

Good Luck!

A coupe things I would recommend trying is sending a picture, a favorite blanket or stuffed animal to school with her. Sometimes having something familiar from home can help. I have a 35 mo old who started preschool a couple months ago. She was at home with me until then. She is still adjusting so I understand how heartbreaking it is! She screams and cries each time, but it is getting better. I started giving her a family picture to hold on to and look at when she misses me. The teacher says that is seems to help. With my DS, who is now 5, when he went through separation anxiety, I bought some fabric that you can print on, printed a family picture on it and sewed it on to his favorite blanket that he took to school. He also had a favorite stuffed animal that helped him when he took it to school.
Hang in there! It is a phase and it will get better! If the daycare provider will allow it, you could call a little while after you leave and find out how she is doing. I've done that with both kids and it was reassuring to hear that they typically stop crying a few minutes after you leave. After a few phone calls, it helped me realize that they really are ok once I leave. Now each day when I take her in, as she cries and pleads "No, mommy, come back. Pick me up." I remind myself that she will be ok in a few minutes, bite my lip and head out the door. Good luck!

My son went through a similar phase when he was that age. It is heartbreaking to deal with but it will eventually stop.