Can you work nights with no childcare?

your expensive nanny should have made you realise that someone caring for your DC is a contribution that you would otherwise have to outsource

OP long time night shifter here. If you don’t have to do it then don’t.
Nightshifts are the work of the devil and should be done only when absolutely necessary.
I claimed to be alright for years, only when I stopped I could see how dysregulated my body clock was.

You'll feel dog-tired and frankly your health (mental and physical) is worth more than a few quid.

Why do these big important men with big important jobs that mean they can do bugger all in terms of school runs and childcare, insist on having children?

No matter how big and important the woman's job is, they always seem to manage to either do it themselves, or arrange wraparound care.

Hmm this has rubbed me the wrong way. Wether that was your intention or not remains to be seen.

Gosh, it must be fun to just roleplay being poor.
How ridiculous if you don’t actual need the money, there is zero benefit to you.

I did it when my dc were younger. 2 split nights per week. I'd stay up with them during the following day and then go to bed the same time as them the next night. It was doable but exhausting, life became much easier once they were both at school. However, I was earning more than minimum wage and we absolutely needed the money I was earning at that time. I wouldn't do it if you don't need to, but it is definitely possible.

You don’t need the money but you want to regularly work all night having had no sleep (because you spent the day looking after young kids) and then spend the next day also looking after young children? You’d have to stay up for 48 hours at a time wouldn’t you?? And for minimum wage? Why on earth would you do that to yourself?!

There are people out there who make daytime work work for two parents at the same time... What's getting in the way of that for you?

I think you're better off thinking about that before taking on 36 hour shifts that will impact on your wellbeing and your family's.

Take away the guilt about not pulling your weight financially, and what else is worrying you? Families build value from more than just £ inwards.

I used to do it if it was one night... I'd work 3 nights a week, 2 together with nursery on the middle day and then one night om its own.

I'd usually get about an hours nap before work once dh came home and then go to bed as soon as he got in the next day (around 6pm)

Not going to lie, it was tough but needs must. My trick was to keep busy and go out and about with the kids as if I sat down, I'd feel worse.

Its only sonce stopping working permanent nights did I realise how tired it made me but it worked for us when the children were young

You don’t need the money? That’s a completely bat shit idea then and insensitive to those who have to work horrible hours for little pay.

Maybe whilst they’re still little you need to reframe it as your job to take care of them. Your husband couldn’t do his job without you taking care of both of yours child. You’re a team!

Why would you not see your work - caring for the dc - as work? Bloody hard work, at times, too. Of course it's a de facto financial contribution with other benefits too 🙄

Ffs value your actual contribution to your family unit here. How do you expect your dh to, if you don't?

Babe if you don’t need the money the best financial contribution you can make is being a well rested, level headed mother. Enjoy the privilege and pay it forward to your kids who would much rather this than grumpy sleepy mum!

My mum used to work out of hours - by that she worked about 6pm-1am I think, and still looked after us three the next day, she did longer nights at weekends when my Dad was off. It was totally doable. They called it the twilight shift rather than a night shift fully throughout the night.

I think that would be doable, but you need to be able to get at least 6 hours ISH sleep a night - so if you work as soon as your DH gets home (what hour is that?) and until earning morning, then sleep until LOs wake up, that could work.

Fully overnight and no sleep? No you wouldn't be safe watching children with no sleep.

Have you ever ever done a night shift?

They are hideous, make you feel sick and ill and planning to do them with no sleep for no financial incentive.....just why?

Depending on the job you are looking at you may also be lonely, stressed and under huge pressure working nights. Stuff goes wrong and it feels much worse without other people and usual back up around.

So you'd be risking your health, safety, and your dc wellbeing, for what?

Use this time to get yourself ready to work once dc are in school, make sure you have appropriate qualifications for now (eg I had no official computer qualifications so I got those) and work out what you want to do longer term

I would do what another poster suggested. Like have a test run being awake all day and then functioning the next day.

Losing a full night's sleep twice a week will be an absolute killer in my opinion.

Try it out but I really really don't see a lot about of gain here.

No. It would be completely neglectful. You cannot possibly look after your child properly and also sleep. Night working is brutal and your children deserve to be cared for by someone who is 100% concentrating on them.

We all have to pay childcare. It’s part of having kids. Either work around nursery hours, make your husband take a salary cut or don’t work. There’s no hack.

I do nights after looking after the kids, I have a lunchtime nap with 2yo. It’s fairly tiring, and I get really frustrated if they won’t go down for a nap as then I can’t

Try. It's doable if you really have to. I have done it with emergencies but I won't recommend it.

If you don't need the money atm then why would you?

Not with a 2 year old at home, no. You'd need to grab some sleep and looking after a 2 year old when you haven't slept at all would be miserable.

I think you'd feel worse later when you look back on the sleep deprived early years with DC. It seems short when you are in the thick of it but soon flys by. I'd say if you are managing financially wait until your youngest starts school.

he earns very well
Then Do not kill yourself with minimum wage night shift