WWYD? Go back full time when DD is 6 months or 7 months?

[gaelicsheep]

7 months would really be stretching things to breaking point financially. Would it make enough of a difference do you think?

DD is EBF and I am not sure at this time if I'll be able to continue once I'm back at work. I'm very to ask about expressing facilities for one thing (another thread perhaps).

I am anticipating difficulties weaning her off, if indeed I have to, and I am not looking forward to leaving her for full time work full stop. Would that extra month make a difference in anyone's experience? Or am I just delaying the inevitable with no additional benefit?

If she is already taking expressed milk from a bottle you'll have no trouble weaning her onto formula
I'd go back at six months
she's less likely to have separation anxiety the younger she is to be honest and it sounds like you need the money

Oh, I should add there is no issue with childcare as DH will be looking after her (assuming he's well enough).

I know there'd be no problem weaning onto a bottle . It's more that foresee problems weaning her off me (very sucky, very clingy wee thing). I suppose that will happen gradually so she can adjust, but I'm not fancying the inevitable night time marathons as she makes up for missed boob time.

Personally if you can hold out another month then yes do it, they change so quickly in the 1st yr and even in one month you'll see a difference in her plus you can get more involved in the whole weaning onto solids experience!!!

Oh yes, the weaning thing. I started DS on solids at 5.5 months because I didn't want to miss the start of solids, and I absolutely had to go back at 6 months with him.

The thing is, she gets more gorgeous by the day and I can't help worrying the longer I leave it the harder it will be.

I was told (by nursery manager friend of mine) that babies settle quicker with a new carer before the age of 9 months; between 9 and 18 months it is much harder to settle them into a new environment.

So, if you can cope financially, go back at 7 months as IMO, I don't think she would have more separation anxiety than at 6 months and at least you would have had one extra month with her.

Hmm, can we cope? The million dollar question. Is a £1000 overdraft worth an extra month with DD? My heart says yes - my head? Questions, questions...