Whens the best time to start checking out nurserys?

[Maybe_mummy]

Well as title says, Im thinking about starting checking out childcare was going to wait till after my 20 weeks scan but is this still too early? Im due 1st March but will only be able to have 3 months off and looking at hubbie possibly doing 3 months off but then LO will have to go to nursery or a childminders. I know they get booked up quickly etc but suppose I want to know idea of how much its going to cost so i can budget. What do you think or should I stop being such an eager beaver??

 

[Cazzlou]

I'd maybe just ring a few see what waiting list is like etc. I didn't book dd into nursery until nearer my return to work. Not sure where you live but we pay £39 per day which is average in our town

 

[littlemiss83]

With my first I started looking at nurseries when I was around 6months pregnant, had finished & got one booked by the time I was 7 months.

 

[LuW]

Lancashire - Start as soon as, and don't take them on face value. Any that say you have to be there at a very certain time don't even entertain.

Every nursery I worked in at as student all over Lancs had waiting lists of about 18months - 2 years in some areas- 6months would be your minimum if its a franchise(sp) nursery.

It's not rare in the good ones to have woman who have just come back from the first scan lookng around! And while when you book you put a deposit down - none will ever say no to you revocking the place due to problems or finding a more suitable placement before the baby is born. xxxxxx


Where abouts in Lancs are you?? xx

 

[marley]

I just went to look at one today...I'm due Wednesday.

Baby is going to go for one morning a week starting from
January.

Might change my mind but at the moment she's going xxx

 

[LuW]

Awh I prefered the munchkins we had for only a few hours - they were soo chuffed when mum or dad came to get them! was darling! Those with us all da every day just used to look over like 'oh.. it's you... do you mind I'm busy' kind of look - funny off a 13month old whose busy jamming sheep into the baby gate....

 

[marley]

Haha i was definitely the sheep kid. Xx

 

[LuW]

Loll! I went to child minders all the time from like 2 months and mum worked from like half 6 in the morning til about 7 at night so if I'm honest I didn't really see either of my parents at all until Mum changed jobs after my brother was born so yano lol!

 

[NinjaKitty]

I'm in the North Manc/Lancs area. Asking some of my friends with kids I found out that there was up to a 2 year waiting list for baby places (how on earth do you plan for that!).

Anyway because of this I started looking when I was 16 weeks and had my place reserved by my 20 week scan. Bubs will be 9 months old when he goes to nursery.

 

[Maybe_mummy]

IM in Blackburn but I work over in Burnley, my friend has told me of a childminder in Burnley but Im gettting contraticting advise as to weather it should go to a childminder or nursery with more kids etc. Im worried cos it will be 6 months when it goes and probably looking at min 3 days a week my mum wants to sit the other 2 days. I wish I could have more time off but cos of our financial situation its not possible!

 

[LuW]

If you meet a childminder your really comfortable with then do that- same as if you found a nursery your really comfortable with then go for it - Theres no right or wrong answer.

Child minders suited my mum better for me because of her shifts and the two childminders I went too had children within months of me, and we're all still intouch. But my brother went to a kindercare nursery and that suited him down to the ground - don't think it would have bothered me being in a nursery or him a childminders and I think the only difference for me is I might have been forced to eat something I didn't like - set menu crap and I'm a really fussy eater with massive complexes over some food or combinations of foods. Always havebeen and even as the weaning stage I just did not like a lot of things so being at a child minders meant mum didn't have to worry about whatever was for dinner because she knew they'd make sure I'd eaten something so yano...

 

[Maybe_mummy]

Well I've just called a local nursery and was told there is a waiting list, no space till Novemember next year and then they can only do 2 days!!! As from Feb 2013 will have all the days available!! Eeeekkkk maybe not to early to start then. ha ha ha

 

[jojo_2012]

Nursery at work keeps kids til they're ready for nursery school. £45 a day. Seeing as I'm being forced to go on mat leave at 29 weeks I'd better ring tomorrow as there's a 9 month waiting list!!

 

[Maybe_mummy]

Your being forced to take maternity leave??? How come? Most of the nurserys round here seem to take babies from the age of 3 months upwards, I think im going to take 3 months of then hubbie take 3 months paternity and then nursery would love longer but not practical! Booooooo

 

[lrb]

I work for a nursery and it's £40 a day, that's 7:30-6 3 meals. Baby has to be 3months old. You still have to bring your own milk, nappies & wipes tho. But think that's gonna be the most you have to pay a day. Seems a lot if there full time. Make sure you check them all out & look into childminding too, might work out a bit cheaper x

 

[positivity :)]

£75 per day in London

 

[Maybe_mummy]

Damn thats expensive how are you supposed to work full time and still afford to pay that?? Crazy!!

 

[positivity :)]

tell me about it! i earn £82 a day..really makes it not worth it but i dont want to leave the jobs market xx

 

[littlemiss83]

£75 per day in London

I thought £35 a day was bad!!!

 

[positivity :)]

when i tell people that i know they are thinking 'why are you paying someone else to look after your child when there in no financial gain' its so hard for mums but i just think staying in work is better in the long run for my little one xx