Days or Nights with kids?

[ChristineN]

So I have a question for those of you that work in the hospital setting doing 12 hr shifts with small children at home. Do you find it is easier to juggle kids while working days or nights? I am going to start trying to get pregnant this year, and if all goes as well have a child next year. I have the opportunity at work to work either straight days or straight nights, but am unsure which will be easier with a child. I need to decide soon, which I know seems early, but work doesn't offer this sort of opportunity very often. My partner works a typical 9-5 job if that matters.

[sistrmoon, BSN, RN]

I don't work 12s but I have 2 small kids and have always worked nights. We've never used daycare for more than one day a week. The downside is I don't see my husband much because we work opposite shifts and I miss out on weekend stuff(I do weekend nights.) But I'm essentially a stay at home mom during the week then work the best paid shift on the weekend. It will work out well when my oldest goes to kinder in the fall too.

[sistrmoon, BSN, RN]

After reading all the negative comments about nights, I just wanted to add that my husband and I spend evenings together and our marriage is good. I'm on a regular sleep schedule during the week and feel fine. And I get tons of time with my kids! I love nights, I'd be miserable working days. And we bought our first house a year ago.

[TigerGalLE, BSN, RN]

My 2cents is this. I have always worked day shift. I just transferred to nights because I wanted to change specialities. I have a toddler and I am miserable. I have childcare for him for when I sleep. But I still can’t sleep well during the day. My toddler also clings to my neck and begs me not to leave in the evening. The weekends that I work I sometimes go 48 hours without seeing him at all and that just sucks.

I don’t know. If I had to go back and time I would have never have left my dayshift job.

[Heliantus]

Wow 20k?? And here I thought my day care was expensive at 10k ?

Personally I prefer nights. I get plenty of quality time with the husband, an my child gets to have her mommy during the day.

[bonjourm]

I agree with RunBabyRun, you never get that time back with your kids. Is there a way to take a year off? Cut back on expenses, downsize? Quality time with your kids is so important.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

I agree with RunBabyRun, you never get that time back with your kids. Is there a way to take a year off? Cut back on expenses, downsize? Quality time with your kids is so important.

Taking a year off work is not an option. I am actually the bread winner in my family, so it would put my future family in financial hardship if I was to not work. And my partner and I live very simply, no credit card debt, cars paid off, manage to save a couple hundred each pay check, etc.

ETA: I just wanted to say that the sort of advice I was given above is not helpful. If I had been a male nurse no one would be suggesting I take a year off from my career to spend with my kids, but since I am a girl that sort of advice is acceptable by society.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

Yikes. Bonjourn was trying to help out. No need to get offended.

Unlike men, women give birth, go through the hormonal changes, and breastfeed. It isn't sexist in the least bit when people are more likely to suggest women stay home. Pregnancy can wreck havoc on the body, and women need time to physically recover and get into the swing of breastfeeding (if that is what they choose).

Anyway, if you are willing to become a zombie to reduce childcare costs and maybe take a hit on your marriage, pick night shift. However, for health reasons, I would choose day shift.

Taking a year off work is not an option. I am actually the bread winner in my family, so it would put my future family in financial hardship if I was to not work. And my partner and I live very simply, no credit card debt, cars paid off, manage to save a couple hundred each pay check, etc.

ETA: I just wanted to say that the sort of advice I was given above is not helpful. If I had been a male nurse no one would be suggesting I take a year off from my career to spend with my kids, but since I am a girl that sort of advice is acceptable by society.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

Yikes. Bonjourn was trying to help out. No need to get offended.

Unlike men, women give birth, go through the hormonal changes, and breastfeed. It isn't sexist in the least bit when people are more likely to suggest women stay home. Pregnancy can wreck havoc on the body, and women need time to physically recover and get into the swing of breastfeeding (if that is what they choose).

Anyway, if you are willing to become a zombie to reduce childcare costs and maybe take a hit on your marriage, pick night shift. However, for health reasons, I would choose day shift.

We are all nurses, we are all aware of the hormonal changes involved in pregnancy and child birth. I am saying it is not helpful when someone asks what schedule is best to make the work life balance, to suggest they just stay home. Obviously being a stay at home parent is an option for some, but that was not an option I am open too, and it is not an option for many working mothers

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

We are all nurses, we are all aware of the hormonal changes involved in pregnancy and child birth. I am saying it is not helpful when someone asks what schedule is best to make the work life balance, to suggest they just stay home. Obviously being a stay at home parent is an option for some, but that was not an option I am open too, and it is not an option for many working mothers

But we don't know your situation personally, so we couldn't have known that staying at home wasn't a viable option. Only you can decide what works best for yourself, but you have gotten some pretty good suggestions and opinions.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Another vote for days here. (I say this as I've been up with my 3-yr-old and 11-mo-old all day after working all night--they very rarely nap at the same time. My mother-in-law is overseas, my dad made a commitment to my grandpa, and my husband couldn't take work off today; we have no paid daycare.) I personally like night shifts better-- fewer ancillary staff around, fewer families around, more money etc-- but I'm realizing that I'm always tired and don't have much energy for my kids. Plus I get less time with my husband who works a more typical workweek.

With kids in school though (I have 3 in school) I no longer work 12-hour shifts, unless it's just per diem. Days or nights, it's just too many evenings gone when they're gone all day and asleep all night. You're a ways off from that though. :)

[sistrmoon, BSN, RN]

My kids are in bed when I leave but I work 3 8s and they go to bed early. But they are essentially sleeping the whole time I'm gone.

[Mandychelle79, ASN, RN]

Nights work best for my family during the school year ( my kids are older). My husband has them at night, sitter puts them on the bus, and then I sleep while they are at school, get them off the bus, do homework, have dinner and then my mom keeps them till my husband gets home from work. Doing this I am able to attend concerts, appointments.