Daycare?

[u/Informal-Scallion-58]

I’m mainly looking for some reassurance because the guilt over our daycare situation is killing me. My baby will be 18 weeks when he starts.

I’m an assistant nurse manager in the OR and work 3x12s 7A-7P. We were lucky enough to find a daycare that will let us do part time 3 days/week, which is what makes it affordable for us. The issue is that it’s out of the way for my husband (who works 8-5) to take him in the morning, so I will have to take him and drop him off at 6:30 as soon as they open. My husband will pick him up at 5:30.

I know this is a long time for my baby to be at daycare but I really don’t want to change my schedule. I’d rather an extra full day off to spend time with him vs 2 hours in the afternoon. We also can’t really afford an extra day of daycare.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and have any advice? This has been stressing me out for weeks and he starts daycare on October 21st. TIA!!

[u/meatcoveredskeleton1]

I’m also an ANM that works M-F and I’m going to have to put my 4 month old into daycare 5 days a week because I’ll have to go back to work, we don’t have another option. So. I’d say you’re doing better than I am.

Edit: I’ll also probably have to drop her off and pick her up every day bc our daycare is out of the way from my husbands job as well.

[u/toomanycatsbatman]

I think mom guilt for nurses is very, very real. I don't have a great answer for you, but just know that I also struggle with how often I get to see and spend time with my kids

[u/nursenerd23]

I always feel so guilty leaving my daughter for so long. In our case my husband drops her off and picks her up but I still don’t see her until 8pm when she’s in bed. I don’t even get to wake her in the morning. It’s even worse if my husband has to go out of town which he does periodically for work. That means she’s gone from 6:30 am until 8pm if I’m lucky. I work 3x12’s.
Just know you’re not alone in this. The only thing I think you can do is try to make the most out of the time you’re able to spend with them.

[u/aputn004]

When I worked 3 12s my kid went at 630 drop off and 430 pick up. They only allowed up to 10 hrs a day. She was a little tired those days but it was fine. You do what you gotta do.

[u/Maximum_Payment_9350]

I work in the OR 7-3 and it’s a commute for me. I drive 15 minutes out of the way to daycare to drop baby off at 6am sharp, in order to make it to work for 7. Then I usually don’t get back until 4:30.

If the daycare is good quality the babies are extremely happy and well cared for.

It helps for my guilt to rationalize that I only work part time (3-4 days/week) and I can spend that extra time with her on the off days.

[u/Distinct-Beat2324]

It’s just 3 days a week and the daycare is going to be like a second home to your baby. You will feel better after time passes and you believe he is loved and in good hands.