When to start looking for a nursery

12

I'd start looking now to be honest. It does depend on what the waiting lists are like in your area. I started looking just after my first was born and ended up waiting a long time for my preferred nursery. With my second, I registered her for a space after the 20 week scan and still ended up on a waiting list!

Daft as it sounds, I'd just get on as soon as you can. Waiting lists can be ridiculous.

Have you joined a local mums Facebook page, ask there.

Think distance for you from home , work,anyone collecting

Opening times do they suit?

Narrow it down
Ask them to send you their info pack

Do they have space on the days you want?

You can easily get to a shortlist from home anyway - prices, space availability, location for your home/work, does it have a car park (if required), numbers in each room, types of meals served, opening hours, outdoor space (+is it free flow), OFSTED reports, how they operate pre school for older kids.

Then ask on local mum's Facebook groups, as pp said.

Thereafter, my DS nursery is now offering virtual tours. Alternatively, have a really good chat on the phone with the manger plus ask to speak to the baby room and you'll soon get a feel for if you like their vibe or not. (E.g. the one I thought had best facilities, the owner and manager had a disagreement in front of me, so that was swiftly ruled out!)

Definitely start thinking about it now. Look at their websites, social media if they use it and of course Ofsted reports. Recommendations from others are invaluable. However please remember you won't be able to visit any for the foreseeable future and nursery management have a lot going on at the moment so may not be as quick to answer enquiries as they usually would. Create yourself a shortlist though and come back to it in a couple of months time.

We have a much sought after, outstanding nursery two streets away from us. I sent them an email the day after my 12 week scan (July 2016)for DS to start in Jan 2018. They were fully booked until Sept 2017 so I was lucky, despite feeling ridiculous that I was enquiring so early!

DD didn't go to nursery.
For DS we didn't start looking until January, he started in March, also finished in March 😂

However I knew I wanted him at a nursery near to where I work or where dh works, so one of us could get to him fast. This narrowed it down to 3. I visited them all, dh came to the 1 near where I work and the one near him I liked best.

Was a very easy and fast decision. Everyone kept asking me in September if I'd started looking, but I didn't see the point, he was only 2 months old at that point.

At the 12 week scan is normal to secure s place. We registered with two just in case our favourite one didn't have a space when needed

Some nurseries are doing viewings in the evenings and at weekends, when they are empty. It’s always worth asking the nurseries what their arrangements are
Most nurseries will be really keen to get you signed up now