Childcare for a 2 month old - WFH or Nursery / Childminder

I had a similar plan and went back at 8 weeks. However I would advise against it. I put pressure on myself to be ready to return as before and my baby didn’t respond well to the separation. I quickly had to confront the question of what was more important- my career or my tiny baby.
Honestly, I really would exhaust all options to allow yourself to have more time off with your baby.

also I hate to say this but I was utterly convinced I was indispensable at work and went back earlier than I really wanted to demonstrate my commitment to work despite having given birth.

A) I wasn't that indispensable and B) they actually didn't given two shits about the massive sacrifice that I felt I had made to keep the show on the road.

If this isn't your own business, I would think very carefully about the sacrifice you're making. Essentially you're prioritising your work over your baby

What if the baby arrives late OP? Then you’re looking at potentially going back 6 weeks after the birth. It’s doable certainly, I know of several women who have gone back even sooner but it definitely requires personal sacrifices and is not something I would have wanted to do. Nanny definitely for a baby that small. Do you want to breastfeed?

Completely your choice but it’s not like you’re the only person who can perform a certain type of brain surgery. I think it’s odd you think no one could prep a campaign well enough to the point you chose to put that over your dc. I am very career minded but no way could I have gone back so soon - dd had colic and didn’t sleep. We’re all different and maybe you’ll find it different. I’ve only met mums who’ve gone back at 4 months and know they struggled, but again, that’s them. Be kind on yourself. I really am not being judgemental and it may work for you but your post concerns me from my own experience.

I hope all works out for you OP. I was in a similar situation to you when going on maternity leave. I really wanted to run my project myself and planned to return to work quickly to do so. In hindsight I am so glad my employer found maternity cover for me. At 6 weeks I was barely able to walk after a difficult birth and the thought of working and not being with my precious baby was unthinkable. My priorities completely changed over night and could not have less about work after holding my baby. Even though my work can be easily done from home at hours to suit. It may not be the same for you but I would consider a back up plan for your work in case you change your mind! Good Luck

Your DH is on an incredible wage OP. There must be some way that you can work things so that your baby can be cared for by its parents while it is so tiny and bonding is so important?
I think it would be worth doing whatever you can to make sure that one of you can be with the baby in the first year, even if it means giving up that campaign.

I would get your DP to take time off when you return. He must at least be able to take some annual leave. Possibly he could even delay some of his 2 weeks paternity leave until then. If you had family help some days then he could take a few days off per week for a few weeks to stretch things and to allow you time to work.

Personally I would choose a childminder over a nursery for a very little baby, as it gives them a primary care giver. In my experience a nanny is about twice the cost.

As babies get mobile (around 6m) I can't imagine trying to work around them for any significant amount of time. So unless you do large amounts of evenings etc you will need childcare of some sort.

You really, really need to consider that this just might not be possible. Birth can still leave you pretty wrecked at 8 weeks in and you can't control that. A difficult baby, and or PND, can also leave you wrecked. The combination is even worse (I could barely fill in my son's birth registration form at 6 weeks post birth, never mind anything more mentally taxing). How would you plan going back to work after any other sort of major medical experience (surgery, cancer treatment) where all the advice was to take longer off?

Of course none of the above may end up applying, you may have an easy birth and an easy baby (in which case, nanny, but still don't underestimate how your emotions and priorities may change after the birth). But pushing yourself on if you have the more difficult end of the range of experiences is really a recipe for breakdown.

There’s a blogger/instagrammer called Meet the Wildes (I think I’ve seen her on here too actually) who went back to work at about 2w after her babies, if I remember correctly. Her wife stayed at home with the children, so different from a childcare point of view, but she probably has some reassuring content about going back to work earlier than many mums do.

I would go for a nanny in your circumstances to give yourself clear periods to work properly. There are quite a few associated costs above an agreed hourly rate though to be aware of which you wouldn't need to pay a nursery.

Pension (think it's 3% minimum these days)
Paying company such as nanny tax to do payroll and manage pension
Their food while in the house
Their mileage for any trips out
Trips, clubs, soft play etc.

Have you got all the info you need about your finances and really considered whether you can afford longer off? Do run everything through the turn2us benefits calculator unless you are really high earners. You continue to accrue annual leave while off.
I know it used to be more common to take v short mat leaves and is still in the states, can you speak to some people who have done?

@rainbowscalling

What is an in house childminder? Do you mean a nanny?

Have a look at some of the covid threads of people trying to wfh and homeschool kids. I'd say a newborn, if it has the temperament of my oldest, is massively more time consuming than a primary aged child.
I'd strongly suggest getting some childcare in place. Do you work 4 days? If you did 3 days during the week, with a grandparent covering one day, paid childcare for 2 days, and did your 4th day over the weekend, when your partner could care for baby, could that be workable?

Honestly, you are not irreplaceable at work. If you can afford it by saving now, I would look into delaying your return for another month or 2.

Nurseries here take babies from eight weeks. Childminders are cheaper but there are more cons with them. I’d opt for a nursery or nanny.

Firstly I do think it would be nice if people considered that some mums do want to get back to work very quickly and others don't have a choice.

OP I think an in house childminder might be worth looking at. You could potentially be more flexible with finding the right pattern of hours that suits your situation, as you said you don't know what temperament your baby will have yet.

Are your work flexible to schedule of hours? You might be able to work things with them where you don't do standard 9-5 and can break it up a bit. That way you can get bits of time with baby too.

Good luck

The earliest I've seen nurseries accept babies is 3 months. Sometimes Its 6 months.

Childminders will take babies from this age and potentially be more flexible so do shorter or fewer days until you need it.
Registered and inspected by ofsted....and thesame inspectors that go into school nursery and private nursery to the same standards you can be confident you will find someone who works well with you and your needs. So if you find you only need half days to start but have the option if busy to do extra adhoc hours you will maximise time with baby.

I have a 9 week old (and a 2 yo) and I don't think I could work now. I'm very sleep deprived and my baby needs me a lot. As others have said a nanny might be the best option. I think it would be hard on both you and baby for baby to be away from you for a full work day? All the best x