3-day week: which days?
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=31736
Printed Date: 26 August 2025 at 11:08pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: 3-day week: which days?
Posted By: T_Rex
Subject: 3-day week: which days?
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 2:10pm
|
I'm planning on going back to work 3 days a week from July, and I have the choice of working any three of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday.
I'm tossing up between Monday-Wednesday (so 3 consecutive days), or Monday, Wednesday, Friday, so I have a day off in between. I think for me, 3 consecutive days would make me more productive, but would the MWF combination be easier on DD? She'll be 6 months when I start back. Thoughts? ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
|
Replies:
Posted By: MrsEmma
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 2:24pm
|
Hi T_Rex
Personally I would go with three consecutive days, that way the time at work will be productive with being work focused and then the other four days can be DD focused and you won't have to be chopping and changing your routine on a daily basis. Just my two cents! All the best  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: Mamma2N
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 2:25pm
|
Are you still BFing? If so would you continuing when you go back to work? I express for the days that I work. I've been lucky in that having a day away from her (8-10hours) with no feeding/expressing, my supply doesn't seem to dip at all. But on the odd occasion I've worked 2 days in a row, I've definetly noticed a difference. So with that said, I'd think that doing Mon, Wed, Fri would work better. Aside from that reason, I'd personally opt for those days because then atleast if you have a long day at work and a hard night with bubs, you can relax a bit more the next day.
|
Posted By: Nikki
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 2:44pm
|
I would do the monday weds fri, as its nice to only have to be there for one day then have a day off, and easier on bub as its spreads out the time in care. If DD doesn't sleep so well in care or eat so well for her carers at least she can catch up on sleep (or food) the next day. ------------- DS (5yrs) and DD (3yrs) |
Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 2:52pm
|
I work Mondays and Thursdays. If I could change to consecutive days I would as I feel my week is broken up.
While I do like the mini breaks I feel like I am working 2 'Mondays' which sucks for productivity. |
Posted By: Delli
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 3:08pm
I work Monday - Wednesday and it's great for me. But then my job is kinda the sort of job where if you start a job then you need to continue it until you are finished - you can't really start it and then take a day or two off and then finish it. (Which means I have be really careful not to start a job I can't finish on Wednesdays )
ETA: I express feeds for Jude at daycare as well and haven't really noticed a dip in supply. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: BeLoved
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 3:16pm
| I would go with the 3 consecutive days as when I have worked part time day on, day off in the past, it actually feels like I have worked a full week rather than just 3 days and is also less productive, I did this before I had children but if I was to do it now I would also go for the 3 consecutive days as I think it would be better for DD as well in regards to routine etc. |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 3:19pm
|
Hmm it's a hard one, on one hand, i'd like to have 4 days 'off' but then I'd get lazy after a couple of days, so I would choose M, W, F.
My kids are in DC M, Tu, Th atm and only if I work W, F do they have other arrangements. It means I get to have special days with them which feel like you're taking a day off. |
Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 4:15pm
|
M and F are good because you will get all of the public holidays ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: clover
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 4:22pm
HAHA Good thinking! |
em26 wrote:Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 4:45pm
|
Hmmm, the daycare is a couple of mins walk from my office so I plan to visit a couple of times a day to BF. I'm leaning towards 3 consecutive days atm. I'll have a chat to DH. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 4:54pm
this is why I chose mondays. It's great except it means I also loose out on a day 'off'
|
Posted By: Manda08
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 5:58pm
|
Haha i was thinking because of the public holidays to, anyway, at 5 months old DS went for 2 days, he sleeps ok at daycare but no where near as good as home, so he was always tired by day 3. Now at nearly 11 months he goes Monday, Tuesday & Friday, my step mum has him Weds, and Thursday, and those are basically his sleep days.... so i would recomend M, T, F just so bubs can have the rest inbetween.. ------------- 
|
Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 6:21pm
|
When I worked part time before DS I preferred consecutive days - I agree with the comment about it feeling like you're doing Monday "twice!!" I think it's more productive to have at least two days in a row as well.
What about Mon, Tues, Fri? ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: jano1
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 8:52pm
| I do consecutive days (Weds, Thurs and about to pick up Fri) and I really like it- the working week is short and kind of stressful but then it's over really quickly. Also I think it's better for my DD as she has a couple of days in care and then is home with me to settle back into a routine. |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 8:56pm
The problem with not working public holidays, is that you often have to pay for daycare regardless  We've hit that with quite a few Mondays
|
Posted By: wellygirl
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 9:11pm
| I work Mon-Wed and I agree that consecutive days are great - you can be in 'work mode' for a few days and then focus on bubs after that, with less to-ing and fro-ing. |
Posted By: LouD
Date Posted: 19 February 2010 at 5:16pm
|
[QUOTE=em26] M and F are good because you will get all of the public holidays [/QUOTE
I like your thinking 
|
Posted By: julzw
Date Posted: 20 February 2010 at 4:52pm
|
I work Mon Wed Fri and it works really well for us. It's great not having to go home on a Mon and prep for Tues etc, also, for some reason, my workmates don't panic on the days I'm not there - "oh she'll be back tomorrow, it's not such a big deal', rather than 'OMG - she's not back until next week!!! The world is ending and we must phone her every 10 minutes!!' ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: julzw
Date Posted: 20 February 2010 at 4:53pm
|
Oh and true about the public holidays, that's a real bonus. The stinker is though that if your child is in day care, you will still have to pay them on public holidays. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: X
Date Posted: 20 February 2010 at 5:26pm
Depends on the day care. We pay 50% on public holidays. I do monday, thursday, saturday. I felt it was easier on DS if he went monday & thursday & then had days off inbetween to be with me. But then I have a GF who does tues,wed,thurs & finds the consecutive days work well for her. It's a tough choice. But yep, definitely go with mondays so you get Public hols! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: Febgirl
Date Posted: 20 February 2010 at 6:18pm
Same here, and I agree. ------------- Two little girls under 2! 
|
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 22 February 2010 at 8:03pm
|
Hi I've just started back at work 15 hrs a week - Mon, Wed, Fri. My reasons for this were: *Variety - no two days in a row are the same. * Stat day holidays are usually a Monday or Friday - so I will get more days off while I still get paid for the stat holiday. Good luck with returning to work. It doesn't take long to get back into the swing of things. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: ChildsPlay
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 11:14am
| Testing my ticker |
Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 3:27pm
|
Haha, well seeing as this has been bumped, I'll update it - after consultation with the carers, we went with Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday. I'm glad we chose that option as it gets us in a bit more of a routine, but she is one very tired little girl come Wednesday evening! (She's in 8.30-5 for the 3 days). ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 3:30pm
|
Since this thread I've changed to Mon-Wed as well. We're into our second month of doing it and still adjusting! Definitely got tired kiddos on Wed evening.
The productivity at work is definitely worth it. |
Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 7:20pm
|
I just started back today and went with Mon, Tues and Fri. I can change it but ill see how it goes for a few weeks. I am tired today though! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|