Im not in your position but I do work in a nursery, and we love all of them like our own 🫶🏼 the full timers are always the more confident ones! They settle quicker and adjust really well. Don’t feel guilty, it just makes the weekends more special x
I'm going back to work in September full time so on the same boat. Every childminder I met has said they settle much faster at this age than if they go at say age 2. Other mums I know said it's a new challenge of course getting in to a different routine but once the routine is set then it works really well for everyone and they feel better as parents and more present with their baby on the weekends. Children are so adaptable. I know mum guilt will always be there and I feel it too but our children will be absolutely fine and probably develop more than if they were just with us all of the time. Xx
My little is starting first week in september and I've been figuring out cost and what's most finically beneficial. I'm a solo mum no help for dad, some UC covers maybe 1/3 of childcare costs for me and I've found that I'm actually better off dropping a full day. Might be worth doing proper calculations of your take home pay and stuff to see if that may be the case for you too. I'm quite happy to send my little one to nursery as I know she's gonna have fun there and she will get all the attention and learning that she needs that I know I can't give her all the time. The staff all seem lovely and devoted to what they do too x
I had my eldest at my MILs full time when I went back to work and honestly it isn’t any easier. Just drop them off the latest you can and pick them up as soon as you can unless you need the break.