QuoteReplyTopic: Returning to work Posted: 31 August 2009 at 4:03pm
Hi there,
Just wondered if anyone had any tips re. returning to work full time, Ive had a year maternity leave which has been fantastic, but kind of apprehensive about leaving my boy in daycare!! Any ideas on how to make it easier??!!
Hi, I went back to full time work when my little one was 6 months. Have you found a daycare you are happy with? To make it easier on both of you make a few visits at different times of the day so you both see playtime, mealtimes etc we probably did visits over a 3 week period but not every day. I started with .5 half visits and then I left her for about an hour and just went off and had a coffee - I did this a few times (1st time I made it into the room next door for about 15 minutes), then we graduated to a full day! This wasn't easy but it also gave me time to organise things she needed for daycare and I had time to go to the shops and buy my work clothes! I thought the 1st day would be terrible and I would leave in tears - but I was actually really good (and so was she) as we had done the settling in. Our daycare has an open door policy so we can go in anytime during the day - but I have only done this once, as I don't want her to think its time to go home during the day. She happily goes to the carer in the morning or plays on the floor. I speak up it I'm not happy about something - but to be honest we have never had any problems really. We get a little written report each day that tells us what she has eaten, when she has had nappies done (and what), and sleep times. They also have a little book that has all her milestones in it. Things that will make it easier for you are making sure his little bag is packed with a spare set of clothes, making sure you stock up his supply of nappies once a week so you don't have to get ready to take each day, making sure he has formula - our daycare tells us when we need more nappies or formula but I just check re formula and take in some nappies on a Monday so I know I don't need to worry about it during the week. I leave her bag in the car each day unless I have to replace the clothes in the bag so in the mornings I just put her in her carseat and off we go. When I drop her off in the mornings I spend about 10 or so minutes settling her in - not that I need to as she is really happy in the enviroment and in the four months she has been going I have only had her cry twice. If you think your little one might have trouble settling to sleep - maybe have a special toy for nap time. Label his clothing - as it can sometimes disappear ... Life does get crazy and as for managing everything else it can be a challenge - at the moment I do the solids morning and night and my hubby does the bottle, ironing is pretty much a Sunday afternoon and if its not done hubby helps with it in the morning - as it always takes me longer to get ready. Washing is on at night and dinner is normally hubby for some reason ... you will get into a routine its amazing how it all falls into place and you will learn to swap from mummy mode to work mode. Good luck.
I went back to work 30 hours a week when my little girl was just on 5 months old. A few things:
- be organised. Pack bags, get lunchs and bottles ready the night before. It saves heaps of time in the morning. Lay clothes out for both of you the night before too.
- get used to the daycare before the first day you leave your child there. We visited a few times before I dropped her off. She wasn't bothered but it made me feel like I knew the routine and the people before the big day.
- don't stress about housework. I try not to do anything non essential during the week. I prefer to come home, deal with my little girl then do the washing and pack our bags for the next day. Sometimes you just have to let things slip. Its not the end of the world.
- I usually just drop my little girl off and then leave straight away. I'm at daycare for maybe 5 - 10 minutes tops. I know people do the whole get the child settled thing, but I prefer to go in and put her stuff away hand her over and then walk straight out. Its always worked for us, she doesn't get upset and it makes the parting less protracted. There is lots of other people who spend time with their kids at daycare though so don't feel bad if you prefer to as well. This is just what works for me.
- establish good communication with the daycare teachers. Let them know when your child doesn't feel well/is teething/has reached a new development milestone/is doing something different at home. It makes everyone's lives easier.
- I also spend a few minutes at the end of the day asking them what Gabrielle has been doing, how she has slept and what she eats. They normally write it down for me but it just helps me get a picture of what's going on.
- get a supply of old clothes for them to wear to daycare! Gabrielle started finger painting at daycare at 5 months and sometimes the clothes come home covered in all sorts of things. It saves stress later.
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