Returning to work - childcare options

[Koolandorthegang]

Hi all,

I will be going back to work 4 days a week when DD is 13 months. I am looking for a bit of advice on my childcare options for when I return (covid permitting of course. Also, I’m not in the UK.)

The current plan is for her to attend nursery for 3 days, be with MIL for 1 day and with me for the other day.

I am considering a couple of options at the moment.

Option 1:
Monday: DD with me
Tuesday: DD with MIL
Wednesday-Friday: DD in nursery

Option 2:
Monday: DD in nursery
Tuesday: DD with MIL
Wednesday: DD with me
Thursday and Friday: DD in nursery

The reason I’m considering option 2 to split up the days that she will be in nursery is because I have heard from others who have children in nursery for three consecutive days that by the time the next week rolls around its too long since they’ve been in nursery and it’s like starting all over again with tears at drop off etc.

On the other hand, I wonder whether splitting up the days in option 2 will be too disruptive to DD. She’s 8 months at the moment and so far seems very independent and is very curious, loves seeing people in the park and out and about. Loves watching children play in the park. Smiles at strangers and happily plays on her own, doesn’t freak out if i leave the room (not yet anyway). So I feel she will transition to nursery very well.

MIL is flexible with the day she will have DD and it looks like I will be able to take any day I want as my day off as well.

If anyone has a similar arrangement or any advice I’d really appreciate it.

Personally I would go with the consecutive days in nursery. For both of mine we have had a similar mix of nursery and grandparents and always had the nursery days together.

I did the same set up with my first (3 days nursery 1 day PILs). My day off had to be a Friday around work commitments. I went for all the nursery days together at the start of the week then PIL thurs then my day of fri for a long weekend. This worked really well for us. I think the big gap between nursery days is only really an issue if they only go once a week. I liked having a long weekend and found it a nice way to decompress after a busy working week, it also depends on your job I needed the continuity of days together for my role a day off midweek wouldn’t have worked.

Depends on your child really. Is she relaxed and likes other people? Or is sje prone to separation anxiety? I think this should guide your decision more than what other children do

No separation anxiety yet, she’s very independent and loves people. I don’t know whether it’s because she hasn’t been around other people much due to covid but she seems fascinated by other people.

DD is 2 and still petty velcro-y and she does well with 2.5 days of nursery Wednesday to Friday then the weekend with both parents followed by one day of dad care and one day of mum care (we all live together just have childcare is).

When she was 1 she went to a childminder and she wasn't happy there so in a way it was goes to get her 2 days over and done with and she knew they were done and didn't have to go back for ages. The big gap may not have been idea but other stuff was a bit rubbish with that situation so it wasn't the main issue.

Thanks everyone, I’m leaning towards option 1 now

As an additional thought - will you end up paying for nursery still on bank hols? If so you may want to swerve a Monday! I dropped Mondays whilst on mat leave for this reason as it was a lot of money to pay on a closure day.

@Cloud1220 I probably will have to pay for bank hol Mondays that’s a good point! Think option 1 is looking good, all things considers

DS has only ever been to nursery on tues and thurs. Once he'd settled, he's looked forward to it each week.

They, to be honest, suggested not monday, for the BH reason

Cool, thanks a million for the advice, going to go with option 1