Anonymous
July 16, 2026Childcare solutions used & satisfaction
If you needed childcare in the past 10 years, what childcare solutions (e.g., childcare center/nursery, nanny, family support, adjusted work schedule, etc.) did your family end up using? Are you satisfied with the availability of childcare options in your country of employment, why or why not?
Full-time nursery (it's a combined 1.5 minute round trip by car per day, but can't have it all), plus moving to where my partner's parents live (who are retired). Having to commute from Oxford to London for work is not ideal; but on balance, I have it as good as it could realistically get for an academic. We registered the child at the nursery six month before being born, which was safe for Oxford.
Joined multiple waitlists?
Did you join multiple childcare waitlists while searching for care?
Yes
Biggest challenges & their impact
Looking back, what were the biggest childcare challenges (e.g., long waiting times, affordability, quality, location, etc.) your family faced? How did these challenges impact your work and family life?
Having two children has certainly impacted my work output and my mental well-being quite substantially, but childcare wasn't the issue. But then, my setup is very fortunate.
One thing to change
If you could change one thing about today's childcare system, what would it be? (For example: access, affordability, quality, employer or university support, emergency backup care, or anything else.)
It's a bit expensive and sadly not available on Saturday (or, at least, we could not afford it), but I think the UK system works okay (assuming one doesn't have to move with less than a year notice to a new place).
Additional insights
Are there any additional comments or personal insights you would like to share about childcare?
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