Advice on Mat Leave - What’s Your Ideal?

[AllAboardTootToot]

I know it’s not an aibu but posting for traffic as I’m new to all of this and never really looked at offerings of other companies I’ve worked for as it wasn’t in my thinking at the time.

However, I am now in the position to ask for what I want for May leave. Our company doesn’t have a standard policy regarding enhanced pay, basic SMP but in my role I feel it is a fair request to ask for some of it to be funded, had that chat with my boss and he has asked me to propose my ask.

High level thinking is I will take 6 months but feel I would probably start working around a day a week around month 4 and build up. I’m conscious of KIT days and wouldn’t exceed so there would be breaks between.

My head is thinking:

3 months full pay
3 months half pay plus SMP

From month 3 I would make myself available for at least a day a week to physically work or be around in meetings, would sort childcare, and then from month 6 go back on condensed hours or mix in annual leave to do a phased return until 9 months, I.e 3 days and 2 annual leave days, working up to 4 condensed days for remainder of the months.

Just looking for thoughts as not many out there online of this situation, so:

yabu - too much to ask for
yanbu - the balance feels right with home life/pay/work availability

Also, how would you design yours if you had the chance?

I have a 4 month old, and I couldn’t work.

She is an ok sleeper for her age, but multiple night wakings mean my brain doesn’t function properly.

She’s breastfed, and pumping enough to leave her would be a major pain.

Not many nurseries take babies under 6 months round me (and they all have a waiting list so long you wouldn’t get to the top by the. unless you signed up before you were pregnant).

I meant from the OP’s perspective with the odd set up with pay.

I think the whole thing is a bit weird to be honest!