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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to work only nightshifts?

21 replies

TrappedinSuburbia · 14/02/2011 22:38

Ok, maybe not the most appropriate place to post but could do with some quick answers.
Im on my own with ds (6) and my current job involves 24hr shifts.

Last time when he was ill, I had to call in 30mins before my shift started, not ideal, but childminder can't take him if he's ill and my mum and P both work daytime.

I have applied for a job which is 3 12hr nightshifts every week.

My mum thinks im mad and should stick to my present job.

To me the benefits are, I would be there to take ds to school every day (I would stop at 8am).

If ds is ill, I am there (he sleeps when he's feeling poorly, so I could snuggle up with him)

I will never miss another 'event' at the school which upsets ds and me, when all the other parents are there and im not.

I have had the same childminder who would take him for an hour or so after school so I can get some sleep, I can ALWAYS get him watched at night, no problems.

So nightshifts the way to go, or am I just kidding myself.

OP posts:
Original poster
TrappedinSuburbia · 14/02/2011 22:40

Sorry that should be, have had the same childminder for 5 years (since I went back to work after maternity leave)

OP posts:
nobiggy · 14/02/2011 22:41

It works for me, most of the time. I do get odd spells, where for one reason or another I end up having to be awake for 24 hours at a time, but if you have help on hand maybe you could avoid that.

BringOnTheGoat · 14/02/2011 22:42

What are the negatives - all you've said makes perfect sense to me Hmm

WorzselMummage · 14/02/2011 22:43

I do 2 or 3 12 hour night shifts every week and have done since my dc1 was a baby.

IMO it's the only way to go. I love having so much time with the kids and no having to pay someone else to look afte them for us.

My h and I both bring in a decent wage and do t have to pay any childcare at all.

Dunno why more people don't do it tbh!

Original poster
TrappedinSuburbia · 14/02/2011 22:43

Im not sure why my mums so against it, was wondering whether I was missing something awful about nightshifts.
I do have good reliable help on hand, so thats not a problem. I do realise that on occasion something may happen whereby I don't get much sleep, but that can happen whatever your job.

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 14/02/2011 22:44

Its a good idea so long as your body copes with it. Not everyone can adjust to night shifts.

It certainly has a lot of benefits though and I know a lot of mums who do it.

What about in the school holidays though?

purplepidjin · 14/02/2011 22:45

Not at all. I've known loads of night carers who had families to run during the day. It's the perfect option. Particularly if you work somewhere you can do sleep-ins.

The only downside is trying to sleep on bin day, apparently!

scurryfunge · 14/02/2011 22:45

Night shifts for me, were always the perfect shift. I could have dinner with the family before going to work when DS was in bed and DH was thinking about going to bed. I got DS off to school on my return before I went to bed and I was up again before he came home from school.

Unfortunately my job would not allow permanent night shift workers as it was not good for your health.

BringOnTheGoat · 14/02/2011 22:47

Well there is reasearch which shows shift workers have higher rates of terrible disease and such like. Can't point you to it but am aware of it - someone mentioned it a couple of years ago when I was on a night shit Smile

Original poster
TrappedinSuburbia · 14/02/2011 22:48

I can sleep at anytime so don't think that would be a problem for me.

School holidays would just be the same as now, childminders when im working.

OP posts:
maxpower · 14/02/2011 22:48

sounds like it would work for you

Original poster
TrappedinSuburbia · 14/02/2011 22:49

Good all sounds positive, don't feel like im making some dreadful mistake now (thanks mum)!

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BringOnTheGoat · 14/02/2011 22:50

Will CM have Dc in day time during scholl hols then? Otherwise you'll get no sleep off nights and that is a killer!

BringOnTheGoat · 14/02/2011 22:51

School hols - not sure shoes get them {smile]

TheSleepFairy · 14/02/2011 22:52

I couldn't cope with doing night shifts, I was doing 2 12hr shifts & by the time my shift ended I was ready to drop & not capable of looking after myself let alone children during the day.
If I had an assembly to see after a nightshift i would fall asleep!!

Maybe your mum is worried about you coping with nights?

scurryfunge · 14/02/2011 22:52

Short term night shifts are fine but they do kill you in the end.

A week of night shifts takes 7 weeks to properly recover from - so if you are doing constant nights, you never recover and it knocks years off your life.

I do not know where the figures come from but I remember it was part of a study from my work when we were arguing about night shifts.

Original poster
TrappedinSuburbia · 14/02/2011 22:55

Childminder for day times during school holidays, I need to do that just now anyway.

It would be 3 nightshifts per week SF.

I can sleep at the drop of a hat, so am hoping it will be a good long term solution.

OP posts:
NearlySpring · 14/02/2011 22:56

I work 24 hr shifts, I enjoy doing night shifts too.

The problem I have is if I work 4 weekday nights in a row.. I finish work at 6am, be home by 7am, take dd to school, get back home by 9.30am then have to be up again at 2pm in order to get showered and back to collect her from school by 3pm. It just isn't enough for me to have 4-4.5 hrs sleep and then go back to work and do a full 12 hr shift again 4 nights in a row!

Remember, you'll need to have sleep if you 're going to stay awake all night at work!

NearlySpring · 14/02/2011 23:00

Scurryfunge... If I sleep normally then it doesn't take me 7 weeks to recover from a week of night shifts!

I do a 4 week rota, 2 weeks of days, 2 weeks of nights. As long as I sleep properly, I'm fine.

Ther eis no reason why working permanant nights is any different to working the same hours during the day, as long as you just switch everything like for like, still have regular meal times, dinner AFTER work even if it is 8am, breakfast when you wake up evening if it is 5pm etc.

scurryfunge · 14/02/2011 23:07

I agree Nearly. Nightshifts suited me perfectly and I slept well doing them. The ideal rota is apparently 2 day shifts, 2 late shifts and 2 night shifts followed by 4 days recovery before starting again.

Although 7 nights in a row seems ok, research shows that it does take a long time to recover (whether you realise it or not).

I am with the "let me do the shifts I feel appropriate camp" but was prohibited from doing these shifts due to the health risk.

Original poster
TrappedinSuburbia · 14/02/2011 23:13

Would be 3 nightshifts in a row.

CM would take ds after school until teatime, that would give me 7/8 hrs sleep.

The job would be a 5 minute drive away.

All sounds positive, thanks for the input.

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