AIBU to think two short childcare days are better than one long day?

[Whatsthebestoption]

I’m trying to work out what to do when I return to work after maternity leave with my second baby. Eldest is currently in reception. I will need to use childcare and quitting work isn’t really viable.

I will be working two long days. Husband can do school/nursery drop off on one of these days, other day will need breakfast club/earlier nursery start. He will collect them from after school club and nursery at around half past five.

Day 1: 9 - 5.30
Day 2: 8 - 5.30

For my other two working days, I can be a bit more flexible. I’m wondering whether to do one really long day (+/- making up a couple of hours in evenings), or two shorter days. If a long day, children would be in childcare 8-6. If two shorter days, it would be more like 9-3.

Day 3: 8 - 6

OR

Day 3: 9-3
Day 4: 9-3

Which is the least bad option for the children?

YANBU: two long and two short days is better
YABU: three long days is better

Edited as got the voting options back to front! 😂

Definitely the shorter days. Everyone will be so so tired and rushed otherwise.

2 shorter days. You'll feel more able to offer quality everrywhere

But even with two shorter days, they will still also have two long days. It’s four days in total. 😢

Two shorter days would give you more quality time I feel!

Hmm. What kind of job do you have? Police officer? Cashier?

I'd go with the longer days, and one more full day off. I found the nursery drop off was the hard bit - but once that was done, they were happy there, and it wouldn't have made any difference picking up a few hours earlier. Especially if they eat there, versus just coming home to cook.

I’d do one long day. It’s only 30 minutes longer than your other day. Those post school hours 3-6pm are not quality time. They are spent wrangling tired hungry children. I’d pay someone else to do that an extra day and then enjoy a proper day off with your little one.

I think two shorter days. You'd all be too knackered from three long ones to enjoy the extra day off anyway, but you have two nice long evenings instead.

More regular sessions will help youngest settle quicker.
2 rather than 3 after school club sessions is a big difference for oldest.
You still get the 5th day one on one with your baby.
I don't see a downside!

I'd go for one long day. When my children were toddlers I enjoyed having two days at home with them. A lot of the value came from lazy mornings at home, unstructured time to see family and friends, etc. We also did some baby classes and playgroups. I'd much rather work hard for three days, but have two days completely off, than work for four days. Saying that, now both kids are at school, I'm self-employed and choose to work five short days! But in the early years, having whole days off suited our family better.

I'd go for the longer day because it's less hours in total than the other two added together.

Are the days consecutive? 3 long days in a row would be a lot. If they were broken up then the extra full day off would probably be preferable!

Yes I think the two long and two short days is definitely the best option for my eldest, as they would have minimal time in wraparound care. I’ve lived being able to do all school runs so far whilst on mat leave. it’s harder to say what’s best for the baby.

If it’s 9-3 won’t it be your child in reception not going into childcare or do you mean they’d need to go into childcare but just not for long?

No, there would be a gap in both scenarios.

Yes, sorry - reception child wouldn’t need any wraparound care on the two shorter days if this is what we choose.

From the point of view of your baby then I would say 3 long days with two days just devoted to being at home with them. Once you’re at work it’s just adding a few hours on when they are already in childcare. Plus having 2 days off in the week gives you flexibility if one of them is ill.

I think there are pros and cons to both for the children.

Which do you prefer from a work perspective?

Yes I think it’s up to you, personally I’d rather be working as few days as possible so would choose long but I get why people are choosing the two shorter

I’m in a similar situation and it’s hard because the 2 shorter days are probably better for the school aged child but the 1 long day is probably better for the baby.

I’d say the shorter days suit one child better, and the longer day would suit the younger child better, because you’d have time together on the other day. What do you want for yourself? Two short days could leave you with very little time to yourself for luxurious activities like cleaning up or getting chores done.

I meant to say, this school year I’ve been doing two long days and two shorts days and it’s been a bit shit because the baby is in childcare 4 days a week and ok the shorter days it feels like I barely get anything done at work (I’m clock watching from 2pm as I’m worrying about when I need to leave for pickup). From Sept onwards I’m going to be changing to three long days and I’m a bit worried about seeing my older ones less after school, but also looking forward to having two days off rather than one. When you have just one day off you basically feel like you work full time but get less pay whereas only working 3/7 days really does feel like part time.

Definitely the 3 long days. Having the two days off will be less stressful as pp said with children being ill. This was the main cause of stress for me taking the time off work

3 long days for sure. Then you get two whole days at home. I did that for several years when the dc were small and they coped with the hours fine. It is really so good having those two whole days and the work life balance is great.

of course, short days would be fine too, just not my preference.

Tricky! I did 5 school days for a while and switched to 3 long days (now 5 FT!).
The reason I went to 3 long days was that I was shattered. I ended up doing all the parenting and feeling like I was working full time. Work often forgot I was part time because I was there everyday and so workload was worse than for those were naturally they were off when certain work came in.

If you work in the holidays then it also becomes a pain for organising childcare - sometimes I just had to pay for a full week whereas for 3 day I could pay less and also have fun with the kids doing day trips on my days off.

Definitely the one, longer day.

You don't have to get everybody up and out the house early, as often.
You don't have to commute as often
You don't have to think about packing the pram bag, making your packed lunch, etc.
You have two whole days at home with the little one.
As pp has said, that time between picking them up after work and bedtime is NOT "quality time". It is the witching hour when you have to be trying to entertain two tired and grouchy dc whilst getting the evening meal ready. Whereas your Nursery / wraparound care will have fed and entertained them on the longer day and you can have two relaxed days with the baby, and collect them from school yourself twice a week.
This will make life much easier when your older one starts doing swimming lessons or Squirrels / Beavers or Rainbows / Brownies or whatever activity they take up.