Nursery Places

[NorthernGirlie]

Hi All

Not due until March (so a tad previous!) but just wondered if any experienced Mums knew when is best to sort out a Nursery place for the little one. Not planning on returning to work (4 days) until around 7 months after the birth but our baby will have to go to a certain nursery (busy one in central town) because of work / not driving etc. When would be the best time to start looking into it??

[Yummymummyyobe1]

Great Question NorthernGirlie. We have a shortlist of places at this point in time and an idea for schools in the area.

xx

[NorthernGirlie]

Our shortlist is 1!! (it's on my way to work and I've heard good reviews) just don't want to be leaving it too late / trying to sort it too early and looking desperate! LOL ;)

[Cinquefoil]

Now. I looked into it when I was pregnant (four months), with a view to sending DS to nursery at the age of 1 year. Everything was fully booked. We are in London, so that might make a difference. But I think you should do it as soon as possible. (Your views/situation might change once you've had the baby - I now think I was mad to consider sending him to nursery at 1; but had I needed to, I would have been stuck.)

[twittergirl]

If you know which nursery you want then contact them now. Why wait? It's not unusual for popular nurseries to have waiting lists of over 6 months. I put my son's name down when I was about 8 months pregnant (though I lived in London where there is pressure for places). At the time they told me I needed to get his name down by the time he was 2 months old at the latest.

[bananarama05]

My dd is 7 months, we went to view the nursery we thought we'd like to use (distance, recommendations etc) this month. We loved it but they are full until Easter!

Luckily I'm not due back at work until June so no problem for us, but I would suggest maybe giving it some serious thought. Perhaps get yourself a shortlist together based on distance, recommendations, ofsted reports etc then give them a ring and see what waiting lists are like in your area. No need to commit to anything or even go and view yet but it gives an idea what you're working with?

[NorthernGirlie]

Thanks Ladies - I've just rung, they're sending me an information pack in th epost and we're going to book in for a visit in early January - September seems so long away but you're all right - they might have gotten over booked and then we'd have been stuck!! :)

[surreyhillsmumtobe]

Thanks NorthernGirlie for prompting me to have a think about this! You've just spurred me on to phone the nursery that is closest to us and comes recommended to see how their waiting lists work. Like you I'm due in March and planning to take a full year but makes sense not to bury my head in the sand too much about childcare options!

They suggested we make an appointment to have a look round in the new year so I'm adding that to my list of things to do when I start maternity leave!

[breatheslowly]

If you know which one you want then you might as well sort the place out now. DD's nursery is full until September now and we aren't in London, it is just very popular.

[mousysantamouse]

just ask them chance is that they only take 'real' babies on their list, babies that have already been born.

[BroomBuBuBum]

I think the earlier the better. I'm in a small town in Yorkshire and I left it until DD was nearly 4 months. One of the days I wanted was already fully booked. No harm in booking early.

[princesss]

the 3 nurseries i wanted my ds to go to have between 2-3 years waiting list-so when i started looking when he was 6 months old for a place at 2 i was too late! much shocked was i as i thought i had a head start!definately never too early to look....where live people are putting their kids names down when they first find out they are pregnant...the world has gone mad!!!!

[princesss]

that should say where i live....

[VeronicaSpeedwell]

There are massive waiting lists where I am, so DC due in May is down already, for a place at 1yo. Even that is optimistic; my friends got there even earlier and their DC were well past 1 by the time they were offered a place.

[suzikettles]

It's not unusual round here for people to put their dcs on a waiting list for prefered nursery before they're born.