12 hour shifts and small (younger than school aged) children

[beeker]

How do you do it? How do you handle daycare? I work nights, three 12 hour shifts a week and we are expecting our first child. I am hoping to drop down to just 2 shifts a week after the baby comes, but we have no family in this state and will need daycare. Daycare for a 12 hour shift seems difficult. I am hoping to pick up a day position, working every weekend. I just feel so tired now, I imagine when the baby comes working nights is going to be even harder than it is now. If the weekend day shift does not open up, I am hoping to ask for a set schedule of 2 days a week, or just drop to prn and pick my own days. It just seems like a lot to juggle, especially since my husband travels a lot for his job. How do you all do it? Any tips for success?

[RNperdiem, RN]

I work almost exclusively weekends so my husband can watch the children. Almost all my fellow weekend nurses have kids who are being watched by the other parent, grandparents or other family members.

My door-to-door time on my working days are around 14 hours (when you add commute, staying later and extra time for delays), so I cannot think of any sort of daycare that accommodates those hours.

I went prn so I could work the exact shifts I wanted.