My partner isn't helping out enough

He's not 'helping' - it's his child, his house, his relationship.

That's good Op, I'm glad he's 'helping' with his own house and baby.

Worse case scenario, would I not be entitled to any kind of benefits?

Possibly, but going part time is again leaving you very vulnerable, meanwhile your husband works full time, pays off his house and pays into his pension!

When I confront him about this, he says that he feels like he is helping out and he claims he's given up a lot.

Sadly, it doesn’t sound like this man has your best interest at heart but his own and you haven’t got much left to bargain with. I feel sorry for you-I hope things turn out ok.

You are right it isn’t about feeding method. I went back to work when my baby was 5 weeks old and her Dad cared for her full time every day, and she was breastfed. There is more to parenting than feeding the baby. And I pulled my weight including all through each night because that’s what has to be done when you have a child.

You can bring up the topic of marriage, but to be honest I wouldn’t be if I was you. You’re already having doubts, and you’d have to be married 5+ years before you get half of anything anyway as anything less is a short marriage.

You need to be proactive yourself, ensure you’re in a position where if/when you split, you can fully support yourself and your child. So work full time, start saving an escape fund for rent deposit/house deposit, start paying into your own pension full time etc.

Possibly, but do you really want to put yourself in a position where you’re relying on benefits to keep you and your child fed and clothed with a roof over your head?

A) If he “works 50 hours a week” then you do too, literally, as you are caring fir your joint child for the same 50 hours.

B) Marriage protects you and your child as it gives you, the prime caregiver, slightly more financial security with respect to his assets which are the only assets in the relationship. Important assets are house, car, pension, decision making ability in the case of illness or incapacity.

You and your child are extremely vulnerable to any change in his temper, tolerance, future plans. You need to become financially independent as soon as possible. Or have a registry marriage and be put on the deed to the house. Or both.

C)

I’m sorry OP but I agree with other posters that you’re putting yourself in an extremely vulnerable position not working full time when not married, and when the house is his.

I understand not wanting to be away from your baby 40 hours a week, nobody WANTS to be, but if your relationship breaks down then you’re going to find yourself with no home, no rights to any of the house you live in now, no access to his pension/savings, and only a part time income to try and fund 100% of yours and your child’s life with only a CMS contribution from him.

You either work full time or get married.

If you don't messes like this happen.

I think you need to sit down and work out what exactly you want your partner to be doing in 'helping out'
Looking after his child is not helping out it is parenting so you need to change that phrasing I think.
Do you expect him to cook/clean/life admin/ child activities etc?

There will be differences between what each of you do esp if you work 15 hours and he works 50.

I work less hours than my DH (although not a lot less). I do school runs because of my hours, we split activities for our eldest 50/50 and we take a child each at the weekend to activities (50/50 again). Cleaning/cooking/life admin comes down to me mainly because I am physically in the house more and have the time to do the shopping etc.
Hobbies - we split our 'free' days between us 50/50 - I do early morning gym sessions on my days, he does evening gym classes on his days. (2 days each a week)
To be fair, I did everything when I was on maternity leave though bar one bottle at like 10pm at night which DH did so I could get some sleep. When I went back to work we had a big sit down, worked out what needed doing and who was going to do it. We were both on the same page then when I went back to work. My DH freely admits it actually helped him understand what needs doing etc and stopped any arguing (well most of the arguing )

Totally agree @Bumpingaround. My baby being EBF didn't stop my DH taking an equal role. Granted I obviously did more of the night wake ups. But he did more of the nappies, pre feed bedtime routine, bath every night, etc.

Exactly! You are more than happy to tie yourself to someone by having a baby and becoming completely financially dependent on them, but not happy to get married to give yourself the tiniest bit of protection in case he decides to split up with you?! I find this bizarre.

Does it not bother you that you will be working part time so that he can stay full time and build up his own pension and pay for his house, neither of which you will have any claim to whatsoever?!

but you had a baby with him? That's a bigger commitment than marriage, and you need to protect your future. The way things are he could kick you out tomorrow with nothing, no home, no money, only 15 hours a week to fund it.

Be very careful-you have left yourself finically vulnerable both with your job, your housing and your pension.

I would be looking at getting married asap if you are going part time to look after your joint child.