How soon into maternity leave did you look into childcare options?

[sunshinecitrus1]

I am grateful that I am able to take a whole year of maternity leave however how early into maternity did you start looking into childcare options for when you return to work? I’ve only really just started my maternity leave and don’t really want to think about it yet but not sure how long the process is and whether it is genuinely difficult to find places for your child to go.

depends where you are?

Mine was approx 5 months old but im in a very quiet area. But i knew which nursery/childminder id be using before i gave birth with #1

I suggest you make enquiries, as you are on mat leave you should put your name down

I’d make some gentle enquiries in your area as it can be very different depending on where you live. In my area you practically need to be looking while you’re still pregnant!

Ask around to get an idea of when you need to start getting serious about looking - then you know if you can relax for another few months or if you need to get shit moving sharpish.

I honestly can’t remember with my first, he must have been a few months. My second I put her name down just after she was born as both my dc would be at nursery together and it is a very popular nursery.

The sooner the better really. When are you thinking of returning to work? September is when they move up for school so would start looking now to get a space. I looked round everywhere in my area to get a feel. Some I walked in and straight away knew I wouldn’t be sending my son there. If you can find a good one you need to get in early,

It really depends on where you live.

I put DS1’s name down when I was 6 months pregnant, he started at 10 months. Friends who only went on the waiting list when their babies were a few months had to wait a bit to get their place. It was mental.

When I was 3 months pregnant. Nurseries are oversubscribed here.

When I was about 6 months pregnant, in London nappy valley.

Friends who waited till their baby was born we're left with the less popular options.

Im 21 weeks pregnant and just got on a waiting list for my unborn baby to start this time next year!

Busy area here too, last child signed up at a month or two old

This child already pencilled in space for new baby with current childminder

When I was about 38 weeks pregnant I think. She started a year later at the start of sept. Seemed normal in my area and I had wanted her to start in the may but there were no spaces .

Depends on nursery. We put dd on the list for the one we wanted at 2 days old (couldn't do it until she was born) and she didn't get a space till 13 months so i had to send her to a different nursery 9-12 months then move her

As others have said it depends on what childcare you're looking for and the area you're in. My baby is 4 months old and I've recently contacted a few childminders in my local area, and have been told it's a little too early!

DC1 I was taking 10 months off, going back to work when she was 9 months old. Got nursery booked when she was 3mo - visited our two closest and neither had full availability by then already, I did get the availability I needed though. With DC2 I have booked them in to the same nursery for when they're approx 9mo, I did this when I was about 30 weeks pregnant as I'd heard the waiting list for the baby room is now typically about a year.

I'm almost a year in and it doesn't seem like the waiting lists have made any difference unless you were looking to start in September when they all move up a room.

I'm looking for a January start and basically nowhere will let me reserve a space I just have to hope nearer the time there is one.

With my youngest it was when my eldest told them I was pregnant and I was given the forms to fill in as soon as he was born . So remember you are behind people like me when you look for a place. I'd say look and make a decision when you are pregnant and then sign up as soon as possible after the birth.

I looked when she was 3 months and half were already full.

I got a space at my preferred nursery in December 2020, but it was the last one. DD was born August 2020 and she was starting September 2021 (they wouldn’t accept her for August 21 which was my preference, they wanted to wait for kids to move up a room). Town in the Home Counties, but from what I understand it’s very variable across the country.

When I needed specific days, I reserved a space as soon as I found out my due date. When I was in a job I could be more flexible about which days, I reserved space when I was about 7monyhs pregnant

6 months, but I wish we had started earlier. It was so difficult to find a place in our area DS had to go to one nursery twice a week and to a different one for the third day.

Wow thanks for all of your replies. Was not expecting some of you to say you were securing childcare options whilst you were even still pregnant! Think me and my OH need to get our heads together and decide what we’re doing so we can look into some options. Hope we haven’t left it too late!

London. First kid looked when I was pregnant. Second, waited until they were 2 weeks old and the nursery I wanted had an 18 month waiting list.

I looked when I found out I was pregnant (5 weeks). Waiting lists in my area are 2 years. Space opened up at my preferred nursery when she was 5 months but mainly because of covid and parents pulling their kixz out.

@LakeShoreD

When I was 3 months pregnant. Nurseries are oversubscribed here.

This. DS was born in the January and they were fully booked til the September. If I'd have waited any longer than three months gestation, he wouldn't have got in (outstanding nursery in the street next to ours!)

I registered DS1 before he was born because we'd heard places were scarce around us (10 years ago, SE). We were less organised with DS2!

I can't remember when I initially phoned the nursery but I visited and filled out paperwork when I was 7mo pregnant.

Depends where you are but I got sucked up faves when I tried at 1yo for dts, we got a nanny.