nursery opening hours

[scottishgal09]

I need to go back to work so will soon be putting my 9 month old in nursery, only thing is that the earliest I can find any nursery open is 7 am to 7 pm. The 7 pm closing time is fine but I really find I need a opening time of 6 pm. I also work Saturday mornings so need something that is open 6 days. Start time should be at least 6:00 pm but I struggle to find this. Do these type of nursery’s exist? What are the opening and closing hours for your nursery’s? Why don’t nursery’s take into account that some parents need to work 6 days 🤨?

What you are wanting isn’t full time, it’s quite a bit more than full time, which is wrong. Strange that you can understand this basic principle that people on here have said very clearly multiple times.

Did your husband sort out a different career too? If not, did you tell him that he doesn’t have a brain? Or doesn’t it apply to men who have careers?

Women can have careers and children. They shouldn’t have to choose.

I'm wondering if it's a wind-up too. The OP is not listening to a word anyone is saying.

OP, if this is real, you need to do a little research of your own, if you're not prepared to believe what experienced, knowledgeable posters here are trying to tell you. Look up attachment theory. Look up the huge amount of research that compares what type of childcare is best for babies/children of different ages. At least go into this with your eyes open.

While I agree the nursery hours sought by the OP are unrealistic, she is receiving a pretty disgusting bashing here for being a working parent and needing childcare. OP is completely correct that she would be taken more seriously if she were a doctor or a solicitor that undertook these hours and used childcare for them (except that then she would also likely be bashed for being a high earner, in true MN style – ho hum).

It seems she has simply annoyed the MN vultures by being argumentative about needing the childcare and what has followed in a bashing of parents who use nurseries and how shit they are. Not OK. Many people DO use nurseries 5 days a week – if those people aren't in your circle, then you just haven't encountered it.

I don't see anyone bashing a father for seeing his child for this many hours a week. I see it's simply special treatment for mothers. Lovely.

OP, I do agree that you are very unlikely to find a nursery to undertake these hours. I would suggest at least visiting childminders who might – there are some lovely ones that simply run a more 'from home' style of a nursery. Another option may be a nanny share if you can enquire in your local community, as it would drastically reduce the cost.

What a bizarre question. Can you truly not see the difference between 8 hours and 11, on a daily basis, for a very young child??

Also, it’s not ok for doctors to do this. Responses on this thread have nothing to do with snobbery over job roles. They are based on a solid understanding of child development. The hours you want don’t exist for two reasons: very few people need them, and that long in a nursery setting would be detrimental to a child’s development.

You can argue and disagree all you like, and you are obviously free to continue with your current plan. But what a shame that you can’t take on board what is being shared about child development and the reality of nurseries. I say this as someone with two children in nursery settings! They can be wonderful - but I wouldn’t want mine there for the number of hours you’re considering. I’m the last person to want to guilt a mum into compromising their career, but what you’re proposing is so extreme that I really urge you to work with the baby’s father to reduce their time in nursery while they’re so little.

To address your original question though, can I suggest maybe looking for a childminder that does early mornings and Saturdays. They could then drop off at nursery.

au pairs should not be looking after under 2s. They are not the same as a nanny.

I would have exactly the same opinion if she were a doctor, lawyer etc. how is it right that any parents (mother or father) think it acceptable to have a baby and then actively want to put them in nursery for 60-70 hours a week 6 days out of 7?

Many people DO use nurseries 5 days a week

But not 6 days, which is what the OP is asking for.

And not for approximately 11 hours per day on 5 days!

Because they don’t exist.

It seems silly for so many to get worked up about something that clearly isn’t going to happen. Especially if some people suspect that’s what OP wants.

Many, many previous posters have suggested a nanny or childminder. Op has dismissed these ideas. Hence why posters are getting irritated.

Thank-you for the support. My daughter would be the around the same hours 6 am to 5 pm, M-F. Only difference is Sat morning as well. It is better for her in the future to have us both working to provide everything she needs rather then be on benefits like some suggest. That’s a great example for her. Don’t work hard, give up a good job, and go on benefits lol. Plus nurseries have lots for children to do, the good ones.

I work hard at my job, maybe not doctor or engineer but maybe my daughter can become that if my husband and me work hard and provide her with a good education.

I would have exactly the same opinion of the father of this baby but he's not on the thread. And the job status would make zero difference to my opinion. I do actually know a doctor couple who have their child in nursery 7.30 to 6, five days a week and I always feel very sorry for the child.

Coming from someone who’s almost 3yo goes to full time nursery, you sound ridiculous. Those hours over 6 days is outrageous. My daughter was fine with full time as a baby but now she’s getting older she really struggles, is constantly tired and finds weekends hard as all she wants to do is lounge round cos she’s so tired.

Having only 1 day at home is not healthy.

She didn't claim most people used 6 days a week. She claimed many people she knew used 5 days a week. The 6th day is also a half day.

Send her to state if it means you get more family time.

You do know that there isn’t only two options - work 4 jobs and give your daughter everything she needs or not work 4 jobs and be on benefits? Many couples part time or full time (not 4 jobs) and are not on benefits…you do not have to work 4 jobs to provide for your daughter. She would appreciate your care and attention much more I’m sure than ‘everything she needs’.

Yes – I already acknowledged that's why people are getting irritated.

It’s not ‘around the same hours’ when it’s the 6am start that is the sticking point! I think you will find it impossible to source a nursery with that start time.

Who has suggested you go on benefits?

I agree with you.

Not to mention once you are on benefits, you are beholden to the government and any changes they may put in place. There’s little stability and I don’t agree it’s best for children if parents can otherwise work such as your situation.

Bully for you. I didn't say your opinion would be different, I said I think she would be taken more seriously.

But how can it be "such a good job" when both parents have to have two jobs? Given that the Saturday morning is a non-starter, it would make much more sense financially to drop one of the four jobs and avoid having both parents working on a saturday?

I really think you are being very unrealistic about how difficult this is going to be. You have no wriggle room for children being sick and other emergencies. A childminder may give you the flexibility you think you need, but you are refusing to consider it. Even with everyone telling you that the sort of nursery which is open from 6am and on a Saturday just doesn't exist.

Equally nurseries won’t open at 6am and on Saturdays just for you.

It’s 55 hours plus Saturday mornings, so 60 hours per week. There’s a difference between dropping to normal full time hours or even just 5 days, and going on benefits. And if you recon they’re bored at home because you do nothing with them, that’s on you. They need good care, and also good interaction and relationships at home too. Nurseries don’t provide what you want because it’s not necessary or what’s best for children. People aren’t suggesting don’t put you kid in nursery full time, they are saying to put her in for just full time.

I didn't say drop all work and go on benefits. I said drop some of the hours and get a top up which will help you pay for it.

Curious OP but are you of a culture that really values education?