Cross post: Part time day care? What works?

[puente]

Hi all,

I posted this in Life with a Babe, but you all got me through pregnancy, and I trust and appreciate your thoughts on this if you would care to share them.

I have a 3 month old, and have to go back to work at the beginning of February to retain my job, but I can work part time.  The more hours I work, the longer I can stay part time.  (Eg. If I work one day a week, I can stay part-time for a little over two months.  If I work three days a week, I can stay part-time for almost five months.)   How would you structure it?  My daycare provider is flexible, as is my boss.

I especially want to know: 

1.  Would you maximize time at home with a younger baby or would you maximize the length of time spent at a part-time schedule?

2.  If I were to work 3 days a week, would you do 3 in a row?  Or M/W/F?  Or some other pattern?

Other relevant facts: I EBF, but pumping is going well.  I'm comfortable with my care provider, but it is day care not a nanny, so it isn't always 1 on 1 time.  I will be working mostly very near my care provider, so on a day she is "in care" she'll be there about 7 hours.

Thank you!

[~pi]

1. I would maximize length of time spent part-time.

2. With an EBF baby, I would either go MWF or do shorter days, 4 or 5 days a week. If EBF is less of a concern (i.e., you are great at pumping or you don't mind using some formula) I would clump the three days together.

Welcome back, by the way!

[emmaegbert]

I agree with ~pi, maximize the part time- stretch it out as long as you can. B/c a 6-month old is also still pretty darn little.

3-in-a-row might be most productive for you at work- you'll get the most done. and the baby can have some consistent routine for those 3 days...

or maybe work 3 days for now, then when she's a bit older go to 3.5, or 4 or something- to extend your part-time a bit more.

[theboysmama]

I personally would work 4 5hr days if that was possible then the baby has a consistant routine and you don't have to go that long without nursing and away from them.

[dollyanna]

I've been working in the office 2 1/2 days a week, MTW, and it seems to be working pretty well.  I chose that pattern to just get it over with in one clump for the week.