As a new mom, I did not know what to expect going back to work right after maternity leave. I took FMLA leave and let me tell you, those 12 weeks with your newborn baby go by oh so quickly. The first three months while being back at work after maternity leave, I faced so many emotions. Emotions I do not think many moms are prepared to deal with or know how to cope with. It was probably one of the hardest and toughest decisions as a family we ever had to make when we decided I needed to go back to work.
I quickly learned how fast a baby changes your priorities and that you need to be realistic in finding your balance with what works for you.
After working a full-time job and having the opportunity to be a SAHM for a short period of time, you are all so inspiring.
Working a full time job and/ or being a SAHM are both equally hard. I am still learning every day on how to find my balance.
Fear and Stress of Returning to Work
As much as I am ready for things to go back to life as it was before COVID, it has truly been a blessing to be at home with my daughter the past several months. I have been able to witness so many of her milestones and for that I am forever grateful. As I mentioned before, I am a teacher. My district has now been teaching hybrid classes a little over a month. When I first found out we would have to go back and return to our building, my heart sank. The thought of learning a new routine with a toddler is daunting.
I was not prepared to go back and leave my baby girl, I do not think I ever will be, but I am sharing a few things I am doing this time around to better ease my way back into work as well as transition my daughter back to daycare.
Tips to help going back to to work after maternity leave:
1. Pack your lunch and your child’s lunch the night before, along with snacks for the entire week. This will help save you a few extra minutes in the morning. I like to plan a lunch menu for the entire week. This also helps with knowing what to get at the grocery store and not putting random items in our cart.
Below is an example of our lunch menu. I usually try to include some sort of fruit, a vegetable, a protein, and yogurt. Sometimes her meal is as simple as using leftovers from the previous dinner.
Looking to download and make your own weekly menu? Click here to download!
2. Have snacks for the car ride and a portable container to put the snacks in. The munchkin snack catcher works wonders in the car. It allows my daughter to only grab a few pieces at a time.
Items that are safe and easy to chew- puffs, pirate booty, cheerios, snack bars
3. Have an entertainment center/ easy activities for the car ride. We all know toddlers and babies can get bored easily. Make sure you have some sort of activity to entertain them. Some of our favorite things to have in the car:
Books, teething rings, sing and song light up mirror, and crayola’s doodle board
4. Accepting it is okay to be emotional (especially once you drop them off, pick them up, or have to put them right to bed after dinner)
5. Bring a lovey to help make them feel more comfortable and like a piece of home is with them. (My daughter did not have an established lovey until she was about 14 months old.) Her lovey is a small beanie boo. If you’re wondering what that is, they are small beanie babies and can always be found at Michaels or Party City! She is always trying to add one to her collection in the checkout line.
If your baby has a lovey, I would buy at least one extra! It is always a safe choice to have another laying around just in case something happens to the original. Does your toddler have a lovey? If so, what is it?
6. Remember to breathe and know you are not the only one going through this! It’s always a great idea to join a support group of others moms! To get some ideas of how to join a support group, visit my postpartum healing tips.
7. Lay out your babies clothes the night before! I pick out our daughters outfits for the whole week. This has helped save me so much time in the mornings. Right after we eat breakfast it is a quick and easy change. I grab the outfit for the day and we are out the door.
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What are some tips that have helped you slowly make the transition back to work?
12 Comments
This is very timely for me! I am starting a new job today after being a SAHM for the last 8 years. I’m so ready, but also know it will be an emotional adjustment for everyone. Thanks for sharing your tips!
Best of luck!! The first few weeks will be a huge adjustment, you got this!
Well done on all you have achieved! Those first few weeks really are so tough & oh so emotional!
Returning to work must be such a hard decision to make and one with many emotions. I couldn’t face going back to work and I am grateful to be in a position where I didn’t have to. I have so much respect for women who return to work and I think these tips will be helpful to mums who are returning to work.
These are such great tips! I remember being so stressed before I went back to work, but preparing as much as you can helps!
Oh, I remember going back to work after having my first. That first day dropping him off at daycare was the worst! Boy, there were so many tears and they were not coming from the baby. This is such a helpful post to have a smooth transition back to work.
These are some great tips. It was so hard for me to return to work after my first…especially while trying to pump. It was definitely emotional but I got through it! Thanks so much for sharing tips. Prepping the night before really does help!
New mom here also and those 12 weeks felt like 1 weeks. Hardest thing was to go back to work. Thank you for the tips!
Your welcome! I hope you are able to use some of them.
Going back after having a baby is a huge change! Thank you for sharing some tips and tricks on things that can make this transition easier. I felt it being extra hard going back to work after your first child.
Great information. I am in the grandma stage for me but I know years ago it was hard to go back to work when one of my kids was a year old. I can’t imagine going back when they are infants. My hats are off to all the mama’s juggling home and work.
Yes, going back wheb they infants make it that much harder. I had such a hard time with my first. I am hoping it will be a little easier this time around!