Planning (way!) ahead

[sunshinesue]

I'm currently pregnant (4 months) with my first. I will be going back to work most likely ft after 9 month mat leave. when would it be advisable to start looking for a cm? I'm assuming a cm is not going to hold a place open for months for me unless I pay a retainer (which I can't afford) but equally I don't want to leave it until the month before I go back and not be able to find anyone. Maybe I could contact local cm a few months before hand and say "I'm looking for a place to start xx please let me know if you have anything"? Do cm tend to know a long way in advance when they'll have a free place or does it just depend? Also, if I extended my mat leave by a month or so to return in the September would I have more options as some kids will be moving on to school freeing up places?
thanks in advance, sorry if these are "how long is a piece of string" questions!

In my experience Sept would be an ideal time as there are naturally. Glisten moving at that time. I can't say when to start looking, depends on your area & supply/demand.

....but unless you live in Notting Hill you are starting vestry by starting now

thanks, I'm in Bristol (Horfield/Filton - if anyone is familiar with the area).

glisten? vestry?

As all cms are different you might find one that would hold the place without a retainer. I would consider this for instance, if a deposit was held (so you don't run off). Also, retainers are not used if a space is coming up because a child is moving up to school. On balance though, now is a bit early but i can see why you want to get it sorted.

I booked a super duper childminder while I was still pregnant (local childminding godess, never had a space but I got lucky because I heard on the grapevine via a friend of a friend that one of her families were moving abroad, I think I knew she had a vacancy before she did ).

I paid her the first month's fees at 6m pregnant which she would have kept if I'd reneged on the deal.

I booked DS's nursery when I was 2 months pregnant. I know CMs are probably different, but I would start looking now and when you find a lovely one, speak to her and see what her preferred solution is. She might be happy to commit this long in advance if she knows a child will be going to school, or maybe her own child won't be "taking a space" any more, etc. You never know.

I don't think there is any harm in looking before you have the baby - maybe in a couple of months though so its less than a year before you need the place. I did it - and found a lovely CM while I was pregnant
some CM will say I have no idea if I will have a place or not though
september is a good time for place to be free - and remember it may suit you and your employer to take some AL before you go back to work - as you accrue it - while you are on ML so you could extend your leave a bit that way?