Any other career mums out here?

Going back to work in sept but may delay to Jan if I don’t feel ready. I went back full time when my eldest was 11 months for 4 months and quit. After visiting a few nurseries and enrolling him to a preschool (and taking him out after 2 months) I decided to hire a great, qualified nanny, (he is now 2). I feel way more confident knowing there is 1-1 care for my toddler. So with my newborn I’m planning to return in sept and have him looked after by the nanny. It’s just way more peace of mind, and I have a better relationship with nanny, we’re basically friends so feels better for me mentally. If you go for a nursery then I’d just advise to really meet the key worker, chat to them, ask them questions about how they manage the 1-5 or 1-3 ratio, how do they change a nappy while monitoring the other babies? Do they discipline and how? How do they ensure boundaries for babies? How do they soothe babies? Etc etc Whatever you choose will be the right thing for your baby, trust your gut.

Nanny is 2 days per week as it is obviously quite expensive, you can ask her to register with ofsted and you may be eligible for funding. Family helps during other days

Thanks, ladies! What is now an average daily rate for a nanny? Any websites you can recommend to look for one? I myself was a nursery baby, hence my first thought is opting for a nursery, but would love to know more about alternative options 🙌

I'm going back to work in September at 4 days a week. My son will be going into nursery for 2 days and then with family the other 2 days. I did the same with my daughter a few years ago

I’m going back in September full time (working 4 longer days) childminder for 3 of the days and family covering the 4th day. God knows how it will go but I’m determined to make it work 💪🏼

I'm going back in September for 4 days. Nursery 3 days, Nanny for the other one x

I’m going back in July- I’m a teacher so I’ll work 3 weeks, then technically I’ll have 6 weeks “off”. I’ll need to prepare for my new class in Sept, but I can plan and do around my LB’s schedule in summer/take him to work with me 😂 the three weeks in July will be a mishmash-my husband will take some annual leave and any other days will have to be covered by family members. Then my Lb starts nursery 2 days a week from the end of August, then hopefully I’ll have a day off, one of our mums will have him another day and then my husband already has a day off every week. Complex, but hopefully it will work!

As I am self employed I am already back at work from home, and I have a nanny helping me a few hours a day (while looking after my other kids). Do you guys know from what age they can go to nursery?

@Mimi depends on the nursery, some take kids from as little as 3 months old I think

I will go back in July, my husband will then be on shared parental until November. My daughter will go to the same nursery as my son goes to when my husband goes back to work. Nursery has been the best thing for my son, he loves it there, runs to hug the staff each morning and is stretched and stimulated by being around the adults and the kids and is really sociable. It’s the right setting for him and I’m confident she’ll love it too.

@Mimi my oldest goes tp nursery and they accept babies from 6 months.

I'm a teacher so coming back in the new academic year makes sense. However my husband will take the rest of the Parental leave so baby will start nursery when he's one. After having my first both me and my husband went back to work 4 days he has mondays off and I have fridays. I've always been very career driven but this is the best decision we made. My girl goes to nursery the other 3 days and she gets quality time woth each of us.

@Mimi the one my little one is going to takes them from 6 weeks apparently! Which I find mental!

Tbh. I am having a major panic about it. I don't think I can take any longer than 9 months max. Hoping when I go back we'll be able to work out some sort of Flexi pattern as both of us are shift work.

Another teacher back full time in September. With my first we had 3 days with childminder and the other 2 were split with grandparents but ill health has meant 4 days with childminder and 1 with grandma for both. I feel guilty that they will spend more time with the childminder than parents/family but prefer this over a selection of people at a nursery and she's basically family now anyway.

I had 6 weeks off and husband taking 9 months shared parental, after that it’s nursery four days a week and his mum helping the other day a week (she lives an hour away and still works). We don’t have any other family less than 3-4 hours away.

@Bethan 6 weeks! 😱 I would not have left my baby in a nursery at 6 weeks. I probably won’t before she’s 9 months / 1 year old

@Alla we used childcare.co.uk - paid £14 for 2 weeks to use the website but found our nanny in a couple of days of searching. Also use your local facebook group too!