Will I get a place in 6 months?

[Duv]

I've been putting off securing a childcare situation for my LO because:
A) we had ambitions to move house (to a new area) and I'm now realising that's incredibly unlikely to materialise ahead of when we need childcare
B) like everyone, I really don't know how we will afford it and so have been hoping we will be able to make do with something a little less than full-time, but working out if that will be feasible is contingent on flexible working requests and also kind of knowing what our daughter is like (it's really hard to look at your newborn and guess whether in 12 months they'll be the kind of baby where you can manage an afternoon WFH with them present)
C) I just dread it. I feel really uncomfortable with the idea of leaving my LO with strangers (I've never been apart from her for more than an hour), I feel like I can't possibly asses whether childminders are safe, and I feel like she is too little for childcare (although I tell myself by the time I need her in childcare she will be older!)

Anyway, I'm finally biting the bullet and booking viewings of places. There are quite a few nurseries in my area. Am I mad to think I will find a place for her in 6 months time (when she is 1yr)? Some parents of older babies look at me with horror that I don't already have a place secured, but with so many nurseries near me I'm hoping I will be ok, 6 months still feels like a long time and I don't know how you can know when your baby is born what your work pattern will be?

I have a lot of leave accrued so am hoping I can use that as a buffer if I can't find anything as soon as I need.

You'll just have to see I think! Round here it's a longer wait than that. If youve got lots of annual leave could you go back part time (take off one day a week say) and up the nursery hours the following term when there might be more availablity? So 3 days from sep, 4 from Jan?

Tbh I don't think anyone can or should attempt WFH with a baby, many employers don't allow it!

I booked my daughter in from age 1 while I was still pregnant with her and all of the nurseries near me have waiting lists of a year or more. I expect even more so with the new funding that has just kicked in so I'd get looking ASAP!

It was bad when I looked back in 2020. It's way worse now. I would book something, anything that will have you. You can cancel later and just accept the lost holding fee.

it's really hard to look at your newborn and guess whether in 12 months they'll be the kind of baby where you can manage an afternoon WFH with them present they won't be. Assume they won't be.

guess whether in 12 months they'll be the kind of baby where you can manage an afternoon WFH with them present
You don’t need to try and guess. It’ll be impossible. 1YOs are toddlers who are walking, or almost walking, cruising round the coffee table, trying to climb everything in sight, don’t understand the word no and typically take 1 nap a day and are awake for about 4 hours from last nap until bed. They need close supervision at that age to keep them safe.

As for whether or not your local nurseries will have space, you need to ask them!

In 2008 you had to reserve your place for one year old when you had just had your 12 week scan.....

Many nurseries have long waiting list, the lists will likely be longer with the funding that will come in. It’s worth having a chat with some childminders to see if they have spaces available or becoming available

You cannot WFH with a toddler. Ask me, someone who went back off maternity leave in February 2020, how I know...

All you can do is inquire. Go look around a few, you'll get a feel for what you like and don't like. If you can't get a place immediately you might be able to delay going back, or do very part-time until more hours are available. Daynurseries.com is useful for reviews, as well as Google and local Facebook groups. Childminders are in very short supply around here but there might be more where you are.

It's either that or quit your job...

How many days did you want? We looked at nurseries nine months in advance (when baby was 4 months) and all we could have was two days a week and we didn't get to choose which ones.

Friends looking for nurseries in busy towns were having to put names down when they were pregnant with their second!

My daughter’s nursery have just told me they have no spaces for her sibling (due Oct 24) until September 2026. I have no idea what we are going to do :(