Chrissy, This has been a biggie for me too, I have to return to work, that's just the way our life is... I wish it wasnt but I know it is & I cant do anything about it...
I started back to work when Indah was about 5 months old, at the time my older sister cared for her 3 days & my Mum did the other 2, recently my sister hit rock bottom & came crashing down & I no longer coukld use her as a carer for my child... Dh & I juggled having a day off each here & there & my Aunt had Indah a couple of days also.. So after a month or so of this I called the local council as I wanted her to be cared for at Family Day Care, I was interviewed about the way I care for my child & if it suited any particular carer in the area, I was told that for the days I required care for Indah there was an Indian woman available, so I met with her at her home I asked her questions looked at all her records, certificates the way she intercated with the other children & I was happy with her, she is very quietly spoken, she asked me to write down Indah's generaly routine as she would stick to it...

It has been a week now since Indah started, I felt guilty & like I wasnt doing my best as her Mother but without me working we'd have nothing!..

I dropped Indah off this week (Dh was still on holidays last week so he took her for an hour here & there!)
On Monday she cried when I kissed her goodbye, but its' best to let them know your leaving than sneaking out as they will then forever be afraid of you leaving them..
So I kissed her goodbye & told her I love her & I will see her later, she was crying & tried to grab/climb back over to me, but I had to leave, by the time I was at my car, she had stopped & I called later that day & she said she stopped crying had some breakfast & fruit then some other kids arrived & she was now happily playing & laughing at the older kids (as Family day care can only have 1 child under 2) then max 3 kids over 2)
On Tuesday she c ried again but again was quietr soon after, they write her daily activities, eating sleeping, nappies etc in a book so I know what's going on every day...
She is really loving interacting with the older kids which makes me happy & I am comfortable with this carer infact she says she puts her in the cot & Indah grabs a tuft of her hgair & goes instantly to sleep..

I'd write down every thing you do & you want them to continue to do to help Paige settle in & they will do their utmost to keep her in your routine!!!

Good Luck it is very very difficult... On Mummy's heartstrings!!!!