Child care - split days or consecutive what's best?

[eastendmum2]

i am currently battling with my employer about flexible working. I have worked for them for over 5 yrs, in a managerial position, but i get the feeling employer is trying to make the return to work as unappealing as possible.

I would like to return 3 days a week, all consecutive days, my employer wants me to do M,W,F, and seems quite adamant about it.

I think consecutive days will be better for baby, who will be 11mths to do consecutive days, I'm worried that doing split days in childcare won't allow hi to settle in to any real routine.

any one else experienced this situation, what did you do?

Any suggestions?

I found that my DS's got really tired at nursery at that age, so having a day at home in the middle rather than 3 days in a row was much better. I work tues thurs fri which sounds odd but it means I get a long weekend, DS2 does Tuesday at nursery then weds at home, then two days at nursery with the weekend to recover.

From a work point of view I find it easier to only have one day out of the office at a time as it stops the emails building up.

I don't think it will make a massive difference to your child - ideally your routine and the childcare providers should be as similar as possible
As its the way you can get reduced hours I would go with it.

I can understand why an employe would want M,W,F, it means that if there is a query on a day you are not there, they know you will be there the very next day. If it was T,W,Th and they received a query on Friday, then you wouldn't be there to deal with it until Tuesday, which feels like a very long time for people.

I agee withTherein that babies (and children) get really tired and to have a break between their days would be far better. They don't really comprehend the weekly routine, eg doing 3 days in a row. DS1 is 5 and still asks every day whether it's a school day, regardless of which day of the week it is!!! (Even asks on a Tuesday after being at school for one day on Monday!)

Depends whether you want nursery, childminder or nanny the latter two are often easier to find on consecutive days especially a nanny as she would probably need to fit in another job.