When did you book a nursery place for your child?

[ShirleyPhallus]

I’m pregnant atm and friends of mine have told me that they booked their nursery places as soon as they’d conceived, taking in to account their whole pregnancy and a year of mat leave also. So almost 2 years in advance.

We have booked up now to see some in the area but it seems crazy to me! How far ahead did you book your nursery place?

When she was about 6 months old due to my changing days at work. There were some nurseries I couldn’t get into at that point.

I went back to work just before she was a year old.

depends on nursery, some fill up quite early and others not so much
we booked in jan 2019 , my son started in April 2019.
I;d do a visit to the ones you like and ask them about their conditions regarding booking

For a private nursery for entry at 1yr old, I registered when I was 16 weeks pregnant and was still on a waiting list.

It will depend on the nursery, I went back to work after 9 months and due to being messed around by two childminders booked nursery two weeks before he started. It worked out to be the best thing we could have done, fantastic nursery and now he goes to the school on the same site.

When dd was 3 months old, 8 months before I went back to work. There were unborn babies who had places booked.

1- when he was 3 weeks old
2 - when she was born

The nursery we used only took booking for children who had actually been born.

1 year and 5 months- started at 18 months.

A week before. Nurseries are nowhere near full where we are. Ask around where you are as it varies a lot.

I was 16 weeks pregnant. I needed a FT baby space from when he was 4.5 months old, and there weren't that many choices. However when we moved when he was 17 months old, we managed to get a space straightaway - though one nursery only had spaces once a year

When I was 5 months pregnant, for going back to work at 9 months old. I couldn't get one of the days I wanted for another three months after that.

12 weeks pregnant, but it's my work nursery that is hugely in demand and they have an 18 month waiting list

5 weeks pregnant but the waiting list is ridiculous!

About 5 months pregnant, and we were too late for one of the days we wanted!

I manage a nursery and certain days in our baby room are full till the end of 2020
We do have a couple of babies that have been booked in before being born

At 20 weeks pregnant

20 weeks pregnant with DS1, DH still had to take a week of leave as couldn’t get a place quite in time. DS2 I think I was about 14 weeks pregnant. The good nurseries round here have long waiting lists.

I was about 5 months pregnant and was still on a waiting list for a while. Went back to work at 1 but put dc in for 2 months to gradually build up before starting. People took the piss out of me then complained when they could t get into my nursery which is very sought after and I had a space 🤷‍♀️

When I was 6 months pregnant. I went back when she was 9 months old. There wasn't a waiting list for me but my friend who wanted only 2 days had to go on a list for the same nursery.

One place I rang a year in advance (still pregnant) to take LO at 6 months and they said they had a space on Friday's only. Current nursery have notified us that they are booked up for next year. Other places have spaces but are more expensive/less convenient/seem less engaging. It all depends on how popular a nursery is and what your alternatives are. Don't delay if you have very specific needs.

At 20 weeks pregnant. For a part time place when she was a year. I would have hated to miss out on our first choice. Friends of mine left it too late and have ended up with their second or even third choice so it's definitely worth doing.

Dc1 was born in Sept, I wanted nursery for the following August, and just before Xmas other mums told me to sort it quick. Called 4 nurseries, the main in-demand nursery had no spaces for a year, the one I went for could do me the 3 days a week I wanted as long as I didn't need Wednesdays, other two had space. No childminders with spaces at all.
Shortly after, one nursery expanded and a new one opened, which helped, but childminders still have about a 2 year waiting list.

About 4 mths before needed when he was 5mths old but didn't get exactly what I wanted.
I'll be doing it much earlier this time

We booked when she was 12 weeks old for her to start 3 days a week at 9 months old when I was returning to work. They only had availability for three specific days. We also considered another local nursery who also only had availability for three (different) specific days. If we had waited much longer we would have been in a huge pickle. I hadn't realised we would need to book it so early and only arranged the visits when we did after much harassment from DM about it. Thank God for DM! About 6 months after she started, another mum I know of a similar aged baby had her on the waiting list for the nursery which was around a 12 month wait for the baby room at that time. It seems like the nursery is rapidly gaining in popularity too.

For my eldest we booked her in when she was about 3 months old. When I was pregnant with he brother it was more popular so I booked him in when I was about 20 weeks pregnant.