What should I do?

SouthernGal2308

Hi. My husband works FT 2nd shift and I work PT first shift. I want to keep working after I have our baby, but I'm stumped on what is the best outcome for child care. Both of our mothers don't work and live relatively close (within 15miles). With that being said I'm not sure what to do. I don't expect them to take care of my baby 24/7 and with the distance what will we do if it snows etc. and we can't drive down to their homes. It would be easier to send the baby to daycare part time, but then I worry about my husband. If the baby goes to daycare my husband WILL NEVER SEE THE BABY because of his working hours! Is there anyone in the same situation or with any good advice? Thanks!

jnealet

15 miles isn't all that far.  Why couldn't you drive it in the snow?

 

Why don't you ask your mom and mil if they would like to watch the baby?  They might not and that would solve your problem. 

If they do, maybe you take the baby there and DH picks up after he's slept a little while or he can take the baby to care when he goes to work and then you pick up the baby. 

If you're working parttime, how many hours is that?  How many days.  Why would the grandmothers have the baby 24/7?  Wouldn't you have the baby when you're not working?

jlaOK

wife07mom09 said:

Sure. Why can't he watch the baby in the morning until he leaves then drop of baby at daycare or have a nanny come in until you get home?

This would be my first choice.  I'm not a fan of using family as daycare (maybe it's because I'd never use my family) but I'd first try and find a in-home or center that will do half day rates or if cost isn't an issue just pay for FT.

CrawltheWarriorKing

jnealet said:

15 miles isn't all that far.  Why couldn't you drive it in the snow?

 

Why don't you ask your mom and mil if they would like to watch the baby?  They might not and that would solve your problem. 

If they do, maybe you take the baby there and DH picks up after he's slept a little while or he can take the baby to care when he goes to work and then you pick up the baby. 

If you're working parttime, how many hours is that?  How many days.  Why would the grandmothers have the baby 24/7?  Wouldn't you have the baby when you're not working?

What she said.  Need more time info to get a better feel for what kind of care you would need.

boogerbearoriginal

My H works afternoons, and I work days but we're both FT. We have a weird arrangement but it allows H time with LO. M & W he gets up with LO when I leave, and takes him to DC on his way to work. I pick him up. T, Th, & Fr LO goes to DC all day so H can rest.  When LO was under 12m, and took an am nap, H would get up with him every day and nap with LO. Once he dropped the morning nap we needed to switch it up so he could get more rest.

While it sucks that he doesn't see LO three days a week, there are people who travel for work, etc that have similar issues. IMO it's about quality not quantity.

I would definitely as MIL/Mom if they are even interested in being a regular caregiver. They may or may not be, and if so, talk with them about what days/times they are available. IME it doesn't work out well to have family as regular caregivers, but some people have success with it. Just fair warning, often Grandma will feel entitled to do as she pleases and it can often cause rifts. Also, we had an issue with MIL just being unreliable.  Just some things to think about.  We love having Grandma as date night babysitter, not so much as our weekly caregiver though.

You should look at daycare options, we were pleased to find a few offered p/t care for half days and that has worked well for the few hours our shifts overlap. Since you only work p/t, are you all day a few days a week or m-f with short hours? I would think you'd find a schedule that would allow H time with LO during the week either way.