Heading Back to Work After Maternity Leave | Part 1: How I’m Preparing my Baby for Daycare
Since welcoming our sweet baby girl in late January, I have been fortunate enough to be on maternity leave from work. I’ve enjoyed this one-on-one time with my baby and feel so grateful to have had this opportunity to recover, bond, and really get into the groove of having two littles. However, as they say, all good things must come to an end. My maternity leave is winding down, and I'll be heading back to work at the start of next month.
This is our second child, so I've been through this whole "going back to work" thing before. But even though I know what to expect, it doesn't make the process any easier. It’s a bittersweet ending this chapter, but if it’s like my experience with my first, going back to work can be a great thing for my mental health. I really feel my best when I’m giving 100% to what’s in front of me. Having my kids at daycare has allowed me to go have something for myself with work, and then I can come home give 100% as a mama when they are home.
In our case, even though my husband and I both work from home (with some traveling), we've found that sending our kids to daycare is the best setup for our family. The decision really came down to the setup of our home and both of us feeling like we couldn’t focus on work if we had the kids home with someone watching them. We really wanted to give our undivided attention to our work when we needed to. Of course, there are some downsides to our current daycare, like the distance from our house, but the staff there is absolutely amazing. They genuinely love and care for my kids, and that's all I could ask for. The best part is that the same teacher who took care of my son when I went back to work after my first maternity leave is still there, so we have that familiarity and trust. It's a relief knowing our little ones are in good hands.
Although, I am no expert, I wanted to provide some of my practical advice and tips for adjusting to going back to work after maternity leave. This is my second rodeo, so I have experience with what worked the first time and what aspects I want to adjust to make the process even smoother.
How I’m Preparing My Baby for Daycare
Ensuring all Paperwork is Complete
First and foremost, to ensure a successful transition, you'll want to make sure everything is squared away with your daycare. This includes a lot of paperwork and understanding the expectations. Thankfully, since this is our second child at the same daycare, the process has been pretty smooth sailing. I already know the ropes and what to expect. However, I do remember being overwhelmed with my first son and not wanting to miss any important details. Childcare is such an important and emotional topic and I felt pressure to make sure I was making the best decision for my baby. The one piece of advice I can give is that you don’t have to ask all the right questions and have all the answers up front. I like to think of our childcare as a fluid situation that we constantly evaluate and ask questions about.
“Make the next best decision and know you can always adjust as you and your baby grow older and gain more experience.”
Schedule a Visit Before the First Day
Even with a little one in tow, it's crucial to schedule some time to visit the daycare before the first official day. This gives you a chance to meet the staff (and let them meet your adorable baby) and get a better sense of how things are set up and how a typical day unfolds. Of course, I got to visit the daycare before when touring, but once you have a baby, I think it's important to revisit as you now have a better understanding of your baby's needs. That's why, with our second child, I'm planning to revisit the daycare even though I'm already familiar with the teachers and the facility. I want to help my baby adjust and get my own mind prepared for this next chapter.
Gather, Organize and Label Supplies
When it comes to daycare, the stuff you need for a newborn is quite different from what you'd need for a toddler. My toddler takes lunch every day and even needs things like a sleep sack for naps. But for my newborn, I've got a different list of items to send along. Of course, it's important to check with your daycare facility to see what they provide versus what you need to bring. Nevertheless, label everything! I bought these stickers that make it super easy to put labels on everything I’m sending.
Here’s what I’m packing for my newborn:
Gradually Start Adjusting Routine
In the last few weeks of maternity leave, I made it a priority to focus on baby’s routine. Up until this point, I could go with the flow and follow my baby's cues throughout the day. But as the first day of daycare approached, I knew that my little one would benefit from a more consistent schedule. To this end, it's important to discuss with your daycare provider how they handle a baby’s routine. In our case, our daycare sends home a feeding schedule that we can update monthly. From there, they follow a routine of feeding, wake time, and nap. To make things easier for our family, including my toddler, we decided to align our home schedule with the daycare's since our kids spend most of their days there. This consistency has been helpful for everyone. In these last few weeks, I have really started to pay attention to what feeding cadence works best for my baby and making sure to maintain that consistency. I think that this preparation will help her adjust more smoothly to the new environment, knowing her schedule remains consistent.
Take the Picture and Stay Positive
The first day of daycare is hard for any parent. It might be my second rodeo, but I’m sure I will shed some tears and that first day and week will be challenging. In my opinion, no matter how fantastic the daycare is, it can never replace the bond of you being with your baby 24X7.
“But here’s the thing: two things can be true at once. This transition can be both difficult and beneficial for you and your baby. ”
Personally, I’m choosing to stay positive knowing that I’m going to be a better mama when I have something for myself in my work, and my kids will thrive by being around other little ones- I've seen it firsthand with my son. So, remember to snap that picture and focus on the positive aspects of this transition. After all, I attended daycare throughout my childhood, and I think I turned out just fine.
That's all for now. Stay tuned for Part 2, where I'll share how I'm preparing our family as I head back to work after maternity leave. As an Amazon Affiliate, I do earn a small commission when you shop through my links, which I genuinely appreciate. XXX, McKenzie