How far ahead did you book your nursery?

[howlongwilltheynap]

If I had been going back to work when the baby was say 3 months, I would have booked in well before it was born. However I planned to go back to work when baby was to be 9 months and I didn't like to tempt fate by booking in pre-birth, so requested the place 5 days after he was born.

And I've now been told we are still on the waiting list (due to start in 3 months time), but at top of the waiting list because older DS already there.

It is a good nursery (recent outstanding ofsted) so I think it is very popular, but there are plenty of other very good nurseries around too.

So I am wondering how far ahead everyone else books and was I silly to wait until the baby was actually born?!!!

With ds 1 I put our name down when I was 20 weeks pg - and only just managed to get a place at the nursery I wanted - as it was I had to find child care for 3 weeks when I went back to work cos there was no room for bubs. It was the one nursery in the area that everyone I asked recommended and waiting lists were massive! Made us smile as we were then on their mailing list and used to get newsletters address to "Baby Who" It was 9 years ago mind you so not sure what the current status is - sounds like not much has changed.

About a week before ds had to start - was offered my job but asked to start asap. its a great nursery, best in the area and ofsted outstanding (and more importantly, they are incredibly loving and kind and go to so much effort to include him in everything despite his (multiple, severe) allergies. His key worker is like his third parent, their love for each other is so clear. I was sooo bloody lucky though, their waiting list is normally miles long but luckily my work and dh were very accommodating so to begin with I worked with what random sessions they had free/ dh could cover and gradually more sessions became available.

Wow at booking at twenty weeks pregnant, at this rate soon people will be booking when the baby's just a twinkle in their eye... That said its probably easier looking round nurseries when pregnant than with a newborn

We booked about 2 months before DD was due, for a place when she was 9.5 months old.

I booked as soon as I found out I was pregnant. I knew which nursery I wanted, and didnt want to be left without a place. Even then I was lucky to get a place at the nursery I wanted.

My nursery has a 2 year waiting list for full time places. Part time you might just be lucky and catch a day with a shorter list (Monday's and Friday's are usually quieter), and we get lots of pregnant mums viewing the nursery.

Ah, clearly I should have been quicker off the mark, especially as DS1 already there so I knew for sure that's where we wanted.

For the record I booked DS1 in only about 2 months before he started, but that was a September start so their quietest time of the year.

Oh poo I am going to kick myself now. Don't know what I am going to do other than keep my fingers crossed and look at other nurseries in the meantime!

After my 12 week scan but all the places had gone (wanted a place for when baby was going to be 1 year old). Went on waiting list and for a place 2 months later (unfortunately, I think another pregnant lady lost her baby).

We have a waiting list that can be over a year long, we are a uni nursery although open to the public, however uni staff and student are priority. We had parents a few years back that wrote to us requesting a place for their child, they were planning on trying to concieve in the new year and would like to request a place now to ensure they get one. Erm no.

We looked round when we were 12 weeks preg and booked it at 20 weeks. I was returning to work 7 months after his birth. For baby 2 she was going to go to same nursery - even so we booked her in at about 20 weeks too. Madness.

Holy moly. I booked a place 5 weeks before she started. At an outstanding nursery just around the corner. No problem.

When I was 20 weeks for when ds would be 4 months old. When we moved areas, the nice nursery had a 2 year waiting list !