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

Original poster

How do people with office jobs make pick up time?

144 replies

Duv · 20/01/2025 19:41

I live in London about an hour from my office in central London, and have my 1 yr old in a nursery that operates 8am-6pm. This just about works for us as I WFH a fair bit and have some my office core hours are 10-4.

But we are planning on moving further out, outside London and commuting about 1.5hrs. Looking a nurseries and childminders in the local area of the new town almost none are open beyond 5.30, and 5 seems to be the norm, with some only open till 4! I appreciate 1.5hrs is a longer commute than most, but even if I had my existing commute time (and I think 1hr is pretty normal for a central London job) I have no idea how anyone is managing to pick up their child before 5.30? Aren't typically working hours 9-5.30? How are you guys doing it?

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EweCee · 20/01/2025 19:55

Only way we did it was change working hours so one of us started work at 7am and work until 4pm and did pick up, the other did drop off and finished work later.

Seamless11 · 20/01/2025 19:54

We have no GP support so made sure we both had WFH roles before we had a child. It would have been almost impossible without that.

ErrolTheDragon · 20/01/2025 19:53

NerrSnerr · 20/01/2025 19:44

The vast majority of people I know who have both parents working office hours out of the home have grandparents who do shit loads of childcare. Everyone else, parents have changed jobs or changed their hours to fit with children.

I work 22.5 hours spread over 4 days and mostly work in school hours.

Yes, the only parents I knew when dd was primary age who both worked FT who didn't have local grandparents willing and able to help with the kids had an au pair.

Purplehummingbirds · 20/01/2025 19:52

Sometimes I wfh. Other times, when I'm in the office, OH collects as his work is close by.

DangerMouseAndPenfoldx · 20/01/2025 19:52

Pre-covid/WFH people would either do a combination of grandparents and childminder (picking kids up at 630/7) or would have a nanny-share.

Original poster
Duv · 20/01/2025 19:52

Me and my partner WFH a lot, though the precise amount is a bit tbh. We are not planning on daily commuting 1.5hours. i

OP posts:
EmmaOvary · 20/01/2025 19:51

Oh God don’t do that OP, delays and cancellations are bad enough without a toddler in tow, imagine having to squeeze onto a packed train with a tiny child, it’s not doable.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 20/01/2025 19:51

I have always needed 8am-6pm childcare. I never chose a nursery or school that couldn't provide this, and my job and home can never be more than 50 minutes apart. I just wouldn't choose a longer journey or a place with poor childcare options.

MumonabikeE5 · 20/01/2025 19:51

Don’t move further out. Moved closer and live in somewhere smaller. Or get a job somewhere closer to home .

school after school clubs are finished by 5/5.30 so that’s 7/8 years of childcare for 1 kid, longer for more.

Original poster
Duv · 20/01/2025 19:49

Loopydaloppy · 20/01/2025 19:43

Would finding a nursery or childminder closer to work help?

I'm considering doing this as a temporary last resort if I can't get a place locally, but it would be much more expensive and mean taking my LO on a 3 hour public transport commute daily which would not be sustainable for either of us.

OP posts:
MidnightPatrol · 20/01/2025 19:48

I would say a 1.5h daily commute for you both, plus a nursery age child is probably impossible for any length of time.

Those I know with a longer commute work alternate days in the city. Or, one works locally.

I have known so, so many mothers end up quitting their jobs / changing career because they double commute + pick up thing is so impossible to manage.

FrannyScraps · 20/01/2025 19:47

I'm a childminder and I've noticed pick up is getting earlier and earlier now. Most are gone by 5pm. I usually only have one child here for dinner these days.

Kattuccino · 20/01/2025 19:47

We found childcare close to where we worked rather than close to where we lived.

OnlyMothersInTheBuilding · 20/01/2025 19:47

I'm a lone parent have a WFH agreement some days, and on others I have permission to leave early to get back in time for pick up and then make up hours in the evening, which has not made me popular, but needs must unfortunately. That's on a 1 hour commute too.

Are both of you working 5 days on site until 5/5:30pm? If so I think that will be very difficult to sustain with a longer commute. Most families will use a mixture of opposing WFH days, compressed or flexible hours or part time work.

Tubetrain · 20/01/2025 19:46

One does dropoff and stays late, the other goes into work early and does pickup. And of course a 1.5h commute is bonkers.

HamSandwichKiller · 20/01/2025 19:45

Take turns WFH and take turns doing drop off and pickup. Also are you sure this move is actually possible? I wouldn't want to sign up for that kind of commute without some kind of amazing payoff - no point having a stunning house if you never see it.

NerrSnerr · 20/01/2025 19:44

The vast majority of people I know who have both parents working office hours out of the home have grandparents who do shit loads of childcare. Everyone else, parents have changed jobs or changed their hours to fit with children.

I work 22.5 hours spread over 4 days and mostly work in school hours.

Loopydaloppy · 20/01/2025 19:43

Would finding a nursery or childminder closer to work help?

Oldcrockpot · 20/01/2025 19:42

Nanny. No money left ever.