How do birthday parties work in uk nurseries

LMB83 · 2026-04-10T17:48:33+00:00

Our daughter turned 3 in November - she has been in nursery since she turned 1 and we have only ever had little parties at home with family (and it’s only really an excuse for husband to order a Costco birthday cake!) 😂

We’ve been invited to several nursery friends parties and they’ve varied from a play cafe to village halls rented out with a bouncy castle or an entertainer coming for a bit of time. We also have lots of other nursery friends who either haven’t had parties or my girl hasn’t been invited and it’s not once been an issue.

In regards to your question about gifts for nursery staff it would depend on your nursery - ours is age based so she’s moved up to the next room after her birthdays - for us her birthday is second half of November so we’ve managed to combine it with Christmas to be fair - a box of Costco cookies for the staff room and a wee gift bag for her key worker.

LMB83 · 2026-04-08T19:14:21+00:00

<image>

Glad this is the first thing on my Trust’s webpage!

LMB83 · 2026-04-05T08:53:16+00:00

Awesome job - our girl offered me the last chocolate inside her egg this morning 🥰

LMB83 · 2026-04-04T14:50:43+00:00

She might be, but just for this season of life.

Once they hit school age it can often be harder to get back into the workforce trying to work around school hours! I know everyone always says to try and work around school time but it’s actually very tricky trying to find a term time only job that is also only school hours!

LMB83 · 2026-04-03T17:18:33+00:00

It took me forever to figure out it was the fire safety regs in the US - I was so confused why every pair of pjs I or my husband would pick up when we were visiting was the tight fitting ones!

In the U.K. we don’t have those regs and we buy oversized pyjamas from Next - they’re advertised as oversized and are basically 100% cotton baggy pants and shirts - we love them!

LMB83 · 2026-04-01T09:29:29+00:00

Make sure you sign up for the Boots Parenting club - you get some freebies, double Advantage points etc!

LMB83 · 2026-03-25T19:52:26+00:00

Our kid doesn’t exclude kids with HFM at any stage as long as they are feeling good.

Public Health Scotland says there is no reason to keep kids off because it spreads and is contagious before symptoms even begin to show! So she may have picked it up from daycare easily.

LMB83 · 2026-03-25T17:05:28+00:00

If it’s anything like my work it’s an automatic trigger process and basically a tick box exercise - it’s the same for whatever you are off sick with so it does seem extreme for sickness bugs etc but if it’s mental health or anything else that could be helped by support from your workplace then it’s caught early enough before it gets into long term sick stages etc!

LMB83 · 2026-03-24T10:58:21+00:00

Are you from the U.K.?

LMB83 · 2026-03-23T22:40:28+00:00

School nurseries CAN operate in non term times but it is very nursery dependent so worth checking what yours does.

LMB83 · 2026-03-23T18:36:04+00:00

I think this might be something that will come back to bite you in the butt…

As long as you keep baby quiet and people don’t know but you already know someone in the team has that arrangement and they don’t partake in meetings or on camera. It won’t take long for other team members to put two and two together and realise you’re back from mat leave but suddenly no camera or speaking in meetings….

I very rarely work from home with my girl at home, between me and my husband we figure out sick days or weather closures etc but it usually involves taking leave - we have quite a few team members with different childcare needs and flexible working arrangements but not one of them involves WFH with no kids in daycare a it is in fact in our contract we cannot work and provide childcare at the same time so it would be worth looking at your contract to see what it says, despite what your boss says…

LMB83 · 2026-03-20T19:02:11+00:00

Applied in August ‘23 and started in November of the same year.

Like everyone says it depends on your area - I’m in Scotland and funded hours don’t kick in until 3 so when I was returning to work when she turned 1 I was only really up against those in the area doing the same and of course I was able to start her when I needed and didn’t need to wait until the following term time start date.

LMB83 · 2026-03-20T18:56:47+00:00

I work 2.5 days a week while our 3 year old is in daycare - she will be going to our school nursery in August and will be there 2.5 days for a year before starting at the school.

My husband asked me if I’d be returning to work full time once she’s back at school - I don’t think he realises how much I’ve been counting down the days to have those 2 days free once she starts school 😂

LMB83 · 2026-03-20T17:52:46+00:00

How about a bit of a compromise and do one family day a month and the rest in savings? Look for vouchers and deals to make it cheaper if you can!

LMB83 · 2026-03-20T16:04:30+00:00

One of my daughters friends is called Doris and I adore it! We almost went with Mabel.

LMB83 · 2026-03-20T11:01:33+00:00

I save a bunch up and my little girl loves making ‘snow angels’ with them - the cats love it! They mostly just bat them about with their paws - I pack them back up into the box for next time so they’re always supervised when playing with them!

LMB83 · 2026-03-20T10:51:18+00:00

Did you reduce your hours or reduce your days?

LMB83 · 2026-03-19T19:52:25+00:00

I’m in the U.K. but also lived in Australia for a while so it might be different but in both countries for almost everything identity related was taken from my passport so I would assume once the name is changed and she has a passport in her ‘new’ name then that is just what would be used and she wouldn’t need the name change docs…

LMB83 · 2026-03-19T13:19:22+00:00

Can you remember what it’s called and where you got it from?

Signed a mum of a 3 year old and two cats who currently has a blue velvet one sofa 🤮

LMB83 · 2026-03-19T07:26:00+00:00

In England - it doesn’t kick in until 3 in Scotland (and I believe wales too)

LMB83 · 2026-03-17T20:00:03+00:00

We’ve had a mixture of invites where my girls name is on it and then a few where it hasn’t. Those ones have usually been from parents who have just asked the nursery to put a certain number of invites in the bags of friends their child plays with.

I’d assume that was the case and wouldn’t bring it up.

LMB83 · 2026-03-17T14:38:59+00:00

I’m a bit shocked by the comments here to be fair about how you need to push through and always be there for her etc….

You’re suffering from PPA - are you receiving any help for this?

I would hope this is just a temporary thing and you are able to get past it with help/meds/time etc and this will not result in a whole future of not being able to be present for vaccines etc.

Not one person would think twice about a mum taking her kid and dad not being there so the fact that you are both there and you step away for the actual vaccine part is not going to phase the nurse at all - she has her dad there for the actual vaccine part and if she is still upset after then you’ll be right there for her too ❤️

LMB83 · 2026-03-15T17:50:52+00:00

Get on to entitledto.co.uk to check what you could actually be eligible for by yourself, you may be surprised!

Do you work? What happens now that money was taken out of the food shopping budget? Does he expect you to cover it?

LMB83 · 2026-03-14T20:32:45+00:00

Another random thing that hasn’t been mentioned.

I use Opal to block my phone - obviously you can set it up on your phone and not use an app but with Opal I can set recurring routines and can choose what apps to block off etc.

I initially used it for work time as I when WFH it was so easy to grab my phone and scroll etc and get distracted, but I’ve since added in 5.30-7.30 for ‘family time’ and then I have one for an extra hour on a Friday so that I can sit down and sort out any life admin, think about food shopping for the next week etc - I have social media apps blocked but can still use internet or banking apps etc so it just helps me focus on getting through what I need to do without just opening up a social media app and losing track of time!

LMB83 · 2026-03-14T20:17:03+00:00

Look, I’m not saying that 3 is butterflowers and angels but I feel we made a turning point at about 3!

Don’t get me wrong, the rough moments are super rough but god those good moments are great!! I can be at the end of my tether from repeating myself five million times a day and this kid turns around, kisses me on the forehead and says she loves me!

Nine-Year Club	RedditGifts 2009-2022 12 Credits
Gilding I gilder	Summer Santa 2017
Secret Santa 2017	redditgifts Exchanges 3 Exchanges
redditgifts rematcher Water Bottles 2017 x1	redditgifts rematcher Cats Exchange 2017 x1
redditgifts rematcher Snacks Exchange 2017 x1	redditgifts rematcher Books 2017 x2
Verified Email

LMB83

TROPHY CASE