A 9 1/2 - 10 hour day is normal if parents work for 8 hours and then have to travel back and forth even if they live in town keeping it to 9 hours is pushing it daily. Only you can decide if you want to broaden your choices for clients or cater to a smaller group that work less hours. Remember your 4 month old won't be as needy in the next couple of months and it can take that long to make the transition to the new job. At the same time now is the time to be advertising for a September child so you will need to make up your mind soon so mom can plan accordingly. I work 6:45 to 4:45 and am often up through the night still with my child and that really makes little difference to the day. You can still get the required hours you need by what time you go to bed. I don't think a 7:30 start is abnormal in anyway but if it is something you don't want to do then say so and advertise for a new client. At the same time think about all the other things that go with it - do you like this family and want to keep them and have an older child or do you want to replace them and potentially be adding another new baby as it is moms after mat leave looking. Will the child start school this year, next year, how long would you be committing to for the longer hours.