Returning to work
4 answers /
Last post: 04/03/2023 at 1:16 pm
I’m looking at my options to return to work. I start at 7.45am and will have to drop DD to nursery. I currently don’t drive and it takes approximately 40-50 minutes to get to nursery then work so will have to be leaving at 6.50am is this possible? DD will be 9 months old and is my first child so I don’t know what is expected. I have already asked to reduce to 3 days instead of 5 so can’t ask to change start time
Hi Sophie,
I’m Kayleigh, one of the parent supporters at Netmums. It sounds like you’re trying to figure out how the mornings will look if you were to return to work. If you have a specific nursery in mind, it may be worth getting in touch with them to explain you would need an early drop off and if this is something they could accommodate. If not you could consider if there are other childcare options that might work better around your schedule.
Netmums have a helpful page around choosing the right childcare for you that could be useful: https://www.netmums.com/life/how-to-choose-childcare
NCT also have an article with lots of tips around settling your baby into childcare: https://www.nct.org.uk/life-parent/work-and-childcare/childcare/settling-your-baby-childcare
Wishing you all the best,
Kayleigh
I think it would be possible to adjust baby’s start time to be earlier so in theory I think it could work if the nursery allows such an early drop off. However personally I would explore the option of eg a childminder closer by if this would reduce overall travel time and also explore the possibility of a later start with work (if it would be possible if you were still doing 5 days maybe they would allow it over 3- nothing to be lost by asking). Whatever happens I am sure you will make it work. Babies are flexible. Good luck.
I believe most private nurseries offer an early start option (or breakfast club as mine calls it). Mine is at 7am which allows me to get to work for my start time of 7:45am. It is an early morning for the house and waking a sleeping baby seems sacrilegious, but you'll be surprised how okay they'll be. Plus it's an added bonus of not needing to worry about not feeding them before work as the nursery will give them their breakfast.
My nursery charges an additional £5 per day for the breakfast club, but on top of the extraordinary costs people tend to pay for childcare, it doesn't make a vast difference, haha. Ask your nursery about early starts and I'm sure they'll be able to accommodate. Good luck returning to work from one working mum to another!