...to be worried about going back to work?

[Enfyshedd]

DD is 6mo, and I'm planning on going back to work in January. I'm currently sorting out childcare and was planning on having DD looked after 4 half days a week while I worked 4 full days - DP works from home and would pick her up in the afternoon and look after her until I got home.

However, DP has PTSD and has problems dealing with DD if she's crying/screaming. I'm starting to worry that he won't be able to cope with her without help. I've started putting together a list of people who could help him out if he's having a tough day or is really busy with work, but I'm now starting to think that this won't be enough and maybe I should consider DD being looked after full time. If I do this, the only real option is the creche near my place of work which is £7 a day (!) more than the most expensive full time option near home (the creche near home doesn't open until 30mins after I need to catch my train to work so isn't really an option).

I'm really starting to worry about this. I know it probably sounds bad that I'm willing to pay someone to deal with DD's tantrums, but I don't want to worry about coming home to a stressed out DP with a screaming DD because she's picking up on him.

Any advice?

You mean £70/day, right?
It does not sound bad at all. It will be hard enough to go back to work, so you have to fell 100% happy with the arrangements you have made.
I'd go for the full time option, and maybe have your DP look after your child every so often and see how it goes.
You can always opt for the original plan if it works well.

Also, some men can be very bad at asking for help, so the list might not be of any use anyway.

Id go for guaranteed full time childcare. Less stress for you and dh.

Can't he take her to the nursery near home in the morning and you collect her on the way home from the station?

Also he can get help for PTSD - treatments like EMDR can be amazing.

I think it would be very hard for anyone to look after a child whilst working. Realistically your dd would spend a lot of time. Plonked in front of the telly and your dp would spend a lot of time stressing about work and then having to work into the night to catch up.

And that is not including the PTSD issue.

Could your dh do the drop off and pick ups but you send dd full time.

Have you looked into local childminders? They tend to be more flexible, cheaper and can be a nicer environment for younger babies. Failing that, agree with MummytoKatie, surely your DH could do the later drop off and you could use the local nursery.

Should have said - we also have DSS1 (13) & 2 (6) as well. DP has to stop working to pick up his youngest from school anyway. DD tends to be most awkward in the afternoon/evening - not sure how he'd cope with his over excitable DS2 & a possibly upset baby.

I really like the childminder option, but there's only 1 close to us and they aren't sure if they'll have any spaces due to pregnant parents.

DP's waiting for treatment - MH is very poorly funded in Wales.