Not sure where to put this post, but hoping someone with experience can reassure or advise!
I have a 6 month old baby and am returning to work next week - only 10 hours a week split into 2 evening shifts (3 pm till 8 pm). The plan is for my husband to look after baby as he is not working on those days. When I arranged this work a couple of months ago, I naively imagined it would be easy to leave baby with dad for a few hours and that he would be able to give her a bottle and put her to bed. Now I'm worried that it's going to be a nightmare. Baby is breastfed (having a bit of solid food for a few weeks). We've been trying to get her to take formula milk from a bottle or cup for the last 3 weeks with no success. What's worse is that, even though dad has been doing plenty of baby care, and has been left with her for an hour or 2 a couple of times a week since birth whilst I go out, baby has now started crying whenever I'm not there. This is only really the last couple of weeks. She's normally a very happy baby, settles herself to sleep, sleeps through the night, rarely cries at all.
I'm worried that she's going to cry for hours whilst I'm out and get into a complete state. It just seems such a shame to upset her like this and I'm wishing I'd postponed return to work for a few more months.
Does anyone have any experience of leaving a baby this age? I know I'm not the first mum to return to work! Will the baby cry for 5 hours? Will she give in and take the milk? How many evenings will it take her to get used to being left? Should I delay return to work? Any words of wisdom appreciated!