If you could be completely flexible about the hours that you work WWYD?

[BeatrixRotter]

I am in the lucky position that I may be allowed to go back to work part time, working from home and I have been lead to believe that I will be able to work very flexible hours.

I would like to keep childcare costs down as I don't earn masses so am considering how many of the hours I could do in the evening (will be caring for DD all day) or at weekends (don't like this idea but will do it). Does anyone else work in this way?

In your opinion is it better for my DD to go into childcare regularly for shorter periods, say 3 or 4 half days a week; or to go for 2 long days, which is probably the cheaper option?

Is there anything else I should be taking into account?

IMO, it's worth establishing a working pattern which you can stick to for the next few years. So worth thinking about pre-school at 3yo - will you use all 5 of the pre-paid sessions (maybe by building up to it over the year). Also worth thinking that if DD was born after March 31 then she'll be half-time at school for the first term or so - finding childcare for the afternoons can be a PITA.

Are you looking at nursery or childminder? How sociable is she so far? And are there any playgroups you want to keep going to for the moment?

What shape week do you ideally want, and how does work fit in to that? Will you have the energy for working in the evening, after a day with what will soon be a toddler...

Good luck working it out - hope the above ramble helped!

I think I am going to go with a childminder, she is very sociable so far but not sure whether this will change.

I'm not sure I will have the energy for work after a full day.

It hadn't occurred to me to think about pre-school so thanks for mentioning that.

Does anyone have an opinion as to whether it is better for a child to be with a childminder for 2 long days or for shorter periods over 3 or 4 days? Just thinking in terms of them being settled and happpy.

I think it can work either way BR ( like your name). Our CM has planned activities so DS would miss these if he left early, although I also do slightly reduced hours so he doesn't get picked up massively late.

If it were me I would go for 2 full days, that way you can be in work mode proper some of the time and not thinking about it the rest of the days. You can always change once DD is at preschool, although DPD for forward planning is good too.

I do know one supermum who works from home around 3 pre school children with a minimal amount of care by working in the evenings, but I would find it too hard.