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 🤨?

I think you’ll struggle to find that in the UK, unfortunately. I’ve noticed that nurseries in the US seem to have moved to wider hours to accommodate different jobs/commutes; two of the ones near me are 5:30 am to 8 pm and 6 am to 9:30 pm, Mon-Sat. Though most people are still using 8 or 9 hours a day, 5 days a week so I’m sure it costs more if you need 6 days or longer days. But the flexibility is there for people who work 6 am to 3 pm or noon to 8 pm or whatever.

Could you pay for someone to come in the morning for 90 minutes or so to get them up, ready, and then take them to nursery when it opens?

Funny. I just said I changed my way of working and my hours, my husband did too. With my same skills I took a big career change and so did he. We now earn a huge amount more for less hours so it was a wise move all around. Different phases of life require a different approach.
this isn’t a male/female thing it’s a parent/non-parent thing

If your circle contains professional working couples then you will absolutely find many that utilise nursery from 7:30-630, 5 days a week.

I suggested one of the parents drop some hours, don’t care either mum or dad.

I didn't suggest giving up the job but maybe going part time. I wouldn't suggest giving up work like others do on here.

Yes, I imagine you would need to pay extra for those sort of hours. I can't imagine many would be happy to offer them either.

The 6th day is a morning only.

I'd love to know what this amazing job is that you will never ever get again and it's so important that you're happy to miss out on the ENTIRE time of your baby/child.

Genuine question - did/do you even want this baby? Because I'm sure there is someone out there who will if you don't.

Gosh, who knew that the only choice is a binary one - two more than full-time working parents or one working parent and go on benefits? No chance that there are any other options in life at all?

I’m not going to repeat the same points about opening hours and days, but the OP’s unwillingness to consider an alternative work arrangement or structure of hours made me wonder if planning has been done around unexpected illnesses and absences. OP, your post reads as though you expect to be able to use whatever care full-time, but the reality is that in the first couple of years of childcare there will probably be a LOT of sick days, particularly in winter. My little one currently goes 4 days per week. In the last fortnight she has been well enough to attend 2 of 8 days (it’s winter here). Working out how to cover those situations is important. Often, if daycare notices an issue or sends them home, you are excluded for a further 24hrs. It’s been a bit of a nightmare for us, so it’s worth planning in advance how you will manage those situations.

Your child will be up at 5am and asleep by the time you pick them up. Seriously why have a child when you want someone else to bring them up? You'll see your child meaningfully
For 1 1/2 days per week!!

My children were in nursery full time from very young, but this is insane.

You sound very unreasonable. When you don't want to look after your DC even on weekends, how do you expect other strangers/nursery staff to sacrifice their weekend to look after your DC. Having a child and/or a career is a choice and people have to sacrifice something's on the journey, I hope you aren't making the wrong sacrifices.

With all due respect, she is less likely to be successful in life (whether that be money or happiness) growing up with 2 absent parents.

You are so hung up on the Dr thing. A Drs kid only basically seeing their parents on Sundays would also be judged, would also grow up with attachment issues etc etc. Move on from the bloody Dr thing

Yes, my circle contained lots of professional working couples but none who dropped their child at nursery at 6 a.m. or who also needed care on a Saturday! There were some who might have liked it but we all realised that having children came with compromises and funnily enough someone dropping to part-time or working flexibly or doing condensed hours or any of the other solutions did not mean that anyone had to go on benefits as a result.

It’s not drop all work and go on benefits.

Its why don’t you work 6am-4pm - so dropping just 1hr per day.

And your husband starts later so he can drop 7.30am, then works 8am-8pm 4 days a week for example.

Or a combination, or you both do 4 long days. The nursery long days only needed 3 days if one of you does mon- thurs, and one tues-Fri. Etc etc

Also, how do you expect nursery workers to love spending 6 days a week with your child when don’t even want a full weekend? 😂

Exactly. These opinions are in my case based upon a degree in child development, a masters in child development, 20 years as an early years teacher and as a parent and aunt.
Many others here are also speaking as experienced parents and professionals offering genuine advice and care for this child. We are also many of us female professionals who value our career and so this is not about bashing working women.

I didn't say 6am. I said 7:30-6:30, which is 11 hours per day – which that poster was disputing happens. I also said she will not find a nursery for 6am. How is this reply relevant to anything I have said?

I have skimmed all your posts on this thread, @scottishgal09, but forgive me if I have missed you saying why some sort of hybrid care would not work for you. Eg. a childminder from 6am who will drop your child off at nursery for you at 7am, and who could do Saturdays too - so the bulk of the time would be in the nursery setting, which is your preference, with just a short time elsewhere.

My other thought would be a full time nanny, and asking them to make sure your child goes to lots of groups, where they will have lots of other children and toys to play with.

I really think you need to re evaluate your plans. I work full time and have used nurseries 8am to 6pm, however to leave your child there 6am to 7pm? You'll never see them during their waking hours at all!!

OP really enjoys her job. I am presuming she also assumes that childcare workers enjoy their jobs .... which, funnily enough, would involving loving working with children.

She wants to 5pm, not 7pm.

why would you prioritise a job that works shit hours over your baby?

Get a different job, who wants to be working 10-12 hours a day and never see their children???

A nanny can be your only option. But you have to account for the salary for nanny along with pensions and taxes etc.