Childcare, returning to work. What to do?

[Merrz]

Baby #1 due in January so got a while to think about this but looking for your opinions. I work for my small family business so fortunate that my work situation is very flexible, however it does mean that although i can delegate some of my day-to-day work, i'm the only person within the business who would be able to carry out some of the duties so i will need to be in and out of the office from baby being around 1 month old. My initial plan is just to pop in and out as much as i need to, to keep on top of things and do this whenever suits baby for naps etc. or leave baby with grandparents (i'm speaking maybe 1-2 hours, couple times a week) However from around 6 months i would like to get a bit more structure to it. I'm also very lucky that we live near both our family's so do have babysitter options, DM, MIL and SIL have all very kindly offered to have baby a day (or half day) per week. However do you think this is a bit confusing for baby being passed around everyone and would it be a pain having to take everything with me each day if going somewhere different all the time? The other option is nursery? If we go down the nursery route do we put baby in nursery the whole time or couple days nursery, 1 day mil for example?? I'm confident i could get everything done on around 14 hours/week but i have the option to work as much or little as i want really. So if people were in my fortunate situation, where would you put baby, how many hours/week would you ideally work? Would it be better to do say 2 full days or 4 half days? Like i say work wise i can really work it however suits and although obviously family babysitting would be cheaper than nursery, we're also fortunate that money isn't really a worry. Sorry for the long post!

As you will be leaving your little one for the odd hour or two, and then maybe slightly longer periods from when (s)he is little, then they will probably be fine to go to different people for up to a few hours at a time. It is FAR more difficult to do this once they get to 10months or so and haven't been used to it. So I don't think it will be confusing at all whilst they are young - you might want to look at it again as they get older, or the amount of time you are working increases, potentially back up to full time.
When they are little (if ok with all the carers) I'd be inclined to leave a bag of nappies, a pack of wipes and a change of clothes with each of them, and then you just leave the pram when you deliver baby each time. You'll be likely to have a pram bag with a favourite rattle, dummies etc in it so that just goes where baby goes. The pain is likely to be car seats, but, if only having them for 3 hours or so, they might just not go out in the car.

When you go back, up to 14 hours, then for me, I'd prefer to do 2 x full days, then forget about it. You then know you are always free on {insert days} and get to sort out your own routine. It leaves you full days when you want to go out and about .

Different when at school, as being able to do hours just within the school day, becomes ideal.

I posted a advert online seeking a childcare provider.

I then interviewed a few different people who demonstrated interest. I prepared a number of questions on useful skills and experience with children to ask them. My hiring decision was based on my feelings during the interview. I had them play with my two children.

As my son and daughter are small children I typically leave instructions for the childcare provider and my contact number. She is not allowed to use her phone except for emergencies. I make up a bag of toys, books etc for her to use. A list of rules are printed off and on a wall in my kitchen.