back_to_work

Working mom woes? Follow our tips for going back to work after a baby

Working mom woes? Follow our tips for going back to work after a baby

Taste the Future
Article
Nov 10, 2020
3 mins

If your family finances demand that you’re to become a working mom, you’re more than likely planning your return to work while navigating a rollercoaster of emotions—from feeling guilty and anxious to excited and motivated. How do you manage your working mom work-life balance? If you’re wondering how to plan, what to say and what to ask your employer, our tips for going back to work after a baby will help you.

  • Breastfeeding mom going back to work?

Just because you’re returning to work doesn’t mean you have to stop breastfeeding. See here for handy tips on how to plan the switch to expressing and feeding your baby breast milk via a bottle. Talk to your employer before you return. Say you need a clean, private place to express your milk. And when you do go back to work, block time out in your calendar so you’re not stressed or too busy to do it.

  • Choosing the right daycare

To help ease any working mom daycare guilt, do your research and make sure you’re happy with the childcare you have in place. When choosing childcare, ask around for recommendations, perhaps pay the premises a “surprise visit”, check reviews on them and, most important of all, trust your gut! If your mind is at rest, you’ll be able to more easily concentrate when you’re at work.

  • Requesting flexible working

If you can handle a reduction in your salary, you could ask your employer about job share, or reducing your hours or days. If that’s not an option, then put in a request for flexible working. You could ask for your hours to be staggered to fit with your childcare needs (an earlier start and an earlier finish, for example) or home working. Employers won’t want to lose good employees, so it’s in their interest to consider your request carefully.

  • Working moms: handle your work colleagues

If your working hours have changed, or you’ve reduced your working week, make sure your team realize that. Tell them all so as to manage their expectations and to ensure you don’t feel pressured into doing overtime or taking on tight deadlines that you won’t realistically be able to meet. When prioritizing your workload, remember to take into account your working hours. Don’t be afraid to speak up if something feels too tight or suggest more realistic deadlines.

  • Control working mom anxiety

Don’t be hard on yourself. This is going to be a massive change for you, so accept that it’ll take some time to adjust to your new routine. It could be good to ease yourself back into working to get into the swing of things. Ask your employer about a phased return. You could do reduced hours or days for the first month, for example, to ensure both you and your baby are coping and happy.

  • Seek out working mom support

Whether it’s a friend that’s in the same boat, working mom co-workers or a working mom support group, seek out a network of people you can talk to when it’s all getting too much, answer any of your questions, and basically sympathize with your situation. Don’t bottle up how you’re feeling. Your partner and family will also want to support you however they can, so don’t be afraid to shout if you need help.

Related articles

View details Your baby proofing action plan
Article
A Baby boy standing in cot

Your baby proofing action plan

Protect your baby with effective baby proofing strategies. Discover essential tips to make your home safer as your little one begins to explore and grow.

6 mins to read

View details How To Help Baby Sleep Better
Article
A child enjoying a baby sleep in his father’s chest

How To Help Baby Sleep Better

Learn the importance of baby sleep for growth and development. Discover red flags in your baby's sleep patterns and ensure they get the rest they need.

5 mins to read

View details How to emotionally prepare for parenthood before becoming a mom
Article
A pregnant couple preparing for parenthood.

How to emotionally prepare for parenthood before becoming a mom

Discover how to emotionally prepare for parenthood, recognize red flags, and manage challenges to ensure a smoother transition into motherhood.

5 mins to read

View details How to handle toddler sleep problems
Article
A child sleeping without any toddler sleep problems.

How to handle toddler sleep problems

Learn how to address toddler sleep problems with expert tips, identify red flags, and promote healthy sleep habits for your little one's well-being.

5 mins to read

View details Understanding why babies cry
Article
A baby crying inside their crib.

Understanding why babies cry

Explore helpful techniques to calm your crying baby, from addressing basic needs to create a peaceful environment, fostering comfort and connection.

5 mins to read

View details Pregnancy Cravings 101: Everything you Need to Know
Article
A woman indulging her pregnancy cravings in her home.

Pregnancy Cravings 101: Everything you Need to Know

Learn all about pregnancy cravings, from common causes to effective management tips and recognizing warning signs, for a healthier pregnancy experience.

5 mins to read

View details Baby names help
Article
baby_names_help

Baby names help

Need baby names inspiration? Here comes the fun bit! You may already have a favorite, or perhaps you’re waiting until you meet junior face-to-face.

2 mins to read

View details How to Solve Baby’s Tummy Problems
Article
A toddler smiling in bed without any baby’s tummy problems

How to Solve Baby’s Tummy Problems

Empower yourself with the knowledge to provide comfort and relief for your little one's digestive discomfort.

5 mins to read

View details Bath time checklist: How to bathe a newborn
Article
how_to_bathe_newborn

Bath time checklist: How to bathe a newborn

Washing a newborn for the first time can be nerve-racking as well as a lovely bonding moment. Follow our tips on how to bathe a newborn safely.

3 mins to read

View details Disposable-diaper-changing routine
Article
diaper_changing_routine

Disposable-diaper-changing routine

You’re going to do a lot of diaper changing over the next few months, so here’s a helpful diaper-changing routine. Check it off and make every diaper change smooth like your baby’s bottom.

2 mins to read

View details Children’s dental care checklist
Article
A mother taking care of her children’s dental care

Children’s dental care checklist

Take a look at this children’s dental care checklist to improve and help his growth and development.

5 mins to read

View details How to soothe a colicky baby
Article
colic_and_crying

How to soothe a colicky baby

Babies cry. Some babies cry more than others. If your otherwise healthy baby is under five months old and has repeated bouts of uncontrollable crying, it could be colic.

2 mins to read

View details Guiding Your Baby's First Steps: A Milestone to Cherish
Article
A toddler taking his baby first steps with his father’s help.

Guiding Your Baby's First Steps: A Milestone to Cherish

Unlock the secrets to nurturing your baby's first steps with expert tips and insights and the red flags to ensure healthy development.

5 mins to read

View details New mom emotions to look out for
Article
A mother holding her baby filled with new mom emotions.

New mom emotions to look out for

Learn more about your new mom emotions, how to deal with them and so red flags you need to take into consideration.

5 mins to read

View details Are you taking care of yourself as a new mom? (Take our test to see)
Article
Are you taking care of yourself as a new mom? (Take our test to see)

Are you taking care of yourself as a new mom? (Take our test to see)

Hey mom. I know you are tired.

3 mins to read

View details Working out your birth plan
Article
birth_plan

Working out your birth plan

Giving birth is less daunting if you have an easy birth plan in mind to help the day go as smoothly as possible. See our birth plan guide below.

2 mins to read

View details Bathing hacks: How to top and tail a newborn
Article
top_and_tail_newborn

Bathing hacks: How to top and tail a newborn

Some babies love having a bath, while others need time to get used to it. For the first few weeks or so, you may want to top and tail baby instead.

2 mins to read

View details Bottle-feeding tips
Article
bottle-feeding_tips

Bottle-feeding tips

Bottle-feeding might look easy but there’s a fair bit to swallow. So here’s a list of bottle-feeding tips, covering bottle-feeding positions, setting a bottle-feeding routine, and more.

1 min to read

View details How to read baby sign language
Article
baby_sign_language

How to read baby sign language

From the moment they’re born, your baby has a lot to say.

2 mins to read

Join

  Join

Get full access to expert-backed nutrition support

Learn about nutrition at your own pace

Nutrition

Learn about nutrition at your own pace

Expert icon

Nutrition experts

Contact our nutritionists at any time to answer your main questions about nutrition

Try our tailored practical tools

Tools

Try our tailored practical tools