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 🤨?

Then your partner needs to cut his hours or you need to get a nanny. Because you aren’t going to get a nursery with those hours so the sooner you accept that, the sooner you can start looking for actual solutions.

Everybody does this, maybe not 6 days but 5 days at least. It is only a extra half day.

No, everybody clearly does not do this...

No, they really don't.

I know this OP and I do understand, I had always worked full time. But how on earth would you work these hours when they start school? There is not a breakfast club in the lands that starts at 6am. Can you ask for flexible working hours? Can you and Dad do late starts / early pick ups between you? There has to be a solution or a flex to make this all more achievable.

So sorry OP, but now that you have a child they need to come first above all else.Your current plan does not seem to be putting your child first.

Either you or your husband will need to make some work adjustments. That might not require you to leave your job completely though - have you spoken to your work about making adjustments around your childcare needs? Has your husband spoken to his work?

Your reasons for not considering a childminder are bizarre, and not accurate. Though a childminder wouldn’t solve all your problems anyway.

There is no nursery that is going to provide those hours, and I think most would have concerns about taking a 9 month old for 72 hrs a week anyway.

You say that you both need to work two jobs to afford nursery. I think a more sensible suggestion is either for one of you to stop working to be a SAHP, or for you both to drop one job and work opposite shifts so that you can take it in turns looking after the baby and minimise money spent on childcare.

It’s a shame you didn’t have 18 months to consider all of this…

The OP says that she needs to work these hours to pay for childcare. Isn’t that a bit bonkers?

Someone I know actually loses money by continuing to work, but she only works part time. She does sometimes question the wisdom of putting her children into day care and it costing more than she earns, but on balance thinks it’s worth it.

10/11 hours a day for 6 days a weeks is a different matter.

Everybody really honestly doesn't do this! You want to put your little baby into a nursery setting for 12 hours a day, 6 days a week.

Is your job really more important to you than your child's wellbeing? When you choose to have children, you accept that there will be sacrifices and changes to your lives. You will see your baby one day a week. Is this really what you want for them and for yourselves?

Childminders have lots of toys & books.

you aren't going to get a nursery that is open when you want them to be. So it's more about needing a childminder than wanting one.

the world won't bend for you, you need to choose between what's available. So childminder it is IF you can find one offering those hours (highly unlikely)

or as has been suggested over & over. Between you changing jobs/hours etc

unless you have a relative willing to have the baby for you. Maybe overnight on Fridays?

Childminders are brilliant my little one goes to a toddlers group and she takes them to the park and out n about I’m not sure where you’ve got the idea about childminders from but they are brilliant and more flexible than a nursery.

I feel sorry for the baby getting dragged out at 5.30 am or earlier and not getting home for another 14 hours. You need a nanny for those hours as almost everyone has said. You are trying to do too much. If you need 2 jobs to pay for nursery, then cut out one of the jobs and cut the nursery hours, you might then see your baby occasionally

Your poor child. Being dragged out of bed early to be foisted into nursery for 6 (6!!) days a week. Why bother having a child if you don’t spend any time with them?! I work full time, so does my husband, but when our DC was little, I made the career change so that I could spend those precious moments with my child, instead of dumping them at nursery for every waking moment.

what is your back up plan if the child is sick? Or the nursery closes because of staff illness / the weather?

This post has made me so angry for your child. Honestly, you’ve had SO MUCH TIME to get things sorted and in place and suddenly you’re trying to sort a nursery place with imaginary opening times at the last moment?

give your head a wobble @scottishgal09

These are unbelievably long hours - I’ve never heard of a nursery open this long. 7-7 is a long time.

I think a nanny is your best and only bet here.

Maybe consider a live in au pair if you have the space/ extra room. over 12 hours a day in nursery 6 days a week is not sustainable

Nurseries don’t open from 6am. So what are you going to do instead?

Just from a practical point of view if you did find a nursery offering what you need it’s absolute germ central in there and for a good year your child spends a lot of time off sick at home- possibly more so if they’re completely exhausted from doing very long days, 6 days a week in nursery.
Flexibility is essential. Otherwise you need a nanny. Your proposed set up sounds miserable for everyone but especially your baby.

The very early start might be ok when they’re a baby and can even be taken whilst sleeping, and will sleep in the day, but as a toddler and then preschooler this won’t work. They won’t be able to cope with 5.30 starts every morning.

And six days a week is bananas.

Hospital nurseries were a thing back in the 90s ( mine went) …..they are long gone now in my wider area ( NW England)

Those hours just aren't fair to any baby. You'll barely see your child.

The fact that the very vast majority of nurseries don’t open for 6am and on Saturdays literally proves that everybody doesn’t do it!

Of course you want to work. That is something I think most parents do. What you describe sounds crap for your baby though.

I do have an Early Years background. What you’re proposing is too much. Why do you think it isn’t readily available?

That’s ok for you. I shouldn’t have to give up my job which I like very much and will never get back if I leave work. Lots of people use full time nursery for there children from a very young age because it is best for the mother and the child.

I think that you are going to have to adjust your hours of work.

OP, I'm not trying to make you feel bad, but honestly most people do not do that. I used to work in a day nursery and we had children that came 3 days a week, some for 5 morning a week, some for school hours only - it was a mixture. Yes, there were a couple of children that did our full hours - 7.30am to 6pm, but that was rare. In both cases that I remember the parents were Drs (you'd probably need a job like that to afford it tbh!)