Nursery advice

[Starlight88]

I might be getting a bit ahead of myself - baby is due in June, but I've been hearing stories from Manchester friends that you need to look for nurseries as early as possible!

Does anyone have advice on when to start looking and how to choose a nursery? I'll be looking at going back to work after 9 months. We live in Tarvin.

I am in the US now and I have always booked my spot as soon as I found out I was pregnant. That way, if there turns it to be a waitlist, I am at the top of it.

When it looked like we were moving to Manchester in 2011 I was 5 months pregnant and registered my unborn baby. I cancelled it when the move didn't go ahead.

I viewed my nursery in the begining of march dd started at the endpretty quick and its the best nursery around

Congratulation Starlight. Have you got any friends or family nearby to ask for recommendations? There nothing to stop you looking now

Thank you. Not really! We moved over to Cheshire a year ago, so I know a total of two people with young children! One of those has a great nursery, but it's city centre, so no good if I have to carry on commuting.

Ok, I'd recommend going along to your local NCT group while you are still pg. have a look to see if there is a local Cheshire Cherubs and La Leche League too. All will welcome you while you are still of and you'll get to meet some local Mums and Mums-to-Be

Also, it's really hard to choose a nursery. We have been to the bright horizons style and are now in the cheapest one which is government run.

The best way to see how good a nursery is to look at the children and how clean it is. If the children are happy, the place is clean but you can tell they are doing stuff (never trust a childcare place that is spotless) it's probably a good one.

Sadly, staff turnover is normally high and quality of care can change rapidly. I do spot checks all the time by dropping unannounced every couple of months.

Also, always go for the place that is closest to your home and has at least an hour opening either side of your regular work hours. If you are 8-6 you need 7-7.

Thank you for the great advice! I'm starting ante natal yoga soon and we're signed up for NCT so hopefully start to build a bit of a network of parents. Thanks again x

Also if they can prepare food it makes your life so much easier. If not, ask if they can reheat food.

Mine started at 3 months or younger so I have also had them give baby food. Ask how that is managed. I gave them ziplock bags of frozen food and those who BF were given freezer trays for frozen breastmilk. Also check if they wash bottles. It's a huge time saver for you if they do.

Great advice here for you and congratulations!

I'd start to look now, even visit some, think about thinks like how long your commute is for your job, what hours you will be working and how this works practically. Do your employers offer childcare vouchers etc.

You will soon start to meet other mums-to-be and build up a great network of friends. Your midwife should also have some good local knowledge. I will tweet this out for you to see if more local people have some advice.

Good luck x

Have a look at Smarties Nursery in Cotton Edmunds. Quite a few of my friends' dc went and they recommend it highly.

Thank you BossyEye, Smarties would be really convenient for us, I've sent an enquiry for fees