How far ahead of my return-to-work date should I start looking?

As early as possible, ideally as soon as you know roughly when you're returning, since infant places in particular can have long waitlists. Many families start the process during pregnancy or in the first few months of leave.

Should I settle my baby into care before my actual first day back?

If your budget and centre allow it, starting a week or two before your return date, even with fewer days initially, gives your baby time to settle before you're also managing a return to work at the same time.

What if I can't find a place before my planned return date?

Talk to your employer early about this possibility, since many are willing to discuss a short delay or a phased return if childcare genuinely isn't available yet. It's better raised early than as a last-minute scramble.

Does the Child Care Subsidy start automatically when I return to work?

No, you generally need to apply and have your activity test details updated to reflect your return to work, since your subsidised hours are tied to your activity level. Update this before your return date so your subsidy is active when care starts.

Returning to work after parental leave: building a childcare timeline

By Diego Cohen · Updated 2026-08-09

Returning to work after parental leave involves two separate timelines running at once: your own return-to-work plan, and your child’s childcare arrangement, and the second one usually needs to start moving well before the first.

Start earlier than feels necessary

Infant and toddler places, in particular, are the most competitive age group to secure, largely because ratio requirements limit how many babies a centre or educator can care for at once. Many families start researching and joining waitlists well before they’ve settled on an exact return date, sometimes during pregnancy itself, precisely because the lead time for a place can be longer than expected in a growing area like Deception Bay.

A general timeline to work from

Timeframe before return	What to focus on
6+ months ahead	Research centres, join multiple waitlists, especially for infant places
3 to 6 months ahead	Narrow down options, visit shortlisted centres, confirm approximate availability
1 to 2 months ahead	Confirm enrolment, complete paperwork, set up Child Care Subsidy details
1 to 2 weeks ahead	Settling-in visits if offered; finalise routine details with educators

Treat this as a general guide rather than a fixed rule; a flexible family with fewer required days or a later, less competitive age group can often move faster through these stages than a family needing a full-time infant place.

Settling before day one, if you can

If your budget and the centre’s policy allow it, starting your child in care a week or two before your actual return-to-work date takes some pressure off both of you. Your child gets time to settle into a new routine without you also managing your own first days back at work, and you get a clearer sense of how drop-offs and pick-ups will actually fit your schedule before it’s non-negotiable.

Parent in work clothes dropping off a young child at a childcare centre in the morning before heading to the office

Sort your subsidy details before you need them

Update your Child Care Subsidy activity test details to reflect your return to work before your actual start date, since your subsidised hours are tied to your activity level and won’t adjust automatically the moment you’re back at your desk. Confirm your enrolment is finalised with the centre and cross-checked against your CCS details, since a mismatch between the two can delay your subsidy applying correctly.

Managing the emotional side alongside the logistics

Returning to work after leave often carries a mix of practical stress and a genuine emotional adjustment, handing your child’s care over to someone else, worrying about how they’ll settle, and managing your own feelings about the return itself. It’s worth acknowledging this is real rather than pushing through it silently. Talking to other parents who’ve been through the same transition recently, whether through a local parent group or simply other families at your chosen centre, can make the adjustment feel less isolating.

Building in buffer days

Where your leave and budget allow, consider not returning to work on the exact same day your child starts full-time care. A short buffer, even a single day between your child’s first full day and your first day back, gives you room to handle an unexpectedly rocky settling-in day without also managing a work commitment at the same time. This isn’t always possible depending on your leave balance, but it’s worth factoring into your planning if you have any flexibility at all.

If the timeline doesn’t line up

If you haven’t secured a place by your planned return date despite an early start, talk to your employer as soon as you know this is a possibility rather than waiting until the last week. Many employers can accommodate a short delay, a phased return, or temporary flexible arrangements, and raising it early gives everyone more room to work with than a last-minute scramble.

This guide covers general planning steps and isn’t a substitute for advice specific to your workplace entitlements or your family’s financial situation.

Our methodology explains how we score and rank childcare centres from review and rating data, and you can browse care options across Deception Bay from the home page.

FAQ

How far ahead of my return-to-work date should I start looking?: As early as possible, ideally as soon as you know roughly when you're returning, since infant places in particular can have long waitlists. Many families start the process during pregnancy or in the first few months of leave.
Should I settle my baby into care before my actual first day back?: If your budget and centre allow it, starting a week or two before your return date, even with fewer days initially, gives your baby time to settle before you're also managing a return to work at the same time.
What if I can't find a place before my planned return date?: Talk to your employer early about this possibility, since many are willing to discuss a short delay or a phased return if childcare genuinely isn't available yet. It's better raised early than as a last-minute scramble.
Does the Child Care Subsidy start automatically when I return to work?: No, you generally need to apply and have your activity test details updated to reflect your return to work, since your subsidised hours are tied to your activity level. Update this before your return date so your subsidy is active when care starts.