Advice on childcare please

[awilliams123]

Okay, I know I really should have considered this a long time ago and started enquiring with nurseries before DS was even born, but my husband and I thought we had a plan that would have worked out so that DS wouldn't have to be put into any childcare situation. It turns out now that we've decided that I will go back to work partime maybe 3/4 days a week and hubby will work from home one day a week and we'd need to put DS into childcare for 2 days a week.

I've done some phoning around and to put it simply, one nursery I enquired with told me that they weren't even taking VISITORS to check out the place until January because they're waiting list was so long...eesh!

I was expecting waiting lists but I think I'm kicking myself in the arse now about this...DS will be 11 months in Feb which is when I was planning on going back to work. I really want him to be in a nursery environment rather than nanny or childminder.

What do I do???

[Fuschia]

Either consider a nursery quite far away, delay your return to work

Or reconsider re the child minder option

Can you fit your work into a short day, term

Time only? Those sorts of nurseries might have shorter waiting lists

[srisky]

My Favourite Nursery on Upland Road may have places for Feb. They opened relatively recently and so when I last enquired they weren't full. The babies and children seemed very happy there, so much so that my daughter will be starting at the end of Jan, at which time she will be 1y.

Good luck!

[ladywotlunches]

Hi - which nurseries have you tried, and whereabouts do you live?

Although some nurseries do have very long lists, sometimes you can be lucky. I got a job in August - very last minute and they wanted me to start a month later. I had a small panic, but phoned around a few near me (I'm up by the Horniman). We got into Piplings as its a new nursery and had only just had its ofsted so wasn't full yet (might be now though as the report was Outstanding in all areas and there have been a lot of new children settling in with my little one!)

Worth calling a few more to see. And also bear in mind that some nurseries (smaller ones) don't have such regimented lists, and fill spaces as they become available. So you might have more luck in say December, as parents give one month notice and the space becomes available in the New Year.

Also, 3+ days are preferable for many nurseries. Rightly or wrongly, but if you are really desperate perhaps you could ask about that? Don't know if you mean hubby to work from home whilst looking after your son, but he may find thats not workable anyway. My daughter is 11 months now, and there's no way I could get a day's work done with her here!

Good luck!

[ladywotlunches]

crossed posts with srisky - sounds like My Favourite Nursery is a similar situation as we had. Definitely worth a call/look if its in a good location for you

[womanofdulwich]

I hear what you are saying about nursery etc but you might consider a nanny share with older children that are at school. Families with nannies and children at school welcome parttime baby nanny shares- your baby gets individual attention while older children are at school and the benefit of their company before and after school. Good nannies know where all the activity groups are and will socialise your baby. Just an idea.

[Mrs TP]

Widen your nursery search and perhaps consider nurseries near your place of work if you happy to travel with your wee one. Get your name down on as many nursery waiting lists as possible. There is a slight January freeing of places as 4yr olds leave to start those schools that still continue Jan admissions.

Also may I suggest actually making enquiries with and meeting/ visiting childminders / nannies - you might be pleasantly surprised or you might not. If not you are not committed to taking a place. However these are often great temporary solutions whilst waiting for a nursery place.

Many Mums are part-time these days and most nurseries are made up of part-time children.

Good luck - it will work out.

[awilliams123]

Thanks for the advice, I will keep enquiring. I did consider a place closer to work, but I'd prefer that to be more of a last resort scenario, commuting at peak times is a nightmare as it is, with a pushchair, kid, and everything else it would be pretty miserable.

[Vickster]

Get in touch with Piplings in Forest Hill, they are about to open an ED branch I understand

[awilliams123]

Ooh! Really? I will...right now! Thanks for the tip!

[Ellie78]

Completely hijacking this for my own nefarious (researching) purposes. Can I add my own question to this?

Where can you get a list of local nurseries (ie. Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham) and when's the best time (in advance of when you want a place for your little one) to get on waiting lists etc?