Is 30hrs childcare a bad thing

[Nicpem1982]

We've had some changes in our childcare needs due to unexpected circumstances with ils.

Me and dh have decided to relieve some of the burden that we will utilise the 30 hrs free childcare that we are entitled to

Mil has gone berserk and has told us that we are 'robbing dd of her childhood' and 'bullying her into growing up'

Dd is 4 in September and marginally missed the cut off to start reception this year so in effect had and extra year in nursery. She understands that from Sept after lunch club she will be in an afternoon group with one of her fave teachers.

After mils outburst I text my sil (my side) for a bit of reassurance and moral support and it turns out she also things I'm a disgrace and it's immoral for dd to be doing full time

So iabu to wonder is 30 hrs a bad thing

Excuse the typos! I am a teacher honest!

Just to add when my son was in nursery (he's summer born so wasn't even 4 most of the time) he started off doing 21 hours a week and moved up to 28 by the end in preparation for school and I wasn't even working at the time. It was just the hours we thought best for him.

Bellydancer124 unfortunately that's right! When I looked at nurseries last year for the 2 days a week I was horrified at the hours that some kids were doing - some nurseries were taking in 4 month old babies from 7am to 7pm.

Unfortunately I'm now finding myself in a similar position. My course is 9-5pm Monday to Friday and I'll have an hour and a half commute each way. DH will do drop off at the childminder's at 8.30am (the other kids are dropped at 7) and I'll be dashing home every night to collect at 6.30pm.

It's far from ideal but I have no choice - I've got to do the training this year, there's no other place I can do it and we have no family nearby to help out. DH's commute is an hour minimum and we can't afford for him to drop his hours. WFH not an option.

It's just for a year. Once I'm qualified we'll have more options open to us, such as a smaller commute and a better quality of life for DS.