Night shifts... how much do they suck?

I have been awake for ages tonight, really upset because I've just realised how soon I will need to go back to earning money.
I need to find a new job, and finish off a certificate in massage therapy (I have two subjects and a couple of clinics still to go).
My problem? Phoebe will only be 6/7 months old. I just know I am going to miss my baby. Natty has been in CC two days/week since she was 18mo. I am so grateful that I got to spend her first year at home with her. Unfortunately our financial situation has changed a lot and I won't be able to enjoy the same privilege with Phoebe. It is breaking my heart.
Anyway, I have been tossing around what to do in the short term. I only need part time work, just to give us money for groceries and petrol for my car... something similar to the baby bonus money that's coming in each fortnight. I don't have many options, am not highly skilled. I was considering seeking some kind of evening position for the following reasons:
1. Better money because of the crap hours
2. I'd get to spend the day with the girls
3. My mum would be around to help if/when I got really tired and needed a break or rest day, and there would be days when DH could work from home an give me a sleep-in
4. It wouldn't be every night, so hopefully I wouldn't get too drastically tired

Cons:
1. I would perhaps be too tired to enjoy the days with the girls
2. If either of the babies woke and needed me I wouldn't be there

For those of you who work nights, do you hate it? Are there things to consider that I haven't?
Thanks.

I don't work nights but my DH does every 3 weeks. The other 2 weeks, he works days. However in our situation, DH works full-time and night shift also means the weekend of that week as well. DH is in the military so we can't change it immediately. We have to wait for a posting and thankfully we have one so after Christmas he is no longer on shiftwork.

My personal situation is I hate being the partner of a nighshift worker. I get very little support when looking after the boys as he is so tired. He feeds the youngest in the morning then sits in front of the TV trying to interact with the boys so they can see him at least a little that week. My DH is a person that needs a lot of sleep so this may not apply to you.

It does sound like you have thought it through and have a lot of support prepared. All I can suggest is trial it and see how you go.

Snacks -- i worked permanent full time night shift for 8 months a while back - was a 6-11 shift i think. how much it sucks really depends on each individual. it didn't bother me so much because i'm a night owl. as long as i get one decent night a week, i can survive on maybe five hours sleep a night. i got into that sleep pattern at uni, and it seems to work ok for me. i guess it would be different having a toddler as well as a bubba - but if you could make a concerted effort to REST when Natty is in day care, it should be fine - esp if you're not working long night shifts kwim?

I have to say, I LOVE nightshift! My shifts (when I was doing them) were 9pm to 730am. I loved them because of the kind of work I do plus I'd get THE best sleep ever when I got home. XDH would watch DD and keep her relatively quiet if it was the weekend (not that I would have known otherwise because I'd seriously crash!). Weekdays DD went to creche. Initially I'd sleep from when I got home (about 830) to around 6pm but once I got into the swing of things, I'd actually come home and either go out for breakfast with XDH and DD or go for a run.

THe only down side for me was that I'd be too tired to drive home (seriously - nearly crashed one day) so I'd either have to catch public transport or XDH would drive me. And we only have venetians on our windows so sometimes it was too light to sleep (I invested in one of those eye masks though ;) )

Good luck!

Hmm I gotta say I'd never do night shift again as a Mum, esp if you're doing it part time. It really knocks your body clock out and you never ever feel fully rested. Do your little ones still have a nap? Maybe you could grap a sleep then?

Otherwise, could you work weekends? Not great for your social life I know. Or ideally afternoons/evenings? Perhaps something in retail?