Nursery

No help with the what to do from home but just to say I felt the exact same! He did end up going to nursery at 1 year old and he has absolutely thrived. He adores it there, it’s been so good for his development and being back at work has given me a piece of me back too. We treasure the time we do get to spend together and appreciate it so much more. It’s not affected our bond in the slightest and it’s the best being reunited after the day apart. Just another spin on things incase you are faced with going back to work outside of the home ❤️

Also adding that I felt the exact same when mine was 6 months - but come 15 months (when I did send him) it was completely different, I felt he needed more than just I could give him at home. He’s in 1.5 days a week and he absolutely LOVES it there. Give yourself time, enjoy the now x

i can relate to this so much. i think it’s crazy how early women are expected to part with their kids in this modern society and the system is built in a way we feel like we can’t stay at home or in some countries they literally cannot because they might not even have paid maternity. i’ve never claimed benefits in my life and worked from i was 15 but you can absolutely bet when my maternity is up ill be claiming what i can just for longer at home with my son before i go back to uni to make a career so we can live comfortably. don’t be afraid to claim if you are entitled to. there’s no shame in it especially as a mother that wants more time with their child. it’s not exactly a living but it is something and if you can live off it you may as well!

Honestly, childcare settings do wonders for most kids, so I wouldn't feel guilt or anything over it. Kids who go to nurseries/childminders and nix regularly with other kids and adults, actually develop better social skills and speech development! My girl has just started nursery at 10 months old and she's doing great, I have no regrets

you should be entitled to universal credit? x

I hate it too I started sending my LG to nursery at 15 months three months ago she loves it but I hate it It’s so weird that she spent all day there away from me I will never be able to get used to it so thinking of a solution now.. having kids and sending to nursery to go to work this young it’s the biggest scam capitalism created

Making moms leave their babies is complete crap!! Our maternal instinct makes us need our baby and vice versa. I feel like dying just thinking about having to leave my baby all day. I'd do it if we had to absolutely due to financial emergency but I would be dying Inside. 😢 I feel for u

Unfortunately no help with what to do however I do earn some money selling on Vinted and buying what I can on there too. I felt like you and dreaded going back to work but if I didn’t I would need to pay back the maternity. I was very lucky to have a full year off she started creche 3 weeks before her first birthday only twice a week and the other 3 days she would be with my mother.. I went back to work part time for the first 4 months to ease myself in it was hard but she’s 2&half now and it’s much easier. She loves going and recently moved to a new setting which is slightly cheaper. Explore all your options if you can claim UC etc because although I enjoy my job and my daughter enjoys creche I would love nothing more to be a SAHM if I was able to afford it X

Am absolutely the same I have one month left of mat leave and my heart is aching I’ve been sobbing nonstop 😭 but I have to do 3 months before I can leave my LO screams with everyone but me so am dreading it even more!xx

I wouldn’t leave my daughter with anyone, hated every minute, hated the thought of nursery. She started at 14 months, it did take a couple months 2 days a week but now she asks to go to nursery!!! She loves it, I get loads of updates and pictures and she has a brilliant time, gets to do so much I couldn’t do at home. I think it’s great for them to experience nursery but it is hard to get used to initially for us and them

Thank you all so much, it’s so good to know I’m not the only one! And also really nice to see your babies doing so well in nursery! I will send him, I know I have to, and I know it will be sooooo good for him as there’s only so much I can do, I just HATE the idea of anyone having my baby except me 🥺 he brightens my whole world the second he opens his eyes and smiles at me and I want that forever and ever 🥺🥺🥺❤️