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 🤨?

point = missed

No, you simply didn't make a good one.

Yes we waited a long time to have this baby, we waited until we had good jobs with good pay. I guess everybody who use full time nursery including drs who work long hours and use nursery’s didn’t want there children either. That’s a horrible thing to say. People telling me to put my child up for adoption, why?

You only want to spend one day per week with your baby. Can you not see how crappy that is?

Read back through all your posts OP. You say why should I give up my job I like so many times. Your thinking all seems to be about you and how you shouldn't change your life and what you want to do.
Your child is going to be exhausted and hardly ever see their parents. But hey that's ok because YOU still get to do the job YOU love, and as you say why should YOU give that up.
Poor kid.

The most ridiculous thread. Simple. Knock nursery on the head and actually spend time with your baby. Nursery is costing more than you earn.

Honestly I sometimes wonder why some women bother having a child given they plan on spending zero time with them. Time for a life change.

Okay say you find a miracle nursery, that opens at 6am is staffed by wonderful staff who truly love every single child, what are you going to do about Saturday’s? Nurseries just don’t open at weekends. What is your long term aim? You put your child in a nursery 12 hrs/day but what about when they go to school there is no wrap around care that covers 12 hrs a day, what about school holidays/ inservice days/ school closed because of bad weather/ child being ill. You need a long term plan so better to start now.

There are no nurseries near here than open longer than 8-6. There are very few children that go full time. Most do 4 days or less. I know a lot of professionals - doctors, lawyers, business people, well paid living in enormous houses etc. Most manage without full time nursery.

I also think OP is deluded in what a nursery offers. Your child will be in one small room almost all the time. The toys are the same day in day out, they may rotate them a bit but basically the same stuff. They do some activities such as painting, sand, water that are easy to provide at home. The staff are paid to look after them, do not love them, there will be frequent staff changes. Children in a nursery are in a very unnatural, controlled environment away from people who love them.

Under 2s are much better off at home with a parent going out to shops, park, toddler group or playing at home. From 2-3 children benefit from nursery but not from those excessive hours.

Most children under 2 would far rather stay home than attend a childcare setting for 10 hours a day.

Please don't delude yourself that this is best for your child. It might be best for your career and salary.

👏👏👏👏

would you like a medal for that one

Relevant because many children wake naturally between 6-7 a.m. so a 7.30 start at least seems like daytime. Getting a child up at say 5 a.m. for childcare is madness! If the OP is really Scottish as her name suggests then her child will not see daylight with her parents very often at either end of the day. Also yes, we all agree that she's not going to find a nursery at 6 a.m. but OP seems determined that those are the hours she will be working so is obviously equally determined to find some kind of childcare for those hours.

I know lots of doctor families, where both parents are doctors, but they don't use anywhere near these ridiculous hours you are looking for. One of them moved to a GP role or other similar roles to prioritise bringing up their DC. After having DC, people have to change their lifestyles and jobs to prioritise caring for their children who they brought into this world, that's the deal.

I don't see why ANYONE would want to use full time childcare, let alone those who do it out of choice.

So you waited a long time for your baby and now you're happy to not see him/her at all?

You don’t have to sacrifice anything, you can have a career and a child too. Lots of people do it. There are long waiting lists for good nursery’s. Read some other posts and you will learn something hopefully.

oh and as someone who works with children whose 'high flying high earning' parents provide ££ for them but zero time, I can assure you that they'd much rather you were doing the school drop off and pick up, attending sports day and watching them win Star of the Week at assembly over a flash 5star all inclusive fancy holiday to the Maldives.

Kids do not care about ££. They want their Mum primarily. Feminists may not like this, but it's true. You absolutely can put your job/career/future first when it's just you to consider. Your baby now comes first. I'd judge you just as much if you got a dog and asked for a minder for that 12 hours a day.

Now I really think you are on a wind up OP.

Do you think that people dont have toys, games, jigsaws, garden toys at home? Do you think Smyths exists solely to kit out nurserys?

And the fact that you think a child would experience stress just from being home is really really sad. OP, your home should be your childs happiest and safest place.

Im gobsmacked and really hope this isnt real.

@scottishgal09 Oh, I can almost cry (yes, hard as nail but have a soft spot) at the majority of the comments (some well- meaning) on here. I apologise.

This anger, people feel should be directed at the government not people like OP who just want to survive in this broken country where everything is about money including the choice to have kids, how to raise them etc etc.

Personally, I wouldn't focus on promotions (as you say you EARN WELL). 4 years of nursery (7-7) should not affect your career too much. If it is a sacrifice that you may need to do by forgoing promotions, please do. Also maybe consider moving near a hospital which has a nursery that might take your child.

I cannot comment on attachment, developmental issues that nurseries and boarding schools in UK apparently cause kids as I am not qualified to do so nor have I seen any studies on that.

I was raised by Doctors; wealthy doctors if that matters. So we had a second house near the hospital and parents had plenty of help at home ( I think 2 or more people at one time). So I can comment on early mornings and or early evenings. Yes, I once asked mum if I was by anyway born very early in the morning lol lol as I can be as bright as a button at 4am/5am/6am/7am if I wanted to get up there and work on documents. She said, it was because of the hospital shifts I had to sometimes be 'woken up' (shock horror on MN) at 4/5/6/7 to fed so mum can be on call to SAVE millions of lives. Or is this because Op is working in restaurant (maybe or maybe not)?

Likewise; as her shift sometimes started at 7pm, it meant when she had her early dinner at 5:30pm or 6pm at home, mine dinner was also included so mum could feed me (I have a weak appetite); so she can try to make me eat 'something' so she knew I was fed. Funnily, when my brother is in charge of his daughter with a weak appetite, he changed his work hours to start an one late (he is the manager and can work flexibly) at 8am; to ensure he has fed her something before he goes to work.

Anyway, it means, when I was academic and the degree I was studying required long hours and early start; I was there and did brilliantly well. They say, early bird catches the worms- yep, story of my life and grateful I didn't waste it 'sleeping in'.

Likewise, no weight issues as I still eat my last 'light' meal very very early- as we all know, digestion works better during the day. Again, I credit that to mum.

Of course, I was at home (yes, mum had live in help for baby, other kids, Gardener, cook, driver etc etc etc) but I recognise not everyone in the UK has a choice to be at home and please don't guilt-trip anyone and their parenting. None of you like it, so why be so uncompromising with OP? Plus, the studies I have seen in UK says kids do better when being brought up by working parents ( although how much work and money for home-based support (which we all acknowledge is the best) can be reasonably discussed.)

If you want to keep your job and progress, sometimes you have to make sacrifices, for yourself and your child.

I have lived in four different areas with my two children (four counties, so quite a spread – both city, suburb and rural), and all nurseries offered 7:30-630. The extra half hour in the morning was an early charge. I am not saying all nurseries do this, but those that do are extremely plentiful.

Whether you personally think it's OK or not has absolutely nothing to do with whether parents choose to utilise the hours open to them.

Right OP, you are not listening to a damn thing anyone is saying.

1. the childcare you are requesting DOES NOT EXIST.

For good bloody reason. IT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD.

2. your child's development and bond to you will suffer.

3. your child will physically suffer, being woken at god knows what time of the morning to go to nursery. They will not have time to get the right amount of sleep every night.

4. why are you just sorting this now?! You've literally had 18 months?!

5. what do you expect to do when nurseries close for holidays etc??

6. if you are both running restaurants, what do you plan to do every Mother's Day/fathers day/Christmas Day? Miss them? My family member runs a restaurant and misses 90% of things.

7. love and care are NOT the same. Are you silly? There is a huge difference? And just like a PP it seriously makes me doubt if you actually love your child??!

8. you need to come to terms with the fact that your child COMES FIRST. Your career can resume when your child gets to school, but you have 4.5 long years before that. You or your husband have got to cut work somewhere for the sake of your child.

9. I can assure you most peoples kids are NOT in nursery full time like this. Those who are their kids are EXHAUSTED and cranky and can even start to have behavioural issues.

I really really hope you consider putting your child first. And no, continuing down this road is not what's best for your child 🫠

I feel sorry for your poor baby. Why on earth did you have one?!

If this isn't a wind up. If you're job is so important, you must earn a decent amount. If you're set on a nursery then get a nanny for the wrap around before nursery.

I can't imagine anyone that wants the best for their child doing this. It sounds like the best thing to actually do in this situation would be to approach your family and ask them to take over parental responsibility. Atleast that way your DC would have a primary carer.

But they are 4 babies to 1 adult, they can't pick them all up at same time

Quit mentioning drs. You have a hang up over doctors. Any doctor putting their child in a nursery for 11 hours a day for 5 and a half days a week would be receiving the same advice we are giving you.
that will result in attachment issues for a nine month old child. Period. If you are prepared for that and you’ve done the research then save this thread and show the child in 20 yrs time.

Why do you value this oh so special job, more than you value the wellbeing of your child? You're not making any sacrifices at all, your child is the one being sacrificed.

Thanks for your suggestion but I have a very good career with a decent pay and I don't use anywhere near these hours without any family helping with childcare. I know my DC gets exhausted even with 7/8 hours at nursery just 4 days a week, so I am telling you from my experience.