My daughter is 15 weeks old and I've had to return to work early as SMP does not cover my financial needs. I have no family near where I live so I've had to send her childcare while I'm at work.

My husband and I work different hours so she is only left there for 6 hours and I visit her during my lunch breaks to feed her and express (she is exclusively breastfed). I've also cut down my hours so I only work 4 days a week.

Despite all this, I feel very judged by colleagues and other mum's at the nursery for taking her in at such an early age. I've had a lot of 'wow how old is she that you're leaving her here' etc. I already feel guilty for having to leave her and these daily comments really hurt. I would not be leaving her if I didn't have to.

Has anyone else been in the same boat as me? What's your opinion on this? She was planned knowing we'd have to do this, does that make us bad parents?