Studying and working part time with young children... do-able?

[CobaltRose96]

Hi all,

I'm currently 21+5 with my first baby. I am a biochemistry student who has completed my first year and am currently on a year's break due to my pregnancy (my exams would fall around my due date so I thought it easier to take a year off rather than juggle exams whilst heavily pregnant/with a tiny baby).

I plan to return to uni in September of 2019, at which point my baby will be six months old. During my year off I have been working full time, and am due to start maternity leave in February. My work have agreed that I can return part time (weekends) once I come back from maternity leave.

When I return to uni I will be in lectures three days a week (thankfully my uni has a nursery on campus so childcare is covered) and will be working weekends, which leaves me two days out of the week to study at home and look after baby. My partner works full time but has weekends off so can look after baby when I'm working, and our parents have also agreed to babysit occasionally.

I attended uni and worked weekends during my first year and managed fine, but obviously I didn't have a little human in tow!

The extra money that me working would bring in is tempting (without it I'd have to rely on partner's salary and student loans), but part of me is questioning wether I can balance all of it?

Did anyone else manage to study full time and work part time with children? Interested to hear your stories!

I did. Only for one year and nine months. I wouldn’t recommend it, to be honest. I didn’t sleep much. I had a similar dilemma in that I was able to choose to study when I had a brand newborn, or I could wait until I had a toddler, the next year. I already had a DC when I began studying so this was DC2 - I chose to study with the newborn as I knew they only get harder as they start moving.

I’d recommend getting a good childcare provider....I didn’t use any childcare when I did it which was probably my downfall.

I worked full time and studied part time with 2 children. Was difficult but worth it in the long run.

I did but only for three months and it was hugely tough. I was on my own though, if you have a partner it might be easier.

I'm on maternity leave now and studying part time with the OU. Last year I worked full time and studied full time, completing the first year of my degree.

I've just started back in October but only doing part time now and it is HARD. I actually cannot believe how hard. That being said, it's probably more because I'm at home with DD (3 months) and so the only time I get to study or write assignments is when she's napping or in bed for the night - all of which I'm also needing to feed myself, have a bath, get some sleep or catch up on housework.

I think what I'm trying to say is that it's going to be hard and probably harder than you think but having set days and times will benefit you immensely. Likewise, I think doing my course will be easier when I'm back at work, because I get time out of work hours to do it and DD will be in nursery.

Good luck!

Would uni also be able to provide campus nursery for the two days you arent at lectures? If so you may find it easier to study/work at the campus library and use the nursery than try and do coursework with a baby around.

@TulipsInBloom1, I'd imagine they could. It would obviously be a bit more expensive though.

Thank you everyone! :)

Bump!