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Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

When do we start looking for childcare?

8 replies

KittenCamile · 20/03/2018 19:16

Hello,

I am 28 weeks pregnant with our first. I have started looking on line at nursery’s in our area but wondered when you first actually make the leap to looking in person and booking places?

Am I being very previous or is it best to sort it early?

I know when I will go back to work and what days and times we will need child care but am I just doing this all too early or is it normal to start considering?
Thank you!

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jannier · 21/03/2018 09:35

I'm a child-minder and have some places booked in for September which were to siblings who put name and deposit down when they were 12 weeks pregnant and planning a year off. (3 babies in one year so all booked spaces straight away and started to return from 9 months old last one will be 16 months in September.
I would get a list of possible settings and go visit don't forget there are option to nurseries child-minding is regulated and inspected by Ofsted and works to the same standards (EYFS) you can get single child-minders, groups of 2 or 3 working from the same house or ones with up to 4 assistants, and then you get an in between Child care on domestic premises which are like mini nurseries.

Toomanycats99 · 21/03/2018 05:52

I booked just after my 12 week scan to use it one day a week from 7 months. Only just got the place!

That nursery still has waiting lists of 1 year plus.

pigshavecurlytails · 21/03/2018 05:22

13 weeks pregnant ! To go back at one year.

Original poster
KittenCamile · 20/03/2018 20:14

Brilliant, thank you for your feed back!

I have seen two I like the look of so will call and have a look. At least I know now I won’t look like a crazy lady if other people look this early.

OP posts:
PurplePotatoes · 20/03/2018 19:22

I would start now. The nursery my DC are in recently made a social media post about how parents sometimes presume they can book in a few months before but that a lot of nurseries are full and have long waiting lists.

Wh0KnowsWhereTheT1meG0es · 20/03/2018 19:21

Don't forget a lot of spaces go to second and subsequent siblings who often get priority or parents tipped off that they need to book in early.

Wh0KnowsWhereTheT1meG0es · 20/03/2018 19:20

I started at about the time you are at now and still found it hard to find a nursery place for all the days I wanted. There do seem to be more nurseries nowadays though. Why not give a couple a ring and ask about their waiting lists?

welshweasel · 20/03/2018 19:20

I booked DS in when I was 17 weeks pregnant and got the last space. I went back to work quite early though. Depends on area as to how soon you need to book!

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