F/T mums with 9 month old children? And do part time Band 5 physios exist??

[Hybrid]

Hi there,

After getting over the initial elation of being pregnant the practicalities of being a working mum are suddenly starting to dawn on me.

I work as a physio in the NHS and am a rotational Band 5. I've just assumed that I would go back to full time work as I really enjoy my job but the idea of leaving a potentially 9 month old baby in child care (haven't decided what kind yet) for near enough 9.5 hours a day doesn't seem quite right.

My mum works full time and my MIL lives at the other end of the country so it's not that likely we could have family help to reduce the amount of time our new arrival would be in child care.

Does that amount of time seem bad for a baby so young - this is our first and I really don't have any idea what to expect.

The other option of course is to go P/T to 3-4 days a week which wouldn't be great for career progression but if it was better for our baby then it's obviously an option I'd go for.

Thing is, I don't think I've ever met a P/T junior physio so is it a practical possibility, do they really exist? I know I need to speak to work about what my options are but I just wanted to see if anyone out there had any experience with this and what kind of thing you have to say when you approach your manager?

Any help would be incredibly appreciated!

Bump...

Can't help with the job side of things as I'm a teacher rather than an NHS physio but my daughter just turned one and I am back at work 4 days. I don't know what your hours are does rotational mean you are not at work all week or something.

I'm not working f/t at the moment but did when my first was a baby. I may be f/t again in Spetember and I know what you mean about the 9.5 hours childcare a day. The good thing for me is I have the holidays. Term time is pretty hellish then I catch up and it lal starts again.

I know one person in NHS who cut her hours so she could work longer days and then take a day off/work a weekend day while her hubby did the care so their DD had more homecare. They also had grandparents on hand for somedays.

For me, if you like your job, its more of a can you fit everything in working f/t than about how long the child goes to childcare each day. The right childcare is essential though!

Hi there,
My DD will be 9m next week and I just started back at work this Monday after 10 m off, so I have just about survived my first week back - roll on 4pm

Tbh it's not been as bad coming back to work as it was 'thinking' about it. I had to come back F/T as I am getting made redundant next year and so it would have affected my payout taking less hours, not worth it after 10 years of F/T here.

I know it seems a bit long putting your LO into childcare for 9hrs (my DD is there from 8-4.45), but this was one of the things I was actually looking forward to, as I think it'll be great for her development. I found a really nice nursery close to where I work and home (I don't live far from work), so although she has been crying every day apart from today when I left her, I have been calling them at lunchtime and she has really enjoyed herself, and seemingly stops crying as soon as I leave! I think it's good for her as the nursery can provide more than I could provide for her in terms of interaction and all the great activities they do. They also provide all her nappies, formula and meals and snacks, which means she only needs a small snack in the evening.

It's also great picking her up at night and finding out what she's been doing that day. I'm also really looking forward to this weekend, more so than usual even!

I really wasn't looking forward to coming back, especially the thought of doing F/T, but it really isn't that bad, and I say that after my first week. The only thing is it's been harder and harder to get up each morning, and she has been waking up 3 times each night... I also think around the 9 month age is a good time to go back, for mum and baby. My DD is starting to move around more and explore things, and I finally feel like I can cope with work now.

I also have flexitime so I could potentially leave early, or build up hrs and take them off as extra hols, but this week I've still managed to do a 'normal' week.

My parents also live too far away - 500 miles - so that was never an option, but I wouldn't want it to be anyway as I want her to mix with kids her own age. They learn so much from copying other children and I can't wait til she can talk so she can tell me about all the things she's been doing

Sorry to waffle on, but it does work itself out in the end, and you'll know the right childcare setting when you see it. Good Luck!

Jillx

Thank you so much for your messages!! It's great to have some feedback and know that people do manage FT work without being crippled with guilt.

I guess it's something I'll just have to work out when the time comes.

Alder - rotational in my job means that I change departments every 4 months to get experience in as many different areas as possible. So I'm in work FT in very busy areas which are often understaffed anyway, hence the seeming unlikelihood of being able to cut down to even 4 days a week .

I went back to work 3 full days when DD was 9 mo and full time when she was 15 mo. She is at nursery from 8-4.45.

TBH it is hard because after a full day at work you are tired and have more to do at home. It depends how much your DH will do at home. In my case I've found I'm getting lumbered with more and more of the household stuff as well, plus my DD doesn't sleep

I'm a hospital doctor and I went back to work ft when dd was 9 months or so.

Tbh it works ok for us though dd is looked after by family, partly to help with the flexibility needed for my shift patterns. Some days it's great, others I miss her loads. What I found reallyhelpful was insisting that if I was to continue ft then I would only work at hospitals near home so cutting down my commuting time and also tbh the fact that I love my job!

I really wouldn't underestimate the importance of this, if you are happy in your work, nd you have good childcare then all will be well ime.

I understand what you mean about being part time B5. I've never come across it but that doesn't mean it can't happen. I know the graduate crisis is supposed to be getting better but there is still an excess. It would not be unreasonable to see if you can go part time and job share with another B5. I'm sure there are other graduates who would love even a few hours to keep on the case. Given that in our trust at one point we were taking volunteer graduates it may well be possible. Don;t rule it out until you have spoken to the boss. Also talk to HR as well as sometimes PT bosses can be a bit blinkered on new ways to do things. HR will be more up on flexible working and your rights. Also check if your trust does the salary sacrifice childcare vouchers!

Sorry your rotational doesn't mean what I thought it meant hybrid. Different professions and their jargon. Still I've learnt somehting new and it does sound like it brings much variety if in the process alot of stress sometimes.

I second what LaDiDaDi says about working close to home. We could not manage without me working near home as DH has a long commute. He has however managed to swing work at home one day a week and early finish on a rotation basis so that helps spread the load.

Oh and I want to add that after the weekend with my two I was glad to be back at work today!!

I've been working FT since DD was 3.5 months old (I still live in the 80s, in case you're wondering )

I very much second what LaDiDaDi says about working close to home.

Also, are you single? If you are not then there are two people who can look at how to organise their work around their child, and that makes things a lot easier.

DH's work allows flexi-time, and I lead a project, so can basically make my own hours, and we live close to both of our jobs, so our DD is in child care 9-4.30 each day.

Although working FT with a baby is tiring and you can feel a bit stretched to the limit a lot, I have found it rewarding. I love my job, I love my daughter, I'm tired a lot, but my life is busy and full and that's how I like it (not for everyone, I know, but right for me).

Thank you so much for your responses!

I'm very lucky in that I have an extremely supportive DH who is more than willing to do his share of the housework and more if necessary. Unfortunately, he does contract work which means that he can end up working quite far from home and therefore can't be relied upon for help getting DC home.

Working closer to home would definitely help LaDiDaDi so will have to mention that when the time comes.

Thanks as well TeaSleep - I will definitely put forward a proposal for 4 days IF I decide that's what I want but I'm definitley heartened by all those who say working FT in jobs they love works for them. Can also definitely identify with the PT managers who can be very blinkered!

Feel much less stressed about the whole thing - I've got time to mull it over and I know whatever I think now may well change a dozen times and more between now and returning to work!

Thanks MNer's for all the sound advice!