Returning to work

I had a really hard time with the idea of it too. I hate the fact that he’s there from the time they open until they almost close most days. It makes it easier that we have our son in a home daycare and it’s small. We get updates and pictures. I’m sure you can ask for that, I did it for parents when I worked in childcare. The first day is the hardest

I’m going back in March and having this same anxiety. I just keep telling myself that millions of people have done this before me, and most people haven’t gotten the time I’ve gotten off and have to go back to work much earlier. I work from home 3 days a week and baby will be with me 1, then with his dad who’s off 2 days in the week, so he’s only going to daycare 2 days a week, but I’m still struggling with it. I’m debating holding off starting daycare until a week or so after I go back to see how he does with me while I work, but my job is super meeting heavy. I know I can get away with 1 day a week with him, but really not sure about 3, so don’t have high hopes if I do that. So, even work from home jobs I’m really just not sure it’s feasible unless you’re not customer facing/ meeting heavy. Again, just keep telling yourself that daycare is completely normal for a child and most children go. It’s so hard but we’ll all make it through! ❤️

I’m feeling like this too! I work 2 or the days at home so will try to keep him home with me those days at least. I also read online reviews for our daycare that are recent to make me feel better! And we planned a pre visit for the week before so I can see my baby in the environment before the first drop off day. We got this 🤍

I have been crying about this already. What helps is thinking about how much I loved daycare as a kid and how it did not change how I felt about my family or childhood, touring and finding a daycare that feels like home, and talking a lot to other moms. I work remotely but there’s no chance I could do both, both my job and childhood would suffer. It does decrease my commute time though

Same! I just keep telling myself that lots of babies go to daycare and it will be good for both of us but my mama heart is struggling.

My son just started day care last week and I was feeling the same way. It turned out perfectly fine! I was worried he wouldn’t sleep at all while at day care but he has been napping like a champ and I’ve heard others say their baby naps well at day care too (although he does often have some longer wake windows while at daycare so sometimes he’s crabby by the end of the day). All of the day care workers have been fantastic and they send me pictures during the day and he’s happy and smiling! If your daycare uses and app then you’ll be able to see updates of how your babe is doing all day and get pics as well - if they don’t have an app, I’m sure they’ll be fine with you calling/checking in as much as you need to in order to ease your mind, especially in the first few weeks. Even though I miss my baby all day, I won’t lie that it has been nice to have some time to myself even though I’m working (I do work from home so I’m lucky in that respect because it makes things easier).

I will say, be mentally prepared for your little one to catch a cold. Hopefully it won’t happen, but everyone told me that and they were right, my son caught a cold at the end of the first week and I had to keep him home for the first two days this week. Not trying to worry you, just an fyi because i think it’s pretty common when starting day care