Needing to make up work hours - should I leave?

You really shouldnt see a gap on your CV as a negative. Previously as an employer "child rearing" wasnt even seen as a gap.

You are legally entitled to x many days per year unpaid for childcare reasons. Please check the gov. Com website. They can not make you 'make up' days.

Also there is also the option to call in sick yourself.

Finally kids tend to get sick when they first start childcare which I'm sure you already know so this hopefully won't be a forever problem

When mine were that age, I did just nights for a year or so.
I spilt the nights so just had a half day kip afterwards.

It’s not forever, it kept me in work with no CV gap and went for higher banded and full time posts once they were older.

You would still send them to childminder for the day so you could sleep, but if they were ill you would only be able to nap while you take care of them and would end up very tired.

I was saying the other day to someone at work how wouldn't it be nice if all jobs had to give both parents 10 days dependent leave for the first 12 months of your baby or toddler starting nursery. My dd started nursery end of Sept and I think she's already had about 14 days off ill and that's even with me sending her in when she would have been better off at home. She only goes 3 days a week. She has got a new illness each week. I'm a teacher, my husband is a builder, we have no grandparents help now (one did do two days for the poorly baby but won't do any more as they got ill). It's causing so much tension at home about who is going to have to ring work and say they won't be in. I am so stressed with it. She also gave us all d&v and now we all have that feel crap and shivering one minute, sweating buckets the next. It's so hard. I hope you find a solution that works for your family.

Yes, they do. That's my experience.
I was asked many times about my gap on my CV. And you do lose earning potential when you return (if you are lucky to go back to what you were doing).

It's a bad idea OP. I got there eventually and now making good money but I made my life way harder by leaving my work for a 3 years break. Don't do it. Some people I know couldn't return to the workforce and have many financial problems now. Don't leave that job.

Please do NOT quit.
This is difficult but not forever.
Keep your job, ask whoever you need to ask, return the favour but keep your job.
I would recommend read all the threads in MN with women who ditched their jobs for exactly the same reason, and ended up depending on their husbands.
We all know that's way to risky in many ways. Do not quit. I have been there. Its way better in the long term if you stay in the workforce.

Can you afford to be out of work if your husbands job is making cuts?

Can you take carers leave? My trust has 3 paid days a year.

Let me shout it loud - PROBIOTICS! For all of you. Take them everyday without fail.

A friend did nights but still used childcare the next day. So if they were ill she was there but otherwise she could sleep

Could you do the night before they are normally in childcare? Then it’s just the odd occasion of no sleep if they are really unwell?

Could you tell us what area you work in/what skills?
There are many health care roles which aren't 12hr shifts, but does depend what you do?
A friend is a nurse, who did years of NHS work. She now teaches CPR/first aid to new parents/grandparents in a local hall she rents. Likely not enough to be a full time roll, but might be something to supplement bank/agency work and you set your own hours.

If you work for the NHS or most companies, you may have the option to take carer's leave for a limited number of hours per year. Alternatively, you could use annual leave to cover the day they require you to make up your hours. Many healthcare professionals find it easier to work night shifts, as this can help eliminate childcare costs, provided you and your partner coordinate to manage childcare responsibilities.

If your role is health care look at assessing for PIP/DLA they are always looking for people and you just need to be qualified in a HC role. Suspect it’s largely desk WFH kinda role.

It is hard but I think is a good idea to keep the job and some independence; take each day and week as it comes. just focus on one problem at a time; don’t start thinking what if they get sick again. Face that one when it comes; it is earlier days. Don’t give up so soon.

It is hard but I think is a good idea to keep the job and some independence; take each day and week as it comes. just focus on one problem at a time; don’t start thinking what if they get sick again. Face that one when it comes; it is earlier days. Don’t give up so soon.

Can you use annual leave?
Can you take unpaid leave?
Can you take parental leave?
Look at your employers policies and don't assume your direct manger knows what's available!

Can you do very part time - maybe one day a week? Or others have said evening hours or one weekend day when your husband will be at home anyway? Its really difficult but it does get easier once they are at school.

Get a nanny

The ad-hoc babysitter is a good idea if you can sort and want to keep your daytime job

If you move to nights, why would you be looking after a baby during the day? Why not just schedule the childminder days for after your nightshift.

Can you sign up to bank work only?

Twilight shifts, out of hours teams have 7-12. Being unsociable hours I've known lots of people make the move and drop hours as the pay is better.
The 1st 12months of nursery was hell for us, was literally a week out every month for one thing or another. However he has not missed one day since preschool started in September. It does get better!

If you can hang in there until this summer it should improve. That first winter in childcare is always hell on earth. I was a lone parent and those early years were just awful, I'm not sure how I survived looking back.

Can you take unpaid parental leave to give yourself a break and keep holiday for ad hoc kids sick days? I think it's worth hanging on by the skin of your teeth until the better weather arrives.

Could you do bank work and cover any weekend shifts that are going?