Child care options

[ninasmumma]

Hi, first time poster here. I'm after other parents similar experiences re child care/work hours. I currently work 4 days and have a 2.5 yr old and 6 year old child. I have a day off with the youngest and do play group or catch up with a friend before school run ect on that day. I also do all the drop offs /pick ups for child care so mornings and evenings are very hectic and a bit stressful.

I am thinking of putting the 2.5 yr old into childcare for the 5th day so I work 5 days but then finishing 2.30pm so I can do all the school pick ups every day. It would give me a lot more time with them in the afternoons/evenings but I wouldn’t have a whole day off with the youngest.

Has anyone done this and it’s worked or have you regretted giving up that day off?

I would also not be financially better off until next September when we would get the ‘free’ hours. I would actually be doing 5 less hours so worse off.

Thanks for your thoughts!

I wouldn't.
I chose to have a complete day off. FAR more relaxing than having to get them ready and out to school / Nursery 5 days, and more importantly try to get out of work on the dot, then commute to school.
Also gives you chance to do things on the day off, that you'd never fit in to the afternoon. I don't think there is much you can feasibly do (particularly in the Winter months) after they've been at school for the day, when you will presumably also be trying to get the evening meal ready and so forth.

I also find knowing I have a fixed day at home each week much easier to do things like your own dentist / hair appointments, but, more so, when you need to be 'in' - eg for the boiler to be serviced / to take the car for an MOT / new carpet fitted / etc

Thanks, that's helpful. To be fair we are already out on that day as I've got to do school run and then we don't come back home as I have to drive to the school so we're all dressed and bags packed anyway. Not to the same degree as the rest of the week but not far off.