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I don't do this exactly, but if it is 4 ten-hour shifts and you could adjust your schedule a bit, I'd do it. I currently work 9 hours in-office 5 days per week. I have an adjusted schedule so I work 730-430, and I see my daughter for almost 3 hours every night (she sleeps 8-8, my husband does mornings with her). If I could do 4 ten-hour shifts, from like 7-5, I would totally do it. But if it had to be 9-7 I wouldn't, because I wouldn't see my daughter enough.

My coworker does this. He saves a ton on daycare costs this way. He takes Fridays off and (supposedly) starts work at 6 am and leaves at 4. He also theoretically does not take a lunch break. (Frankly I feel that he abuses this arrangement and I'm somewhat bitter, but this is irrelevant).

I would agree that his day off is not always respected and as someone who deals with clients they have an expectation of him being available on his day off (but due to the nature of our work that sometimes also applies to Saturday and Sunday, so...?)

Overall though, he loves this arrangement and I'm super jealous. To have a full day home with LO during the week would be awesome. Even just factoring in that you're also saving an extra 2-4 hours each week not commuting, etc is amazing.

My husband currently works 4-10s. He's an electrician, so it's not at all uncommon. He prefers it, and I prefer it when he's on 10s as well. It does mean less time with our toddler during the week, but it means that he has 3 whole days with her during the weekend. On work days, he's gone before kiddo and I wake up, and home around 5:45-6. Our kiddo is a night owl though, and stays up til 8:45 ish, so it works for us.

I'm between nanny jobs at the moment, but I've had quite a variety of schedules. I far prefer fewer, longer days over shorter, more frequent days.

@Pollywog: I am going to strongly disagree with the kids seeing negative effects of being in daycare longer than 8 hrs. I work in healthcare and we have a fabulous facility st work open 7 days/wk from 5am-midnight and my LO is usually there for 10 hrs minimum and sometimes 11 if I finish work late. I technically have 8 hour days but I do pick up and drop off every day because we have one car and I'm a doctor and rarely finish work on time. My LO absolutely LOVES school. In fact if I end up arriving when they're about to serve dinner or she's doing a project she doesn't want to leave. And she runs in to find her teacher in the morning.

I think if having a day break would benefit your LO then go for it! I think the beginning and end of the day at daycare is usually lower census and the kids really enjoy their time playing and having more teacher attention.

My kids are typically in daycare for a 9-10 hour day and I can't figure out what I'll effects that would have. They start between 7:30-8:30 and are picked up around 5:30. My company offers an optional seasonal flexible schedule where we work 4x9 hour days followed by a half day on Friday. I find the 9 hour days tough with kids, and the only way it truly works well for me is to work a typical 8 or so hour day and then work more from home after kids are asleep. I also work closely with colleagues in Europe so afternoons are typically quiet due to the time difference - this makes it easy for people to respect the Friday afternoon off.