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If you've decided to return to work after your baby is settled (post nine months) or is a toddler, the experience can be just as traumatic as returning soon after birth
Returning to work (with a settled baby)
The transition of being around your child for months or even for twenty-four hours a day to almost half of that (if you include sleep) can be very traumatic. There are a few things that you can do to prepare yourself for your return to make the transition an easier experience. Breastfeeding can still be a concern for the mother of a settled baby or toddler.
If you are still breastfeeding:
- Consider alternative milk products.
- Invest in a breast pump (for expressing milk when you are at work)
- Start to freeze ice cubes of your milk for when you are at work
- Train your baby to feed and sleep at regular intervals (texts such as the On Becoming Babywise series are very good teaching tools).
- Buy a little cooler bag so you can keep your pumped milk cool and fresh while traveling to and from work.
- Purchase work clothes that are easy to remove when you need to express milk.
- Enquire as to whether there are nursing rooms within your workplace.
- Enquire as to whether there is a daycare near or at your workplace that will allow you to breastfeed there.
Work and caring elements to consider:
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A settle baby can become not so settled, ie no longer sleeping though the night, on a mothers return to work. Try to ease the child into it by going away for long periods of time during the week and slowly ease them into the idea of you not being there.
Try to keep your child in a routine. For example using the same daycare facility, family member or carer every week so they have consistency and feel safe and secure.
See if there is a daycare centre near or at your workplace, as you might want to consider visiting your child on your lunch or tea breaks.
Try an allocate a certain amount of hours everyday (post or pre work time) when you can give your whole attention to your child. Like your own play date!!
Don't feel guilty!! Feeling guilty about returning to work (whether you have to return or just wish to return) will not help you or the child. For example guilt may do harm to any type of parenting/discipline style that you use, if you decide to 'go easy' on a child because you are starting work.
In saying that also be there for your child. Let them have your work number if they are older. Or make a certain time each day that you will call them if they are home!
Other fun stuff:
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Get up a little early and take your child (and maybe pet) to the park before you have to get ready for the day.
Prepare a special breakfast or dinner each day for your child (even if it is arranging your child's food in an interesting way such as face on a plate).
Make you child's lunch the night before and leave it in the fridge with a little note from you!
If work means you are away for long periods of time make your children a little card or send them an email with a happy picture of you two together.
When your first return to work after having a child, whether it is newborn or settled, the transition is always going to be emotional. It does not, however, have to be fraught with problems. Keeping a child in a routine and making them feel loved and secure can all be achieved without you as a mother feeling guilty. With careful attention to planning and the needs of yourself and your family the transition from home to work can be a smooth one.
The copyright of the article Returning to Work (Toddler) in Working Mothers is owned by Angela Thomas-Jones. Permission to republish Returning to Work (Toddler) in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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