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.

We went to look and book at ours when I was 8 months pregnant and they didn't seem surprised! Was mainly because it was our strong first preference and we didn't want to lose out by delaying but with hindsight I think we'd have been ok. Just didn't fancy the setting and/or the logistics of the other two options locally as much.

I booked DS in when he was 3 weeks old, but requested to change his days a few weeks before he started, as I’d got a new job.

It was about 3-4 months before I started bk. so maybe when baby was about 8 months old. I started looking once I had negotiated part time and my days etc. Although I was only looking for 1 day a week. Even then I struggled and the place I got was the only one that had availability. Luckily it's a gd nursery.

Friends who were planning to go bk film time with no family help out their names down at chosen nursery when pregnant.

@CornishGem1975 🤣🤣 I’m glad I wasn’t the only one calling at 6months old 🤣 it was my first DC and I had absolutely no idea how crazy it was 🙈

I put my baby on waiting list after 12 week scan. There's an 18 month waiting list in my area

My sons was put on our employer nursery waiting list when I was 28 weeks pregnant. Still didn’t get offered a space until he was 4 I managed to sort alternative childcare fairly quickly when it materialised we weren’t getting a space at the first choice

In London - I was still pregnant both times and I only just managed to get places at the time I wanted. I know my local nursery has 18 month waiting lists at the moment.

@IcedCoffeeAlways @CornishGem1975 I am with you ladies! This is my first baby and I had no idea you had to think of childcare this far ahead! No one tells you that! Xx

[quote sunshinecitrus1]**@IcedCoffeeAlways* @CornishGem1975* I am with you ladies! This is my first baby and I had no idea you had to think of childcare this far ahead! No one tells you that! Xx[/quote]
@sunshinecitrus1 I actually mentioned it to my HV at DSs last check up and said it would be really helpful if it was mentioned by your community midwife either just before or after birth. Obviously not huge detail or actual information but just a mention that childcare options can have waiting lists etc to prompt you to have a think about what you might need in future.

I live in a smallish village in Scotland and just never expected it to be as busy here!

I put my name down for my baby when I was about 20 weeks pregnant. It's a good nursery, easily the best one in our area. I have a child who was already attending there so I knew how tight it was for a space, and if I wanted to be guaranteed space on the days I had requested I knew I would have to put my application in sooner rather than later. I'm so glad I did as I have heard of several people being unable to get the days they wanted, or even to get a space at all.

Preschool wouldn’t take names before birth, so we got her application in at 3 days. There are 16 places, waiting list is around 180.
Nursery would take before birth so we got her on the list when I was 5 months pregnant. But when it came back to going back to work, we only got 2.5 out of the 4 days. Because we accepted the 2.5 days we got bumped to the top of the list for the additional 1.5 days so got the full 4 days 3 weeks after I started work.

I think it really depends. Where we lived before I put his name down when I was 6 months pregnant and it was too late for baby room. But we've just moved and he got a place straight away at the most gorgeous nursery where he is thriving.

I was pregnant with my DD1 and put her on the waiting list. We were offered a place when she was 10 months. My DD2 went on when I was pregnant and was offered a sibling place so I could choose her start date.

I was also pregnant when I put our name down. The nursery had ~ a 13 month waiting list.