Anyone done a PhD with young children?

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Is it really difficult?
How did you manage to balance it all? Did you feel you were missing out on family time? Did anyone do it part time?
I'd be going from good wage to PhD stipend so financially it would be challenging also.

It's an ideal PhD and I feel like it's meant to be but scared of biting off more than I can chew especially as current job well paid and great hours.

DC 3 and 5 so at school and nursery

Watching with interest OP as I am in the same situation!

I've done a PhD and have young children but didn't do/have them at the same time. I'd say it will depend on what your supervisor is like. Mine was very relaxed and I could manage my own time so I think I could have probably managed it around children okay. But friends had really strict advisers who expected them in 12 hours a day and weekends and jf it was like that I wouldn't have managed with young kids.

Mine were 1,3 and 5 when I started. I found it much easier than working full time as the hours were much more flexible (previous job was very inflexible, long hours)

I start in Oct, so I can't offer any advice yet but I'm optimistic. Feel free to PM me

Yes, I had my first 3 years in (6-7 year PhD, from a US university though I lived in the UK for most of it). Took a year off then returned and did another 3 ish years to finish.

It’s absolutely doable if you have support from your partner or family who can take over when you need to put in extra time on weekends and evenings or for travel. And also if you can afford childcare and the drop in pay. For years all my Christmases and birthdays, my parents gave us money for nursery instead of a gift. My dh worked around my research and teaching and was very hands on when I needed to travel. I also had a supportive supervisor who understood the work life balance I needed.

I think it’s very doable. Just be sure you know what you want to do with it and can get a job that will make it worth it. A lot of academic jobs are very precarious and require you to either move often or commute/work away. I have a very well paid (still fixed term) research job at a university I am very happy with, 2-3 years post-PhD. But I commute 3 hours each way 3 times a week to my office (wfh other days) because my dc are in school/nursery and I can’t uproot them. It’s very worth it and I love what I do, but it’s possible because I have a dh who values my career and shares the school runs and homework and housework equally.

Thanks for replies. I really need to find out more about it I guess. I think DH would be supportive but not sure he fully appreciates how much work is involved. I think job prospects would be good afterwards as it's within healthcare and all the jobs I like the look of say PhD essential or desirable.