Do crèches still exist ?

[tiredmuma1]

I'm based in north London and I'm not quite ready for my 2 year old to begin nursery but wondered if creches still exist? Would be lovely to have them mix with little ones for the odd couple hours here n there. Any advice welcome.

Do you just mean somewhere you can drop off your child on an adhoc basis, instead of a regular booked slot?

Some gyms have them for members. Ikea still has theirs as well I believe.

Yes exactly that only gym anywhere near me that offers that is David Lloyd which I don't particularly like. Is that all? They used to be so many of them around when I was growing up!

Ikea?! It would be David Lloyd only around here

Thank you, currently my closest ikea is an hour away :(

My gym had a crèche...I'd book for one or two hours a couple of times a week...my DD loved it. Or maybe you are thinking of a pre school type place...there was a church hall near me that had a pre school for about three hours a day every morning. Wasn't an ad hoc thing though. Can't remember the age they took them from. My DD ended up going to a school nursery from age 3...three hours every day term time only which was perfect for us as I'm a sahm... meant we still had plenty of time together

Regulations have changed... ratios, safeguarding etc.

Have you looked if any local preschools take 2yos? Some do for example mornings only, and accept just a couple of mornings a week. It would need pre booking, but th routine made make it asier or you child to settle.

I would just like something on an adhoc basis. I will be putting them in nursery at 3 years old just wanted something for here and there to get them a little used to being away from me. All my local nurseries are minimum 2-3 days a week

If you’re not working there are lots of play groups around (church halls etc) where you child can play and mix with other children. Parents have to stay but can generally sit and have a cup of tea maintaining an eye on what your child is doing.

if you want to leave your child there then I think (outside of gym options already mentioned) you’d need to make a commitment to certain nursery days.

My mum worked in a crèche back in the early 1980s. I don’t think something like that exists now near where we live these days though.

Try some local childminders?

Childminder would probably fit your need better. It's just not financially viable to run creches unless attached to a big company. They need to be staffed just in case you decide to use them.

Ratios, safeguarding and a lot of kids aren’t happy being left somewhere randomly where they don’t know anyone! - I think that’s why the crèches have mostly disappeared. These days I can’t think if anything except the gym for under 3s. If you’re N London there’s the Wembley Ikea but it’s 3+ these days. You also get some holiday camps that will take potty trained 3YOs and you can book for odd days during the school holidays but I think you’d be unlikely to find ones that would take a 2YO and the biggie is that they won’t run term time.

If you want a break, which is totally valid, do nursery 2 mornings a week so they can settle and get used to it. Or join the David Lloyd and go at least once a week. If it really is just about independence then playgroups/stay and play sessions where the toddlers play and you can have a coffee are really good too.

Thank you I'll contact my local church and see if they offer any stay and plays