How soon should I register for a nursery place?

[sidmeister]

My wife and I are expecting a baby next spring (I know, 'tis very early!), and we were trying to figure out how early is too early to start registering for nursery places. We expect to need to use it when our baby's about 8 months old, and will probably be looking at a place for all 5 days of the week as both of us work full-time.

Thanks!

[srisky]

Never too soon, although some will want you to wait until after the baby has arrived. Also, beware that many nurseries will ask for an upfront, non-refundable registration fee for the privilege, usually around ?30.

Good luck!

[oimissus]

you might want to start off with a childminder, so check them out too. Some nurseries, such as the Villa, take children from age 2, but they have a very long waiting list so even if you decide to start with a CM, you may want to register for a nursery place anyway. Some places you can register before birth, some (like the Villa) you have to wait until after.

I would certainly start ringing and looking around now, while you have the energy! We left it stupidly late to look at anywhere other than the local one.

[Strawbs]

I am 13w pregnant with my second child and have registered this baby already with my son's nursery. Never ever too early! When I was pregnant with my now 2yr old son I registered him with three nurseries and didn't get a place with any of them.. Good luck and congrats x

[Bellenden Belle]

I put my little one's name down at a very popular community nursery when I was three months pregnant.

I felt silly at the time but I'm very pleased I did it now.

[LalKJ]

Our son has been at Nellys full time. We've found it to be an excellent nursery, and the only way to get a place is to get your name down when you are in the early stages of pregnancy. It does feel a bit silly but loads of people, especially with two working parent do it very early.

[sidmeister]

Wow, thanks for the replies, guys! So I wasn't overreacting then! :-) I guess this isn't quite the right thread to ask general questions about nurseries (feel free to shoot me down), but I had a couple of other related questions:

* Could you recommend any nurseries that I can register the little one with before birth?

* About nurseries for very young kids, has any of you that's used them found an issue with the baby being very susceptible to infections?

[cactus]

I would go on the OFSTED website, you'll be able to do a search for all of the nurseries in your area,

then ring around and check what their registration process is. Of course you can put your name down for more than one, but as someone has already pointed out, a fee will apply. Nelly's & Mother Goose spring to mind in terms of a recommendation, but there are plenty of others.

Problem with nurseries, is that babies and toddlers will inevitably pick up various illnesses from each other. I felt guilty when I first sent my 8 month old. He previously hadn't ailed a thing, but then spent the next two years with what seemed like a constant cough/cold. Nothing serious, but a bit hard going at times.

[midivydale]

sidmeister, you are late love - get on those lists :)

[Bonfire2010]

Unfortunately you do need to get on those lists as soon as you can. Most do charge - the least we paid was ?20 to register, but I do recall that Excel2 in Peckham Rye wanted a whole month's fees, upfront and non-refundable although that did guarantee a place.

We started looking when I was about 3 months pregnant, and only got the offer of a place at the nursery we wanted when my son was 6 months old. He started part-time when he was 9 months, going perm at 15 months and yes, for about a year it did feel like a constant stream of coughs and colds, but then his immunity seemed to kick in a bit. I've probably just completely tempted fate and he'll have a raging cold when I collect him later!

[srisky]

On the flip side, we got away relatively scott-free wrt to nursery bugs, no idea how but wanted to give you a positive experience to hang on to!

[LalKJ]

Yes, we too got away with hardly any bugs too, and I also think being in nursery has given him some resistance now he is older.

[SR]

Use the ofsted site to gauge the nursery options near you. Then arrange to go visit them. You do get a feel for which is best so would recommend you and your wife visiting together. You don't want to be too far from home and/or transport links as you will be doing the drop off and pick up. My husband and I do nine day fortnights so alternate a day off each wk so our daughter is only in 4 days and we are both dropping 10% salary only. 2 days off a month doesn't impact our jobs much. Might be an option. Good luck.

[Lacey]

Another option is to look at nurseries near where you work. We did this with our first child as we couldn't get a place locally despite going on waiting lists whilst pregnant. There are obvious downsides to this - commuting with a young child the main one! Though that was generally not too bad. And we never had to worry about being late for nursery.... You may find the waiting lists are shorter too.

We only moved our son to a local nursery when I was pregnant with our second child so we survived the commute for 3 years.....