Returning to work part time after first baby, did you increase hours again before having baby no.2?

[yots]

I am just curious as to what most people do. I have had my first baby and will be returning to work 3 days a week. I have a trial period before this becomes permanent. I am undecided as yet whether I will then keep 3 days, or choose 2 or 4 instead.

We haven’t decided when we would like another baby but have always thought a 3-4 year age gap sounds nice.

However, I imagine once you drop your hours it would be really hard to adjust to working more again. We don’t want DD to go into childcare until she is at least 2.5-3 years old and this is very manageable if I work 3 days (would be even better if I could do 2!). It would be a lot harder to avoid the need for paid childcare if I increased my hours before this time. I don’t want to debate why we don’t want to use it, everyone’s circumstances are different and this is just our parenting choice and something I’m pretty set on.

I guess my question is: it really poor to increase your hours again a few months pre TTC, then reduce them back down again after returning from your second mat leave? Has anyone done this?

I have seen said on here and can believe that for primary school age it’s much easier to be part time, so I’d probably not increase my hours again for a very long time after DC2.

Sorry it’s rambling!

I did this, sort of. After 12 months MAT leave, returned to work 2 days a week. Did this for around 18 months and then applied for a full time position. Started TTC shortly afterwards. Started 2nd MAT leave at 32 weeks. DS1 was in daycare 4 days a week for 8 months (we managed the 5th day with annual leave/occasional help). It meant that my 2nd MAT leave was better paid as based on full time salary. It worked well for me.

However, I didn’t return after DS2.

I did 10.5months mat leave with DD1, went back 3 days per week until she was about 20months? Then upped to FT again whilst ttc DD2 and during pregnancy. Took another 10.5m mat leave for DD2 and now back to 3days per week. Planning on sticking at 3days until DD2 is around 2 and then we'll reassess as a family what works for us (and may also depend on after school situation for DD1 when she starts primary in Sept). Most likely, im considering staying PT until DD2 is settled into primary though.

Im a civil servant though and generally noone cares about my working pattern as long as I'm delivering on my objectives. Its one of the reasons why im sticking where I am for now. In other industries, it might be more difficult.

I think it depends how your employer is covering the days you no longer do, they might not be able to give you your FT hours back if someone else is doing them. Also a risk that they find business reasons to refuse to let you reduce them again later.