Working night shifts

[Marveladdict]

Just wondered who else out there is working night shifts to juggle childcare?
How are you finding it?
I work 3 nights split over the week (Monday, Thursday and Friday) as really struggled working 3 in a row.
DS (almost 2) goes to nursery on Tuesdays and Fridays so I can try to sleep (never been a good sleeper during day).
Recently DS has been crying at nursery drop off which breaks my heart every time - he is due to start pre-school in September 2024.
I am seriously considering requesting to drop the Friday night and take him out of nursery (to save on childcare fees and spend more time with him) then working every other Saturday night to make up for the loss of the Friday night.
I work as a hospice nurse and wondered if anyone else has had to make decisions like this?
Working nights is hard on the body, I try so hard to eat healthy but there are so many sweet treats to try and avoid temptation - my weight has ballooned which is also getting me down.
Has anyone else out there felt like they are in between a rock and a hard place with juggling parenting, childcare, working and bringing home a solid income?
DH is great - he works full time and is the main earner but he is also getting knackered as well on nights when I am at work and if DS sleeps poorly (then has to go to work the following day)

Sorry for long post - just wanted to know that I am not alone

You are not alone yeah

When working night shifts, my lifeline were aupairs.

You’re not alone, night shifts are hard I’m only doing it because I have too.

I’m not for child care (sorry I know that was your question) Ido nights as have a bad back and it’s the only way to control it and the pain. I do three set nights. Been doing it for 18months. Not a lot gets done on the nights I work but we just live with it. Husband is ferrying kids around in the evening and supervising homework. So the house slips, I don’t like it, but I can’t do it all. When I’m on nights I just sleep and get up, eat spend an hour with kids and go.

DS1 is in charge on hovering downstairs and DS2 is in charge of going round down stairs and then putting the stuff that gets spread around the house in the tub in their rooms.

re split nights I think it’s harder on your body clock, how long did you do the nights together? Do you work as permanent staff? If you work in a hospice I’m guessing you have some good transferable skills to work in the community. Have you thought about working in home care? I work agency in the community and earn double what I did as permanent staff.

I really wouldn’t work sat night unless you have too, you will be loosing your weekend with your family while already doing antisocial nights.

With regards to food I try not to eat. I eat my dinner and take a fruit, small snack that I try to eat around 12/1 and then eat nothing. I do drink lots of decaf tea. It’s hard but once I get into it I can stick to it. I’ve lost a stone since January. I only eat breakfast if I’m hungry.

I also meal plan every friday and food gets delivered sunday am. A lot of make the night before shove in the fridge and bake them next day dinners. Or easy food like fish cakes and jacket potatoes. Having nice sides it feel like a better dinner.

For good sleeping husband opens the window when he gets up with kids all year round. When I get in I shut the windows and I have a electric blanket on the lowest setting in winter. Quick shower and straight into bed. If find this mask amazing as I can open my eyes and not feel squashed. Even on my last night I sleep for 4 hours and that night go to bed around midnight and I’m back into my normal routine.
Mask

alexa on playing rain music and I sleep for at least 6 hours. Took me a while to train myself. Sometimes I feel like I’m not sleeping which feels really weird but I must be as when I get up I feel ok.

Yes I'm a night worker due to childcare. 12 hour night shifts for nhs. I'm only contracted 2 a week but often do more. I'm heavily pregnant and will have to put the baby in nursery when I return after maternity leave. It will be hard.
It's the only way I could work tho really.. jobs in school hours just don't pay enough. Unless you are a teacher I suppose!!
It is hard on your body.
I find having a clear routine works. I only eat at night for example. Otherwise you can find yourself overeating because naturally you get hungry when you are awake working so you just eat crap on top of the meals you have during the day. I make sure I have my main meal on my break at night. Then I don't binge eat crap.
As for sleeping during the day... I have a cardboard cutout I made to fit I put in my window to completely block out any light and I wear silicone earplugs.
I don't get a great deal of sleep as I finish at 9am then have to collect kids at 3pm. I try and have an hours nap in the evening too.
It's hard. But I do love my job

@Resembleflower
Thank you for your reply - it is nice to know that I am not alone.
When I first qualified about 10 years ago I use to do 3 nights together and I did eventually get into the swing of it, but these days I just find doing them all in a row so tiring.
Yes I am permanent - I wasn't really a fan of working in the community during my student years - trying to drive and park places I didn't know always filled me with anxiety - same with working as an agency nurse which I did for a couple of years.
Thank you for the mask link, I will look into purchasing one of those.
I'm hoping to be able to meal plan better as have ordered a family planner to try and assist me - I am such a sucker for buying ready meals (unhealthy right?) and my husband buys takeaways.
I have recently found the slimpod programme which so far I think has started to help me with my disordered eating patterns - it is nice there is no diet plan to follow, no counting calories/syns/points etc and no weekly weigh ins - I am hoping it will help.
Last night I took healthy snacks and resisted pretty much all biscuits and sweet treats - apart from one bite of a doughnut which was stale and I threw away!
I might have to invest in an electric blanket as that sounds nice and cosy warm to welcome me into bed in the morning.

Thank you for your reply @haribosmarties - congratulations on your pregnancy! :-) we are hoping to try for another baby via IVF next month and am worried about how I will cope being pregnant whilst working nights - how have you been finding it?

How long have you done nights for? Do you split them or do them all together?
Will you have to put baby into nursery so you can sleep during the day?

I have spoken to the senior sister team and done a reduction of hours request which has been approved. I am lucky as they have agreed to set shifts, so my new shift pattern will be Monday night, then alternate Thursday and Friday nights.

So I think I am going to take him out of nursery, and I probably will do the occasional Saturday night to try and make up the pay.

Absolutely you are not alone .
I am a total utter mess. Trying to not be too demanding at work I set a couple of days where I do not work. Soo ok I do a mix of days and night but 90% are nights ..I was actually thinking of doing Sunday Monday and Thursday night if they let me. It’s not good. It’s bad and it impacts everyone.but it works for childcare . We have zero family around.
I really wished I had gone for a different job .
how is hospice though ? Is it same pay . I’m desperate to try something not ED, but can’t afford to lose the money x