in May 2025 Babies 🇬🇧

Nursery or Childminder or something else?

I’m currently expecting my baby (37+1 weeks), due in May, and I’m already planning how to afford childcare whether that’s a nanny, childminder, or nursery here in London. I live in W2, and the costs are incredibly high. My question is: how can an average family with two decent salaries manage an additional £1,800–£2,000 per month for a nursery when the baby is just 6 months old and parents need to return to work? Is there a more affordable solution that I might not be aware of? Are there any groups or communities where mums support each other with childcare?

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Have you looked into tax free childcare and the free hours? Our girl currently gets 15 hours and that will increase in September to 30 hours x

I would take the whole 52 weeks Mat leave if the nursery cost is that high. you can get the 15 hours free childcare, but you may still be required to pay the differences in some places so it can still work out fairly costly. I would look to put your name down very early onto nursery that have government funding, that way you are guaranteed a decent amount saved for nursery. We’re super lucky to have found that in our area and we actually don’t pay anything at all! So effectively free nursery. My daughter is very happy there. Do lots and lots of research, visit all nurseries before making any decision as well. Hope that helps. Check eligibility. My daughter attends 8:50am-3:30pm Monday-Thursday and 8:50am-11:40am on Friday 🙂

When your child is 9 months old, eligible working parents can receive 30 hours funded child care hours for 38 weeks of the year.

If neither of you earn over 100k (individually) you should qualify for free hours from 9 months so might be worth looking at extending mat leave or using accrued holiday to delay the start of nursery. 30 hours isn’t really 30 hours as its term time only and at our nursery the days are 11 hours long so you only get under 3 days and have to pay the rest but it does bring the headline cost down. Our nursery has a fee schedule showing exactly what you need to pay based on your free hour entitlement and number of days you attend, so ask the nurseries you are viewing for this info. I’ve also heard childminders are cheaper but have never looked into it.

i think you need to have a look at them personally and get a feel. i always said i would never leave my little one with a childminder as i felt i couldn’t trust an individual with my little girl, yet after visiting our local nurseries i didn’t get a feel for any of them, then i met a local childminder and instantly knew she was the right person to look after my child

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