Childcare

Hey, I can’t comment on child minders as I didn’t go done this route. However, I think it’s a good time to start looking. Our baby is due end of October and I’ve already enrolled them in to a nursery for Nov 2025. Luckily nurseries around me take them from baby age onwards. The lists weren’t crazy like London for example but, they did say it’s best or get in and I’m glad we got on won’t it. It’s crazy but good luck with your search x

Not crazy at all! We had to get childcare sorted by the time I was 20 weeks to get my eldest in for when he was 15 months old. Childminders and private nurseries can take children much younger than 2 years. Many start at 9 months or younger so I'd definitely adjust your search if you need childcare earlier. Prepare for 12-18 month waiting lists though!

I highly recommend using a childminder, we had a great experience with ours with our first son and she’s going to take my next son when I go back to work. I think for us it was really important he was still in a family environment. Ours had kids of her own who played with our son so nicely. She only ever had 3 kids at once and they all formed such a beautiful friendship. They’re all at school together now and are still great friends. Also price wise you can’t beat it, ours is £50 a day which includes all his food. You can meet them before hand and make sure you feel like they’re right for you, we got very lucky and ours was actually an EYFS teacher for years before being a childminder so she did loads of great activities getting them ready for school.

I’ve reached out to a daycare today for this reason. I hear they get booked quick and the one I want is literally on my road. I had considered a childminder as he will only be 1 but I think the professional setting I’ve found will be fine for him, as the childminders worth their salt I’d have to travel 20/30 mins in the opposite direction on uni days. It’s more expensive than a childminder tho. But I hope there’s higher standards and accountability too. I’ve no clue where to start with it all tho so I’ve asked for a meeting where they can explain it to me.

Ive not even read your post, I’m just here to say that that is the coolest, most unique ultrasound picture I have ever seen 😲

I would make sure they take safe sleep seriously with infants. I would ask what training their staff has and how they make sure they can accommodate parents and their babies schedules

Yup. Mines already booked in, in a lot of areas you need to. Can't comment on childminders but from other friends experiences I think it's a similar situation. When I booked mine in in mid July (due end of Oct) they were already full until October 2025! We have to find away to manage for 3 months in the meantime.

I'm not sure where you're from either but most daycare in my area seem to start around 18 months of age and the waitlists are 2+ years. You pretty much need to apply for waitlists before you're even pregnant here. I know people who were given placement before it was time for the baby go to go and they paid for those months without sending their child just to keep the space. Insane. I've never heard of a child minder so I'm going to look into it. Thanks for suggesting it and good luck!!

@Jennelle UK you can register and just pay a registration fee to book their space. I've paid mine for next October and her space is confirmed. I paid a registration fee of £50 (usually 75) and she'll be starting at 11 months but I believe she could start at 6. UK we hugely rely on nurseries and childcare so there's actually quite a few options. Some don't have a waitlist, most have around a year / just over. They've recently lowered the govt funding age for help with fees so their waitlists are growing!

Yup my baby (not due until December) is already booked in with the same childminder who had my little boy

I am a nursery teacher and highly recommend getting them booked early. It’s about finding the right place for you and your little one? Both have advantages and disadvantages. With nursery, ask about ratio to children, how they help children reach milestones, staff qualification and the key worker system they have in place. Talk about their approach to transition across ages and into school. How do they communicate with you? I then asked the same things with childminder but also ask about emergencies and how would they deal with them? For example if they come ill or a child hurts themselves as they are on their own. Xx