Researching Nurseries already? My baby isn't due until August!

[MrsLister]

Hello ladies - was hoping you might be able to offer some advice.

A good friend has just told me I need to start looking into nurseries now and, if at all possible, get my (as yet unborn) baby onto a waiting list.

I know things are a bit over dramatic in London but surely it's a bit soon for me to be thinking about this?!

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance

I hope not - I am also due in August 2012 and not even thinking about returning to work till July 2013. Was thinking maybe about doing it just before going on mat leave in July 2012 - more so I have the time to browse rather than panicking when I have a small baby. All seems very early to me. I am not in London though.....

It's not too early.. Nursery (and primary school situation) is pretty dire in central London because of the "baby boom". I would look into it sooner rather than later, and maybe put name down in the nursery of your choice when the baby is born.

I'm in the NW and started looking as soon as I had got beyond 25wk. Baby places fill up QUICK cos of staff ratios needed for this age group

Well I'm in the North West and had to book a place for DS2 3 months before he was born. Our nursery's baby room is full until January 2013 now!

It isn't a bad idea, particularly if you are definitely planning to return to work after maternity leave.

Waiting lists can be long (ridiculous in some parts of London) and it is easier to take an initial look around while pregnant than with a small baby in tow - you can always go back for a second visit nearer the time.

I work for the Childcare Info Service in Cambs - its never to early to look at nurseries! Contact your local Families Information Service and they can send you a list, you can ask around for local knowledge and people's experiences and get an idea of costs in advance.

Hi, whilst we do not live in London we have started the research into childcare provision in the area (we are due April 29th). It is a minefield out there. After reading the posts of the ladies in the NW I am thinking we need to try and book a place for baby quite soon as not to be disappointed next April when I have to go back to work.

xx

I agree. Some are easy to get into after you've given birth. Some are greatly in demand and do have waiting lists. Theres no reason not to do your homework now.

I agree with what others have said - from my experience of looking round nurseries, the ones that have long waiting lists are in demand for a reason! Better to look early than have to take a place somewhere that you're not completely happy with just because they're the only ones who can fit you in.

Thanks for the feedback guys - think I'll get in touch with my local council and ask them to send me a full list of all nurseries and childminders in the borough.

x

There is a ridiculously organic vegetable growing etc nursery not so far from me in London that allegedly if you put your first child down when born, you might just get their sibling in, the waiting list is so long .

I think it depends on what days you'd like though - Mondays and Fridays are undersubscribed in nurseries so I got a place immediately and upped and changed my days when more became available. I'd imagine a FT place would have a long wait though..

I put DD's name down when I was 7 months pg for a full time place when she was 6mo. They called me just after she turned one to tell me that they had a day available and did I want it...

Hi MrsLister, I had the same shock advice when I thought I was the most organised person in the world! I started looking about 5/6 months pregnant on advice of girls at work - I'm due in April. And I plan to take a year off work too.

I short listed 3 or 4 in my area (Fulham) and have visited 1 so far (they have regular open evenings). Another told me to visit and register only when the baby was born. The 3rd, our favourite, has 30 places (apparently this is small, the others were taking 3 times that many!!) and we were advised to register our interest even though they didn't invite parents to come and look around until a place was actually available. They didn't like people dropping in the whole time to look around as it was disruptive to the kids - now that made me happy :-) They didn't imply at all that we were too early to be looking 1 year in advance of needing a place.

One we registered for free, the other (our favourite) cost us £30 to register which will be deducted once we pay 1 month up front, if we decide to proceed with them after visiting.

Things I learnt in this whole process:

• easier to do your research and visiting when you don't have a baby in tow, you can always go back for a second look when finalising your choice
• it's worth paying the registration fee for peace of mind
• some nurseries give favour to parents looking for full time places, so if you want part time or a couple of half days, it seemed to be earlier the better in my experience.

Good luck!
Kate

Thank you Kate!

I will likely be returning for 4 days per week when baby is 7 months old so that'll be literally this time next year. I'm going to get my skates on! :)