I had always worked nights. My husband works nights. It just fit. When our daughter came into our life, it was a struggle to find someone willing to come to our home and watch her overnight. My husband and I worked it out so we had different days off and would only need a sitter 3 days. But no one with a regular full-time day job wants to wake up for midnight feedings for a child that's not theirs. Once our daughter got old enough to get past the long daytime naps I was dispatching on 4 hours of sleep. My husband was running forklifts on the same. I eventually started working days, losing my (sad to say) much needed differential. I couldn't afford to pay daycare during the day (so we could sleep) and a sitter at night ( so we could work). We are by no means well off but we make just enough to not "qualify" for any assistance. Not even WIC. We have worked with our respective company's for years , finally have benefits , finally have sick time and hate the thought of leaving it . If I could afford to stay home, I would. I'm barely affording her daycare for only 3 days a week. If I reduce my hours, I lose all the benefits I have finally achieved and any chance of advancing. Its a shame that a family structure has to be broken to get by. Many families are like mine: working different shifts to cut down on daycare, leaving no time to spend as a family. Our family functions in units of 2--Dad and baby or mom and baby. Never mom and dad and never all together.