Booking into Nursery

Following this as I’m also hearing it and it is freaking me out ha. We don’t even know where we will be living and working let alone booking unborn child in to nursery!! Xx

I applied to three this morning and my baby is due end of July. I was told there may be a years wait

We had to book our baby in when we were 20 weeks and we got thr last slot on one of our preferred days!! We explained to the nursery that we didn't know name, due date etc and they said thst due to the nursery funding changes, they were very used to this now and were very helpful.

Have heard the same and no idea when I’ll be working/not working. Would guess you book them as “Baby Surname”. Also been told we should look at schools before birth. 😳 Just seems to much with everything else we need to do.

Mine is signed up for a childminder , work out if you’ll be able to have funding . Work out when this will affect your start date? Look round a couple . Decide if you want a nursery or childminder! They are used to signing babies up that aren’t born:)

We went to visit a nursery in Feb got told they were taking in for March the following year! So we have reserved a space for her to start next June last week. We are quite lucky that we know a rough schedule but due to a potential job change the one I submitted may change they said just let them know as soon as we do so they can make sure they can accommodate, I’ve had friends say put extra days in so you’re covered and it’s easier to reduce them than add on days if needed

I had to book them in when I was about 18 weeks and the one we chose was fully booked until June 2026 and we wanted July 2026. We knew we would need full time as both work and have no family support so didn't have to factor in work schedule other than the timing of when to start them. They just put TBC in the name field of all the forms.

Around me in Oxfordshire - massive shortage of spaces. I booked straight after my 12 week scan and took the last space for may 2026. It massively depends on your area but I’d defs call a few and check waiting list times

We went at 20 weeks and were able to secure a place for September 2026 - no space from July 2026 :(. We’re working around them rather than the other way around!

I booked our baby in (as baby and our surname so odd) as when I enquired all the local nurseries were taking babies from September 2026 and beyond, some didn’t have any space till 2027 for 2 days and I’ll be back from Mat leave Aug 2026! It’s very odd, viewing and booking on without baby here so totally agree I thought it was wild!!

Yes I booked my little boy in while pregnant and have done the same this time with my little girl, just apply with the nursery and you can just tell the nursery you don’t know babies name or gender yet/they aren’t born yet and they can still secure the place for you, they may require a small holding deposit x

Yes, we booked my first in when I was about 10 months pregnant, thinking that was really organised with still being pregnant, and he got the last place at the nursery. They only had 10 spaces in the baby room, so maybe that was why? So with this one we've booked him in as soon as I was 12 weeks. It probably depends on the area that you're in, but if you want one of the really good ones you probably need to be booking a space soon (not to stress you).

Yes. I booked when I was 12 weeks. Earliest they could do then was Sept 26. I think it depends on your area but worth looking around now! If you’re not sure on days, I’d book full time and take a hit on the deposit if you don’t need that many days. We got screwed over by family changing their minds and had to find last minute childcare which was very stressful! Wish we had booked nursery full time and cancelled days.

Think it massively depends on the nursery and how busy they get. If you have one in mind I would enquire how much notice they need. I didn’t book my son (born July 2023) till Jan 2024 to start August 2024 but I have quite a lot of nursery’s in my area 🤷🏽‍♀️

It depends what area you are in. We have two places booked already. We live in London and last kid had our name on the list for 5 nurseries but only got offered one! It’s worth asking nurseries if they have a preferred start date as that makes you more likely to get a place. Often Jan or Sept is preferred as it when they normally move kids into different aged rooms.

Already signed up with my childminder for next September. Insane!!

Hey! We were told the same thing so viewed and reserved a place at a nursery at 20 weeks! Well worth doing as I’ve heard people missing out on places!

Hi I did this for my first baby a in 2023 and you just put them down on a waiting list for an approx month you’re likely to need the place from We’ve just done the same for baby 2 due in July and they’re on a waiting list for next April too I would suggest starting to research your preferred provider first and book a visit in, most nurseries will have open days for new parents etc Hope that helps! Yes it seems wild but it’s totally normal at the mo… nursery places are hard to come by and you don’t want to be stuck without childcare when going back to work x

I am due 14th July and have booked a space for the baby at my daughter's nursery already as they get booked really quickly x

We did viewings around 16-18 weeks, and booked and paid deposit around 20 weeks. It’s absolutely wild you need to do it so early! I put down for 5 days from August 2026 as think that’s what I’ll need, but they reach out to confirm start date closer to the time.

I went to look at a couple at 16 weeks and it’s a good job as spaces for September 2025 we’re already going! I’m on the waitlist for the one I want to start in September 2025 🫠🫠

Definitely get in asap especially if you want a particular nursery or pattern/full time. I registered this baby at the same nursery my 2 year old currently attends in January, when I was about 18 weeks, because I knew I needed full time from July 2026(ish) and they were already full. I’ve got 3 days per week and I’m on the wait list for the other 2, with a full time place confirmed from September 2026. I think nurseries expect you to not have the details at this point, and ours charged us to register but we can confirm the actual dates nearer the time xx Edited to add: the new funded hours has massively increased the demand for places for babies as young as 9 months, that’s why it’s gone so insane. It wasn’t like this when my first was born in 2022.

This is all quite scary. We don’t know where we will be living yet as we are trying to move house but the top chain has collapsed. Also due to health issues I want to know that all is well and baby gets here safely so was hoping to leave this kind of thing until I have peace of mind. Is it that we will be stuck with a not so great nursery then? Or are there other options? Childminding maybe?