Night shift, with kids?

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Apr 17, 2012

I work FT nights and I have a 5 year old and an 8 year old. They go to school and then aftercare until 5, so I get to sleep from about 9-4. It works great, and I see them WAY more than I did when I worked the evening shift.

I don't think I could do it unless I had reliable childcare to keep the kids quiet or (ideally) out of the house so I could get some solid sleep. If you are planning to have your kids in school/daycare after the baby is born, I think you will be fine. I know some moms work nights and keep their kids home during the day, but I couldn't do it.

Su123 · Apr 17, 2012

I Have never worked nights and I just had my first child. I'm worried how I'll manage to work at a hospital with crazy shifts and a baby. But to answer your question a lot of the nurses I worked with all preferred night shifts over any other with kids cuz they told me that at night the kids were sleeping so daddy had nothing to do it was easier on him or anyone staying with the kids. It also gives mom reassurance that the kids are tucked into bed. I hope that helped

cbegley · Apr 17, 2012

I also works nights, and I love it. Mine are 15,12 and 7, they r in school and my 7 yr in taekwondo till 6p. I usually sleep 8-3p, and am up in time to pick them up, and here thru dinner. My littles ones r in bed at 830p, and my oldest in bed at 1030p. My shift is 10p-6a, I

Simply Complicated · Apr 17, 2012

I do have a reliable babysitter who will watch them while I sleep. She is about a 20 minute drive, which isn't completely ideal, but it's doable. I figure I can still get a couple hours time with them, take them to the sitter and nap before going to work. I would never try to have them home with me

Funny thing was, I was so worried about lack of sleep. But then I realized even when I work days, I only get about 5-6 hours sleep anyways, because I am not a morning person. So when I work at 7 am, I still don't go to bed until about midnight. So I guess it really won't be that horribly different. Also, with working 3 weekend shifts a month, it is really only 5 shifts a month that I would have to worry about, as my husband is home on weekends. So I can sleep, and he can watch them.

NoviceRN10 · Apr 17, 2012

I have been working nights for almost two years and I find it difficult with kids (4 school-aged). But I think it depends on how well you manage your time. I feel like crap all the time, even after a long string of nights off. I need to exercise, which I am sure would help the way I feel, but I am too tired to make myself do it. Something needs to change. I don't care so much about the differential for the night shift, but I do like the pace of it and I like my kids not being home alone or having to pay a sitter. I work with a lot of other mothers and I think the ones who do it successfully (work nights) have a lot of support at home or with extended family (grandparents) who are willing to help you get your sleep during the day. I have support from my spouse, I just can't get myself into a good routine that works. If you are really organized I think it would be okay. If you are 10 yrs younger than me it might help too .

allnurses Guide · Apr 17, 2012

A couple of nights a week isn't bad. I'm currently back to doing about 5 nights a week,

which is horrible while trying to raise children. I'm up for a day shift position and am

crossing my fingers!!

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Apr 17, 2012

your schedule is just like mine. 2 nights a week, 12 hour shifts. I have a 15mo old and am also 6 mo pregnant with our second.

I just started, so still working out the kinks (and will need to be adjusted accordingly when the new one is here).

I am going to send them to the sitter the day after my shift, while I sleep. And I think for a half day for the first night I go in that week...so I can catch up on sleep/nap.

Simply Complicated · Apr 18, 2012

your schedule is just like mine. 2 nights a week, 12 hour shifts. I have a 15mo old and am also 6 mo pregnant with our second.
I just started, so still working out the kinks (and will need to be adjusted accordingly when the new one is here).
I am going to send them to the sitter the day after my shift, while I sleep. And I think for a half day for the first night I go in that week...so I can catch up on sleep/nap.

How are you handling it, just starting? That is my plan, I figure I will send them to the sitter the day I work, at around 1 or 2ish, so I can take a nap before work. Then I can send them the day after I work, so I can catch 5 or 6 hours of sleep. I'm going to see which works better, if I do 2 in a row, or if it's better to break them up. I also breast feed, so that is a concern. But I figure I can always stop by the sitters before work for 30 minutes and see them before heading to work. Then my husband would pick them up when he gets out. Which he would be getting them right about 7pm.

Simply Complicated · Apr 18, 2012

A couple of nights a week isn't bad. I'm currently back to doing about 5 nights a week,
which is horrible while trying to raise children. I'm up for a day shift position and am
crossing my fingers!!

I could not do 5 nights a week. The fact that it is only 2 is the only reason I think I can handle it. That and it's only for like 6 months hopefully. Then we will be moving out of state. Which is why I'm not looking for a new job.

Simply Complicated · Apr 18, 2012

I have been working nights for almost two years and I find it difficult with kids (4 school-aged). But I think it depends on how well you manage your time. I feel like crap all the time, even after a long string of nights off. I need to exercise, which I am sure would help the way I feel, but I am too tired to make myself do it. Something needs to change. I don't care so much about the differential for the night shift, but I do like the pace of it and I like my kids not being home alone or having to pay a sitter. I work with a lot of other mothers and I think the ones who do it successfully (work nights) have a lot of support at home or with extended family (grandparents) who are willing to help you get your sleep during the day. I have support from my spouse, I just can't get myself into a good routine that works. If you are really organized I think it would be okay. If you are 10 yrs younger than me it might help too .

Yikes, I don't think I could manage for 2 years. When I worked nights before, I didn't have kids. So I was just always on the night schedule. I slept during the day, and up at night even my days off. So the trying to go back and forth is a bit of a concern for me. But a $4.00 hour pay cut isn't an option for me. I don't even care so much about the extra differential for nights. But I would loose my evening differential I make now, as well as my float pay, because the only way I could get days is to take a position on a unit. That is A LOT of money to loose, especially with a new baby.

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Apr 18, 2012

How are you handling it, just starting? That is my plan, I figure I will send them to the sitter the day I work, at around 1 or 2ish, so I can take a nap before work. Then I can send them the day after I work, so I can catch 5 or 6 hours of sleep. I'm going to see which works better, if I do 2 in a row, or if it's better to break them up. I also breast feed, so that is a concern. But I figure I can always stop by the sitters before work for 30 minutes and see them before heading to work. Then my husband would pick them up when he gets out. Which he would be getting them right about 7pm.

our sitter is in the opposite direction for me, so if I send them, they will go first thing with my husband in the morning (sitter is in the town where he works).

My biggest concern is breastfeeding too. Like you, I am going to play with 2 back to back and then two more spread out in the week. I do have to work every other weekend, so for breastfeeding, that will be be fine bc the baby will be here with my husband during the day and he can bring the baby to me when ready to nurse. I think though that my husband and I are going to play with the idea of him going to work an hour later the week nights that I work so that I can nurse the baby when I get home. Then I'll pump midday and nurse again when they get home.