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! 😂

I do 3 long days (condensed hours) with a Y1 and have recently returned to work with a baby in nursery. We aren’t reliant on breakfast club (though it would really help if we did), and I really miss doing the school runs too. We use after school club and I’m aware it’s a very long day for the baby as well as the Y1.
Personally though I really like this set up. 3 days goes quickly at work (even long ones), the baby only has to go to nursery 3 rather than 4 days (also better for our finances), I get to spend 2 days with the baby, and it’s easier for school holiday childcare. We don’t have any family help.
Both children seem to be thriving; my Y1 complains sometimes we’ve come to collect them from after school club too early because we’ve disturbed their fun, and the baby gets fed an early tea. I do agree with some PP that the 3-6pm stint at home isn’t usually ‘quality time’, the reality is it’s tired quarrelling children (even with a baby!) and trying to placate them whilst you make dinner! I do try and make it more fun on non working days but it isn’t always realistic!
I took some HR advice before I went back to work with my first baby and was advised to start lower (for me that was 3 days) because it’s easier to increase rather than decrease, so it’s how I’ve always done it and it works for us.
Edit: just seen a PP refer to illness - that’s something I also think helps with 3 days as less time off work - in 3 months of nursery there’s been a lot of illness already!

Yes. Says off for illness. Excellent consideration

That’s a good point about after school activities, if you have two clear days off you know you can arrange it for those days. I worked 3 days for a while and it was so nice on the 2 days I was off to completely switch off from work.

If they were older, I'd say three long days are better. Less time off work for sickness. More time off during the school holidays. I'd have to consider the difference in hours I'd have with the baby/toddler.

I think this is the rub there isn't a one size fits all which is better for everybody. Shorter days are much better for your yr R child no questiin. As a working afult who wouldn't want more days off eg: the three long days ? Which is better for the baby is moot. Not massively helpful tbh.