When to sort child care

There is a website called "childcare.co.uk" that you can sign up to. All the registered nannys, childminders and nurseries are on there in your area. Their offstead rating is advertised on there. You can pick who you want and message them. X It's brilliant x

Im 28 weeks. I have a meeting with a childminder next week to see if I like the placement so i can go back to work whenbaby hits 9 months old.

@Charlotte Thank you! X

Start calling now. The best nursery around me has a 12 month waiting list. So if you want them to go at 9 months, you need to sign up while pregnant still. To find the best ones around me, I asked for recommendations on my local Facebook groups and also read reviews and ofsted reports and recommendations.

I find childminders are better for small babies and then 18+ months nurseries are better. For my 1st nursery, went to have a look and 2 months later she was signed up and registered. For my second nursery, a montessori school, I signed up about 8 months before she started as they have very few spaces. So just depends on nursery. Go and visit places now if you want. They'll usually tell you how soon you need to book. But I'd say childminder first. X

I used to work in a nursery in management and have years of experience as a family support worker...I'll list here what you need to ask or look out for when choosing a nursery. * ask if staff are level 3 qualified, this would be recommended * ratios of babies to staff is 2 to 1, ask how they ensure this is met at all times * ask if they follow the EYFS (Early years foundation stage) it's basically the curriculum for 0-5s * ask how they track the babies learning and development and how they record observations * ask if they use an app or website to keep you informed * ask about safeguarding- how do they keep strangers out, what doors and gates do they keep locked etc * menu - what do they feed your baby * do they nap them * how often is everything cleaned * outdoor space 1/2

2/2 * how do they record any accidents/incidents *are they linked with any local children's centres where they offer additional support or signpost to services *how do they support children with SEN (special educational needs) do they make referrals and do they have SEN/Inclusion qualified staff * how often do you receive reports, do they hold parents evenings * fees and deposits I hope that helps x

Ofsted reports are good to read however I wouldn't base my choice on that as the nursery may not have been inspected recently and since then there could be a new manager and staff. It isn't always reflective of how they are right now. One other thing to ask about is staff turnover if it's high that's not a good sign. You want your baby to form a bond with a key worker who won't be leaving any time soon - although that's hard to predict. You need consistency and a happy environment with enthusiastic staff with energy and passion x

I tried to reach out to nursery's but they said until she's "of age" there was no point as it's a waiting list and every January they were given different funding so it would impact who could and could not join. Tbh I was really upset when told that as my 9 months mat leave ends in February 😭 I'm now worried I might not get her into a good one

No harm looking now, but I went from being a SAHM to getting a job, finding a nursery and him starting in 3 weeks.

I'm 32 weeks and we sorted nursery at like 24 weeks. When we did, they had no space until October 2025. It is something you need to find early. I'm fact that was the second one too. We viewed one in July that had no space until October 2025 that was bloody filthy and awful. I burst into tears in the office of the nursery that my step son goes to because it was so awful and she's booked in there now, again no space until October 2025. (Not quite as local but at least I know she'll be safe and cared for and it's clean!)

@Sarah It's different the younger they are as the baby rooms have less space. Less children - higher ratio of staff per child. My step son started at 3 at his nursery. No issues at all. Same nursery for baby, no space for over a year.

I knew about the nursery my LG will go to through someone asking for recommendations on Facebook (this was like 6 years ago but I worked in early years at the time, am nosey, and it was a nursery local that I'd not heard of so I looked it up and fell in love) and when my LG was about 2 months I started enquiring for a March 2025 start just before she turns 1. Of the 3 I was interested in - one was full until September 2025, the other only one space for March, but thankfully the one I loved had space. Ask around mum groups or on Facebook as you may find a 'hidden gem' nursery through recommendations.

Definately get looking now and pay a deposit to get on the confirmed waiting list. I got my toddler in straight away luckily, but her baby sister had to wait 12 months for her space to become available

@Bethan mine was in the baby room when he started :)