When to book for childcare

[Marley&Me]

I will be returning to work part time in the new year and I am unsure of when to approach local child care centres or what to do/say I don't live near the city, but my area is growing rapidly so I imagine I should get a move on with this. Can anyone explain the process to me?

[LimeSlice]

Most wont hold places longer than a couple of weeks with a deposit.
Realistically, you can't book it until you are about to go back to work and you just hope for the best, and take a place where and when you can get it.

[Doing my best]

I have been lucky enough to not have any dramas booking childcare, but I have friends who were in big growth areas need to book in whilst pg even taking the full year off..

I would ring a few centres that you are interested in and ask if they have a waiting list for the nursery. And if yes, can you make a time to come have a look around and put your name down. You are much better off making a few calls now, rather than assuming you will be ok, and not being able to get care when having to return to work.

[Mumma T]

After deciding what centre I wanted, I spoke to the centre director about what was required to ensure I could get DS in when I needed. They were able to guarantee me a spot in the nursery. I think a lot of places make you pay a deposit to secure the place, but I was lucky enough that I didn't have to.

Good luck, I found it so hard to decide on centres.

[Marley&Me]

Thank you everyone, I guess i will start looking. I haven't even decided on what days/hours I will be working yet. And since i will be working from a roster that will prove quite difficult. I will just have to wait and see what they say...

[Nai]

Where I live I had to put my name down as soon as I got a BFP! The waiting list was so long that it could take years to get into the centre. Personally i would look around, ask what the process is, ask what sort of waiting list (if any) there is and how long in advance you need to have your name down. Also ask if you are at the top of the list and you don't take a spot, do you drop down to the bottom again or do you stay at the top and get the next spot that comes up. And if you want the spot but not straight away do they hold it and how much do you have to pay for them to hold it.

[FabFiona]

Most places have a estimated start date on the form. Where I live it's very competitive. We put our sons name down the day after we bought our new home and it took 18 months of waiting. I put our name down everywhere close then assessed whether I liked it when it was a bit closer to the start time. Just getting on the list was critical.