The aim of this study was to investigate the thoughts and feelings of mothers who evacuated to other prefectures in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, during three periods: before evacuation, during evacuation, and after returning to Fukushima Prefecture. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for later qualitative analysis with seven mothers who were raising babies and children initially when they evacuated to outside of the prefecture. Due to widespread panic and anxiety about the level of radiation that was not lessened by the complexity and changing nature of the data supplied by the government, the information provided by the mothers in the community convinced them that any radiation would harm their young children. This prompted them to evacuate as a protective measure. During the evacuation period, in addition to the difficulties caused by their sudden move to an unfamiliar location, they endured the hardships of living separated from other family members while raising their children alone, as well as struggling to fit in socially. After returning to Fukushima, they experienced another struggle in human relations with mothers who had not evacuated. They were also worried that their children might be subjected to discrimination. Their fears about the risk that radiation posed to their children’s health is what motivated them to adopt various protective measures, but this resulted in their being unable to give their children the kind of safe and stable life that children need to thrive. I conclude that the thoughts and feelings of mothers who had returned to Fukushima from evacuation to other prefectures need to be well understood. Supporting them by sharing their concerns while providing necessary information on radiation based on this understanding is desirable.