To ask how you juggle childcare and work?

It’s much easier with a partner who carries the load equally. I drop off at 0800 and then wfh until just after 1800. My husband gets into work very early and picks up at 1800.

Choose a nursery very close to your house or near work to make it easier. We both work full time and haven’t found it a problem at all. If I have to go to the office early we just swap the routine.

It will be much harder if it just falls to you. A flexible wfh job would be ideal as you can pop out at 0800 and 1800 to drop off/pick up (definitely pick the closest nursery for that). If you are office based pick one next to the office. You could always see if a child minder or nanny would work out cheaper to take the pressure off.

would it be unreasonable to assume I can look after a toddler whilst I work?

Yes. Very. It's hell for you, it's shit for the toddler, and unless your employer is asleep at the wheel it would endanger your job.

When my kids were preschool I worked 4 days and we staggered our days; I left for work early, DH did dropoff, then I left work a bit early and did pickup. We still do a modified form of this now they are school age and I am back to FT. Yes, it's busy and a rush. Welcome to life as a working parent.

If you are not married, you should absolutely not curtail your working and earning potential to pick up all the child related stuff, because it'll leave a permanent big dent in your pension. Your partner needs to do his share, and don't be fobbed off with the usual bullshit about long hours and how he's the higher earner, because I'll bet my boots women in his job find a way to cover their childcare responsibilities.

You cannot wfh and look after a toddler it's also in many work policies!
If you can find a flexible employer though then that is best.
I mostly wfh I can pick my start and finish time as long as I am available for business needs and getting my hours done.
Childcare we use 4 days a week (1 day a week with dad who works PT). 2 days are full days including for DS1 in School I start early and finish late. 2 days I have 4pm pick up but again start early and have done extra hours the other days.

Dinner is either a 15-30 min affair or slow cooker so all done in advance. You basically just have to be organised

You definitely can't work with a toddler at home - I was forced into this during the pandemic and it was hell. Toddler hated it, work hated it, I was permanently frazzled.

My child went to nursery 8-6 4xdays a week. Long days but it was harder on me than it was on her, I felt guilty but I had no choice. She loved nursery and thrived there.

DH and I alternate pick up and drop offs.

He starts earlier, so I do drop off.

I finish later, so he does pick ups.

Sometimes this changes if we have other plans.

All works fine - requires some flexibility from work but it’s not disruptive to either routine.

Everyone I know does some form of the above, it’s the only way to work full time and use childcare.

You will need childcare for any hours you work at that age.

Look for nurseries near you to check opening and closing times, and how that will effect your work.

Honestly depending on your salary/earning ability, you may be better off working 4 days and only having to pay 4 days of nursery. It's EXPENSIVE.

Make sure you know what you are able to do and will be able to afford, before you commit to a new job. You don't want to sign a contract and suddenly realise it's not possible.

You really can’t take care of a toddler while you work - they need pretty much constant attention. Are you on your own or do you have a partner? I went back 4 days a week but I changed my hours so 8:30-4:30 with just 30mins for lunch. That way I can get to nursery for pickup about 5. But the only way that works is DH does drop off in the morning. Try and prep dinners the night before or at the weekend so when we get home it’s really quick. They do actually feed them a lot of substantial food at nursery so I often feel it’s ok if dinner is simple.

You can't wfh and look after a toddler.

My experience is dropping ds at nursery around 8am and picking him up just after 5pm. Then squeezing in dinner, play, bath etc. It actually gets harder at school when they start doing stuff in the evening. Not ideal for anyone but needs must.