When Should I Put My Baby’s Name Down for Nursery in South West London?
- 13 hours ago
- 7 min read
When you’re pregnant or caring for a tiny newborn, thinking about nursery can feel way too early.
But here in South West London, timing really does matter. Waiting lists are long, and they continue to grow with each year.
One of the main reasons being the new free childcare from 9 months has boosted demand. And baby rooms fill first. Plus, the population in South West London is larger than it as ever been with each passing year.
This guide walks you through:
When to put your baby’s name down for nursery.
How nursery waiting lists work.
A simple timeline from pregnancy to first day.
So you can plan calmly, not panic later.
Why timing matters so much in South West London
Lots of working parents commuting into central London.
More demand thanks to funded childcare from 9 months for eligible working parents.
Many nurseries running close to capacity, with under-2s in highest demand.
If you wait until baby is already here, or your return-to-work date is close, you may find your choices very limited.
Once you understand the rough timelines, it’s much easier to plan ahead.
Quick answer: when should I put my baby’s name down?
For South West London, a good rule of thumb is: Put your baby’s name down between the end of your first trimester and 20 weeks pregnant.
(Around 3–5 months pregnant.)
That usually means you’re registering about: 9–15 months before your baby will start nursery, depending on whether you plan to start at 9, 12 or 18 months
Aim for the earlier end if you:
Need specific days (for example, Mon–Wed only).
Want a very popular nursery.
Need a particular location (for example, near a specific station).
Reading this later in pregnancy or after birth?
Don’t panic. Start calling nurseries now and ask about waiting lists.
Places do move as families’ plans change.
How nursery waiting lists in South West London usually work
Every nursery is slightly different, but most will invite you for a tour.
They may also ask you to register your baby. Usually with a small, non-refundable fee.
Add you to a waiting list with details such as:
Age band (for example, baby room 0–18 months)
Preferred start month (for example, “September 2027”)
Preferred days (for example, Mon–Thu)
Once they know which children are moving up to the next room, or leaving for school or moving away, they will confirm which baby places are available, offer places based on their admissions criteria, such as:
Siblings first
Full-time places first
Date of registration
Because baby rooms have strict staff-to-baby ratios, they cannot just squeeze one more in.
If your chosen days are full, they’re full.
The 9-month funding and why it changes timing
From 2024–2025, the government in England expanded funded childcare for eligible working parents.
The plan is that by September 2025, many working parents will be able to claim up to:
30 hours of funded childcare
From the term after their child turns 9 months
Until they start school
(Eligibility depends on things like earnings and immigration status.)
What this means for you:
More parents now plan to start nursery earlier (around 9–12 months)
Demand for baby places in South West London has increased
Waiting lists for under-2s are often longer than for preschoolers
If you plan to “sort childcare once the free hours kick in”, you may find there’s no space left if you haven’t joined waiting lists early.
Ideal timeline: from pregnancy to starting nursery
Here’s a simple timeline if you’re pregnant now and planning to return to work when baby is 9–18 months.
1. First trimester (0–12 weeks): gentle research
You don’t need to commit yet. Just get your bearings.
Think about:
Your due date
Your likely return-to-work month
9, 12 or 18 months after birth
Possible commute routes
Start a basic shortlist of nurseries near:
Home
Key stations (Balham, Tooting Broadway, Streatham, Norbury)
Your usual route into work
You can bookmark a few you like (for example, settings like Lucky Beans Childcare in Balham, Tooting, Streatham and Norbury) and come back to them later.
2. Second trimester (13–26 weeks): visit nurseries and join waiting lists
This is the sweet spot for many parents.
You’re often:
Feeling a bit better physically
Early enough to beat the rush for baby places
Clear-headed enough to think about what you really want
During this time:
1. Book nursery tours
Aim to visit 2–4 nurseries you could genuinely see yourself using.
On each visit, check practical things like:
Opening hours and days
Commute and parking / transport
Outdoor space
Baby room size
Staff stability and turnover
2. Ask directly about baby room availability
Use clear, specific questions such as: “If my baby starts at 9/12/18 months, how likely is a space?”
“Do you have a waiting list for babies? How long is it at the moment?”
3. Join waiting lists
Ideally for at least one or two nurseries you like.
Be honest and specific about your plans:
“Likely January 2027 start, 3 days a week, ideally Tue–Thu.”
If you’re flexible on days, say so. Flexibility can hugely increase your chances.
4. Understand their admissions process
Ask things like:
Do siblings get priority?
Do full-time places get priority?
When do you usually confirm places?
This is also a good time to ask how they handle funded hours from 9 months.
Term-time only or “stretched” across the year?
Are there extra charges for meals or sessions on top?
3. Third trimester (27–40 weeks): confirm preferences and keep in touch
By now, ideally you have:
Joined the waiting list at your first-choice nursery
Possibly registered interest at a second choice
Now you can:
Send a quick email with your preferred start date and days
Ask when they will likely confirm places
Update them if your plans change - For example, moving from 3 days to 4 days
Nurseries are very used to tentative plans in pregnancy.
They would rather you join early and tweak details later than miss out completely.
4. Baby arrives: adjust and reconfirm
Once baby is here and you’ve had a few months to settle, it’s time to:
1. Double-check your return-to-work plans
Confirm your leave end date with your employer
Decide whether you’ll return full-time, part-time or in phases
2. Contact the nursery again (Usually 5–8 months before your baby is due to start.)
Confirm:
Baby’s full name and date of birth
Planned start month and days
Next steps:
Deposits
Contracts
Settling-in sessions
3. Ask about settling-in sessions
Most nurseries offer short visits where you stay with baby at first then gradually leave them for longer.
4. Join more than one waiting list
This is especially important in high-demand areas of South West London.
Even if you’re “late” by the ideal timeline, remember, children move rooms or leave all year round.
Spaces do appear unexpectedly.
How early is too early?
Most nurseries are happy to hear from you from around 12 weeks pregnant onwards.
They might not confirm a place straight away, but they can add you to their enquiry list or waiting list, invite you to open days or tours, and give you a sense of how busy the baby room is.
What to think about when choosing a nursery
While you’re thinking about timing, also think about what matters most to you.
Here are some useful questions:
Location and commute - Is it on your way to work?
Close to home - Easy in bad weather or with a buggy?
Opening hours - Do they cover your working day plus commute?
What about days when trains are delayed or meetings overrun?
Ethos and environment - Does it feel homely and calm? Is it more outdoor-focused or more structured?
Does it match your parenting style?
Baby room and key person - Who will care for your baby day to day? How many babies per adult? How long have staff been there?
Do you feel you could trust them with your baby?
Communication - Do they send updates, photos or daily logs? Will you know about naps, feeds and nappy changes?
Support with weaning, sleep and routines - Will they follow your baby’s routine or set one? How do they manage naps? Do they support baby-led weaning if that matters to you?
Once you’re on a waiting list, you should feel comfortable asking questions.
A good nursery will always make time to talk.
FAQs: planning nursery places in South West London
1. Do I have to take the first place I’m offered?
No. But be clear and honest with nurseries.
Tell them if you only want certain months or days.
Ask how long you have to accept or decline an offer.
They will usually move to the next family if they don’t hear back.
2. Can I change my days later?
Often yes, but it depends on availability.
Many parents start with 3 days
Then increase to 4 or 5 days as work changes
It’s usually easier to add days if you’re flexible about which days.
3. What if I’m not sure about my return-to-work date?
That’s completely normal.
Give nurseries your best estimate
For example, “around January or February 2027”
Ask when they’ll need a firm answer
Often a few months before the start date
4. Can I visit nurseries with my newborn?
Yes, absolutely. Lots of parents do.
Visiting with your baby can help you picture daily life after leave.
If you visited in pregnancy, a second visit can be very reassuring.
Putting your baby’s name down for nursery in South West London can feel absurdly early.
Especially when you’re still getting used to being pregnant.
But you’re not being dramatic. You’re:
Protecting your future options
Giving yourself time to decide what feels right
Avoiding a last-minute scramble when work is looming
If you’re expecting and live in areas like Balham, Tooting, Streatham or Norbury, your next step can be very simple:
Pick a couple of nurseries you like the look of and book a visit in your second trimester.
You don’t need every answer yet. You just need to start the conversation.
If you're looking for nurseries in and around Balham, Tooting, Streatham and Norbury, then you should come and visit us at Lucky Beans Childcare.
We have multiple nurseries to choose from, and we specialise in caring for newborns and babies.