Workin nights and having children

dotmedicrn · Nov 30, 2008

i had 2 kids working 12 hr night shifts with 2 more already at home. me and my husband worked opposite days, so no babysitter and our kids had a parent around all the time. i am a night shifter i love it and my kids have adjusted to mom sleeping during the day they even keep quite so i can sleep. kids are adaptable mine never new it was "strange" for mommy to sleep during the day until they went to school:twocents:

KristiePDX · Nov 30, 2008

I have a 9 year old and a 10 month old. I am planning to TTC again in march. I have worked 12 hour nights for 2.5 years. (every other weekend off) I am nights by choice as I have had multiple opportunities to switch to days the last two years. I love nights.

That being said, I could not do this without my husband. We are a team. He works at home and takes care of things when I need to sleep.

The days I work it goes somthing like this:

I get home at 8:15 in time to pick up my son, chat in the car and drop him off at school

I come home and play with baby until she goes down for her first nap. Husband is in his office working. She usually goes to sleep around 10am. If not, I put her in her crib for quiet time. I sign out to husband and he gets her up after her nap. He then is in charge of her while I sleep.

Husband always picks up our son from school.

He wakes me up at 5pm, brings in my coffee, and 3/4 of the time my 10 month old puts on makup with me. Then I come out make sons and my lunches and hang with the family for about 30 minutes before I go.

I never work more than two shifts in a row. Would not work well for our family continuaty

My days off, are similar but I am less regimented about my sleep times. I may stay up longer or sleep early like a work day depending on plans and family needs. Or, I may wake earlier in the afternoon and take a nap in the late evening, just depends.

I tend to be a night owl on my days off and am not ever succussful at flipping back to day mode. I can do day things if I know about them in advance so I can plan my sleep accordingly. At night, I cook, clean, and do laundry. I also have time to veg out in peace. It is actually quite nice. When I am awake with the family, the chores are already done so we get to spend nice quality time together. Weekends are nice.

My limiting factor is sleep, I cannot function without it. I place a high value on it, and my family respects that. I dont know how well the night gig would work out without a supportive partner. I am very lucky to have such a supportive husband. Actually, I am very blessed.

Jules A, MSN · Nov 30, 2008

i had 2 kids working 12 hr night shifts with 2 more already at home. me and my husband worked opposite days, so no babysitter and our kids had a parent around all the time. i am a night shifter i love it and my kids have adjusted to mom sleeping during the day they even keep quite so i can sleep. kids are adaptable mine never new it was "strange" for mommy to sleep during the day until they went to school:twocents:

This sounds like a great arrangement and one I am surprised that more people don't implement given the costs/quality of child care. Kudos.

:up:

emilysmom,RN · Nov 30, 2008

I have a 8yr old and 12yr old I am a new nurse and do four 8hr 11-7shifts but I live 45min away from the hospital. I am a nite owl so that is ok. I come home get something small to eat and a hot bath then get into bed around 9 my hubby gets the kids on the bus before I get home and sometimes he is still home other times he is gone. It has been working OK but I have been doing 3 on then 2 off or 2 on and one off. I work everyother weekend which is hard because the kids are home. They have been very good in allowing me to sleep and making there own lunch and keeping quiet. I am not sure if this will be my forever job but for now it is OK and I am getting great experience as a new nurse.

Speed Freak · Nov 30, 2008

I usually try to make my schedule up in a way that I can avoid my kids. :)