How many days do your children go to nursery?

[Cabbage01]

Im wondering how many full or half days people put their kids in to nursery for? Im trying to get a sense of what most working mums do, i think my expectations and works are very different. I would love to know what you all do, just for my peace of mind.
Thanks

[dramajustfollowsme]

3 full days, in about 8:10 until about 4:45. Nursery is close to my work so drop off can be later and pick up earlier.

[Mandy21]

I think its how long is a piece of string. It depends on what job you do.

I work in a professional, client facing role and I am one of a tiny minority that worked a 3 day week (which I've done for 7 years, just gone up to a 4 day week now youngest is at school). The vast majority of mothers in my firm work a 4 day week (or full time). There is little flexibility for half days / working from home etc. Normal full days (so 8.30 - 5 / 9-5.30 etc). Children were in nursery from about 8.15 to 5.30 (if I did drop off, H would do collection and vice versa).

At school, 3 day weekers are still a minority I think. There are definitely more parents who have given up work all together (or started their own business which they can work around school) and definitely more who do a 4 or 5 day week.

At my nursery, there were only 2 options when I started DD there  a 3 day place or a 5 day place. They now offer a 4 day place too. No half day slots etc.

For me, on the good days, 3 days was great. DD was with me 4 days, nursery 3 days, could still argue she was with me more often than she wasn't. On the bad days, I was doing half a job at work (and completely overlooked) and half a job at home. Its kept my hand in though, DD loved nursery and the balance was just about right. 4 days is tough (with 3 children at school) and even after a relatively short time, I'm considering my options.

[GirlWithTheDirtyShirt]

DD goes five days. We both work full time so no alternative.

She loves it, we enjoy our work and we enjoy having enough money left after essentials to really enjoy our weekends with her.

[aworkingmummy]

Mine is full time. There is no reasonable flexibility in my job, so it was 2.5 days or full -time, no choice but to be full time.
He loves it and TBH doesn't know any different, been full-time (8.00 - 5.00) since he was 11 months old.

[Aworryingtrend]

i work 3 days a week. Ds is in nursery 3 mornings, my mum has him 2 afternoons and Dh 1 afternoon. Originally he was in the whole day 1 day a week but it was a bit of a nightmare as he doesn't nap at nursery at all so was crying with exhaustion by 5:30pm. Mornings only much better for him.

[TwittyMcTwitterson]

5 days. 7-4.30pm mon to thurs and 7-3pm fri. Contract is44 hours. Everyone does more. Pay is standard for 37.5. C*nts.

Your expectations are yours and I'm guessing are based on what will work for u so stick with them. I'd love to do 3-4 days a week but money doesn't grow on trees

[BabysNewName]

DS goes to nursery one day a week. 7am-5:30pm.

[missmagnum]

Used to be 3 full days 8-6 now 2 full days. With family for 2 days too.

[WidowWadman]

I work full time, so obviously my kids are in childcare full time. If they're sick, at my manager's discretion, I work from home to look after them, but that's exceptional circumstances, I couldn't do work and look after child at the same time as a regular thing.

[elQuintoConyo]

5 days a week 9-1.
I see him 2-3 hours a day, if I'm lucky, before I go to work in the late afternoon/evening.
DH works from home, so looks after him until bedtime.

[ToodlesMcToodles]

Mine goes 4 days 0830 - 1700. The other day DH is off. Full time so no choice.

Been since he was 3yrs and he loves it. Cries cos he can't go sometimes ( on a Sunday). It's a really small nursery with staff who have been there for years and a very friendly / child centred vibe.

[slightlyglitterstained]

DS went to nursery for two days. I went to 3 days, DP went to 4, so between us we only needed 2 days of nursery.

If it's possible for your DP (if you have one) to also reduce or compress hours, then I'd say it's really worth it for both parents to have time alone with the kids. DP loves his day with DS, and it's been a lot easier for our relationship as I think it also helps us share the workload better when we're both at home as well.

[Nevercan]

I work three days a week. Dd2 2.5 goes to nursery for two full Fay's 8am -6pm and my mum looks after her on the other day.

[lilyaldrin]

It's varied from 2 half days at 7 months to 4 half days at 13 months and then 4 full days from 3 years.

[TiredFeet]

Ds did 2.5 days at nursery and one day with dh (who works a lot at weekends). I worked compressedf hours so fitted 4 days into 3.5 (by working in evenings etc - we have flexi time). On maternity leave now and trying to work out what's best when we have two!

[NinjaKangaroo]

Four full days- 7:30-6:30, and one half day, 7:30-12:45.

[NinjaKangaroo]

She's 3, btw.

[Cabbage01]

Thank you so much for your input, my company want me to do 4 half days, but im trying to get them to let me work 3 full days, the thought of back and forth, leaves no time to spend with my boy. The thought of half days really doesnt appeal to me. If the work gets done i really dont see what difference it makes. Ill see how it goes. thanks again.

[TwittyMcTwitterson]

I'd imagine both are fully plausible. Good luck getting what you want.

More work will be done on a full day. My early finish on a Friday is great for extra time with DD but I feel like it's a non productive day half of the time

[stuckindamiddle]

I work two days a week and my 18mth old goes to nursery both days. He's usually dropped off between 815 and 845 and picked up between 515 and 545.

[HSMMaCM]

Some nurseries may charge a day rate, regardless of the hours you attend, so this may also affect your calculations.

[Millie2013]

Two days, Tuesday and Thursday, 8.30-4
She's one and has been going for about a month, we had a shaky start, due to illness and lack of continuity, but she's getting better :)