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This report investigates three key research questions relatingto the care of infants in Ireland: the characteristics of those mothers who take up paid employment before their infant is nine months old, and when exactly they do so; the extent and nature of non-parental childcare for infants; and the association between childcare and infant health. The report uses a large sample of mothers and infants from the nine-month Infant Cohort of the national longitudinal study of children: Growing Up in Ireland. To set the context, the report considers key features of the labour market and maternity leave and childcare policy in Ireland. The period preceding the fieldwork saw an economic boom in Ireland accompanied by a rapid rise in employment opportunities for women. Following a number of extensions to maternity leave, by 2008-2009, most mothers were entitled to six months’ paid leave, and up to sixteen weeks’ unpaid maternity leave. Childcare is and has been a major issue for parents and policymakers for many years now. In 2008-2009 state funding for early care and education services for pre-school children was limited, and costs were some of the highest in the OECD. There have been some policy developments since the survey, such as the Free Pre-School year, but not for the 0-2 age group. This research found that relatively few mothers in Ireland returned to work before the infant was six months old. More specifically: - Early returns (before 6 months) were more likely to be by self-employed mothers, young mothers or lone mothers. - Those who returned in the 8-9 month period were more likely to be highly educated, older, Irish and mothers …