Mat Leave- how many take a year?

[apples82]

I'm starting to think about how long to take off for maternity leave, this is my first pregnancy ...

Alot of the decisions I presume are made financially as to how long you can take off.

But how long does everyone take off?

I know the SMP covers the first six months, do many new mums then go back to work, or stay off for the full year if financially viable?

[PaddingtonBearLondon]

stressheaderic - My DD went to nursery from 5 1/2 months and loved it! It was a particularly caring, nurturing and creative nursery though - I'm sure they're not all as good.

[notlettingthefearshow]

I've been wondering about this! I could take a year (university - good mat conditions - only goes down to SMP after 6 months) but the baby is due at xmas and it makes sense to go back after 9 months for the new academic year. At least I'll get the summer! I'm lucky at my place there are lots of parents and part timers and I love my job.

Having said that, the baby isn't born yet, so it's all theoretical at the mo!

[subwaywidow]

I am going back when my LO is 10 months old and to be honest don't really want to but have decided to give it a go.

Do what is best for you and your family. You will get 9 months SMP, child benefit and apply for tax credits as you might be lucky and get something - if you don;t try you won't know.

[madeindevon2]

also depends on your career and how you feel about it. And no I'm not saying career above children so don't flame me! I took a year off with my first which was a disaster for my job. I know legally they not allowed to make it so hard but they did and i just couldn't go back 7am to 6pm including commute. There was no flexibility at all and comments were made. I sought legal advice and ended up with a pay out and vol redundancy.
I have been in new roll at new company for 3 years now. It has taken me 3 years to get career back up to same level so am not going to let history repeat itself. This time will go back after 6 months.
I wouldn't say I regretted taking a year off with my son. But I'm confident taking 6 months this time will also be fine for baby and me!
if you do intend going back to work after 12 months I would suggest settling them into childcare much earlier. My son went to nursery one day a week from 6 months which made the transition to full time much easier for him as it was familiar for him and he was very happy there. Harder for mummy!!!

[IssyStark]

I went back at 4m (I was on statutory may pay back when it was only 6m in total) and was really, really glad to do so. DS wouldn't nap during the day and I was less tired after a day at work compared to a day looking after DS. It was important for my own mental health, as well as his, that I felt happy and less stressed. He went to our workplace nursery so I was able to pop in every lunchtime and feed him. That plus expressing at morning and afternoon coffee breaks meant he never had anything to drink other than breastmilk until he was over one.

With the current one due in December, I'm planing to take almost 9 months off as that would mean I'd return in time for the start of the new academic year (I work at a uni) and I'd be off the whole summer holidays with baby and DS who starts school this Sept.

[Eviepoo]

My company gives and extra 4 weeks at 90% on top of the legal requirement, which is good.

Also I had 2 weeks holiday that I either had to take or get paid for, so that will be an nice extra when I get that later this month (only been on Mat leave for a week)

All in I am taking 8 and a half months, DH and I sat down and did the sums and said how long can we afford off? we said 8 months - that would take me to the start of DD's easter holidays so we'd need childcare for her too - so we agreed that I'd go back after that.

I can take up to 10 KIT days (keeping in touch) my bos is keen for me to do this when I meantioned I wanted to. I will get paid normal salary for those days. That will also be a welcome top up to the SMP.

I also when I started TTC started saving like crazy the childcare vouchers...I have got enough for 3 months childcare. So when I get back we will actually have my salary!! for a while anyway.

Not looking forward to January - I think thats when the total skints will kick in.

I guess how much time you take depends on you and your circumstances.

When I get back in the April I will have a full years holiday entitlement . As ours runs Jan to Jan - so if I do struggle I wil be able to book a few days off.

[lisayoung]

I had my first child in Oct 2010 and have taken the full year, got paid full pay by my company for 6 months then amp for three, am now not getting paid. I will also be taking 4 weeks Hols at the end of the term so will have 13 months off in total. Things are tight but nowhere near as bad as I thought! They defo get more interesting as they get older and am trying to do as much with him as possible before I go back to work :)

[CoffeeOne]

Oh MJ I'd come here to ask if anyone had done that! That's what I'm hoping to do but I wasn't sure if it seemed a bit cheeky

[KathMCB]

I am in month ten of a full year off plus one month holidays. Am so lucky to have had so much time. I would say take the year if you can afford it :)

[kipperandtiger]

My advice is take as much as you can afford. Start earlier if you have pregnancy/health issues, but if you feel very well and have no problems at all during the entire pregnancy (which nobody can predict, not even your midwife or doctor) you can take it from when you go into labour! Of course, it depends on what work you do - some are more tiring or phsyically not amenable to later stages of pregnancy. Also be aware if your workplace requires you to give notice sooner rather than just a couple of days beforehand, some may need a month's notice to find a suitably qualified or trained person to replace you. Some mums I know took only a few months and HAD to go back to work, nanny and nursery place all prearranged, others took the full amount and haven't gone back.

[dorsetem]

Hi, I teach an I am intending to take the whole year off.

Em x