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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

When should I start looking into childcare options?

7 replies

lalababy · 26/05/2011 11:55

Hi - I am only 10 weeks pregnant, but have been told that I should start looking into childcare options and even nurseries already! Is this true? I will have to head back to work full time when the baby is 6 months...although this is still 12 months away.

OP posts:

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MarionCole · 26/05/2011 12:00

Depends where you are. I started looking about 9 months before I needed it and I could only get 3 days per week in the nursery I wanted.

frakyouveryverymuch · 26/05/2011 12:54

Well some nurseries have limited baby spaces and get oversubscribed so you would need to be thinking now but that isn't true of all!

CMs won't know if the under 1 space will be free and nannies won't be looking so far in advance but it's worth thinking about what childcare you want or need and doing the sums early on.

XRoads · 26/05/2011 13:34

You could look now, maybe make a short list of ones you would like to visit?

MovingAndScared · 26/05/2011 13:52

I was superstitious and waited until after 20 week scan - but then got on with it

LittleOneMum · 26/05/2011 15:28

Horribly I had to sign up DS for nursery just after 20 week scan. Awful but I would do it...

Rosebud05 · 26/05/2011 15:34

It depends where in the country you are. If you're going to need childcare for a 6 month old in a year or so, I would start looking into as soon as I could face it.

eastmidlandsnightnanny · 26/05/2011 15:41

I didnt look until baby was 4 and 1/2 mths old and needed a place for when he just turned 9mths (he starts next week actually) and had plenty of choice and wanted 3 days a week for 3mths then 4 days a week and have gone with a childminder and nursery combo - not decided 100% on a nursery yet but as only need a fri for that its an easy day to get in most nurseries.

we were also told to start looking and decide before baby is born by the nurseries - however by other mums and my manager were advised to wait as you never know how you will feel when baby arrives you may love being a mummy so much you work out ways to extend leave/not go back at all or you may feel the need to go back sooner but much less hrs.

I personally would love not to go back (thought I would want to be back sooner but didnt) but the bills need paying and like the lifestyle we have and wouldnt want to be relying every mth on pay day way before it arrives

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