Someone hand me a grip and tell me my baby will be ok!

[BloodysocksAndGore]

I'm currently on maternity and have just been told my job has been made redundant. I'm supposed to go back to work at the beginning of December. I was going to go back part time and have spent the best part of a year believing this. now I'm not so sure a suitable job will come up in the time that's left before I start back.

They have offered me a job on the same scale I'm currently on but its full time. this would mean dd would be at one set of grandparents 2 days a week, grandma's 1 day a week then a nursery or childminders 2 days a week, and it would mean that I have to work full time!

I'm in 2 minds whether to accept the job and secure myself, or hang on and hope something suitable will turn up.

Please help me get a grip and reassure me that dd will be OK if I go full and I will be OK if I go full time.

Ask your union for advice.

something similar is happening to me. it is crap. i am just trying to see it as a positive; time with grandparents etc, and so will go back full time and look for a part time position from there. it seems safer (and perhaps easier?) to get a job when you have a job, but i certainly won't be hanging around.

of course she will be fine. in actual fact she might enjoy it! its you/me that i feel sorry for!

As for the effect on your baby- for three days a week it will be looked after by people who love it and are related to it, for the remaining two days in professional childcare. You have chosen the best possible childcare for your child.

(I must read OPs better)- for "it" substitute "she" and "her" appropriately.

I would take the full time job whilst looking for something part time. It's definitely better to secure yourself. I have kind of been in a similar situation, not with redundancy, but my employer wouldn't let me go back part time after having baby, so I went back full time whilst looking for a part time job. I'm lucky as I have been back 4 weeks and have just been offered a part time job. DS was with granny one day, other grandparents the other day and then nursery the other days. It hasn't been quite as bad as I thought, I must say, although I guess it hasn't been that long. But def better to have a job than no job even if it does mean seeing lo less for a while. I know it's heartbreaking , but hopefully it will spur you on to find something else? Good luck.

Sorry also meant to say that lo will be fine! At least she'll be with grandparents part of the week, then at nursery only some of the week, just the right amount for her to mix with other kids and get the right balance.

Your baby will be fine. My kids have been in full time childcare from 9 months of age, and are happy and well bonded, and love their nursery - oldest now started school, but is excited about meeting her old key workers every time she comes along to pick up her little sister.

There's nothing wrong with working full time.

I went back to work with DS in full-time nursery at 10 months and he has been fine. Don't get me wrong, it's tiring and hard work BUT don't underestimate the way that extra money can make life easier e.g. no scrimping on food bill (so you can make cooking easier or eat out), we can afford a cleaner, two cars...I know money isn't everything and of course I would love to spend more time with ds but it can help make the 'slog'of full-time work feel worth it.

It's also a great feeling to be able to take DS to do nice things at the weekend without counting the pennies.