How hard was it to leave LO and return to work?

imsoexcited915

I will be returning to work when DD is 12weeks. We will be using a daycare and I now at 8 weeks I can't imagine leaving her and not seeing her all day. Wondering about other experiences and any tips you may have.

SLGILL1978

It was pretty hard. It's always much harder on Mommy than baby. The first week, I think I called 1-2 times a day to check on her and stopped by at lunch time. I would find myself at work, looking at all the pictures on my cell phone. I would just soak up all the time you have left with baby girl. 
I am a big believer in following babies lead/cues. They will transition when they are developmentally ready so I didn't do any type of schedule. My daughter attended a center for six weeks until I was off for summer break (incidentally it was much harder to return to work when she was six months versus when she started at 10 weeks). During that time a spot opened up at one of the in homes I was interested in. My babysitter has a similar parenting style that closely resembles mine. She's been with her for the last two years (since she was six months). 
I do everything at night or during lunch. Lunch -I run all errands including grocery shopping. If needed, I also will get clothes ready for the next day and/or depending on dinner, I will start the crock pot. In the evening when we get home, we change into our pjs, if it's bath night my girl gets a bath and I do the finishing touches on dinner. 
I definitely do a lot of crock pot or one pot meals during the week (Love Pinterest!). I am not a meal planner, unless you count unthawing meat from the freezer. Depending on what we're having I either start the crock pot before I go to work or at lunch. 
We also don't put an emphasis on cleaning during the week. We keep the kitchen clean by cleaning as we go. But we usually start laundry on Friday night or Saturday morning when my husband and I do the cleaning together. We do a deep cleaning once a month. 

SmrBrd2012

Lots of good advice from PP^.

It was hard but it does get better each day. I definitely cried for the first 2 weeks but I don't do that anymore. I would recommend starting halfway through the week if you can. That made it a little bit easier. I do find myself looking at his photos almost all day though!

At 8 weeks they're still so little. By 12, they start to notice their environment more and start playing a little bit, which will make it easier on them. I agree that it is harder on mom than baby! My little guy seems to really enjoy daycare now (5 months) and smiles when he sees his teachers. She will be in good hands!

ldmw

It was the worst day of my life, but now 3 months later I can say it's gottnr better. Take lots of pictures and videos with you. Check in on baby if you can throughout thr day.

Bigboobsmcgee

Like others have said, it's super hard but I have to work, I want to work and I do enjoy being around other adults.

I have a 1 year old and a 3.5 year old and I miss them while I'm at work but it just makes me appreciate the evenings and weekends with them all that much more.

You'll get through it!

Nickioch

It'll be okay! The whole week and weekend leading up to my return to work(after 10 weeks) I cried and cried and cried. You're also still super emotional and hormonal, but it is hard. I found, for me, the anticipation was worse than the reality. The first day back was hard emotionally, I would tear up and be on the verge of crying all day, god forbid anyone ask me how I'm doing or hug me or ask about him ha I was a wreck. The second day was physical, just totally exhausted. By the end of the week the routine was becoming normal again and I felt okay. Definitely miss him but I'm lucky that my family is our childcare and my husband is still home when I leave. But now, 4 months back at work (6.5 mo baby), I still stare at pics and videos and long for 430 when I can scoop his warm soft little body up against my heart and kiss his cheeks. Every single day. But you can do it!

Are you breastfeeding? I find the pump breaks to be a huge aid, as sometimes annoying as it can be to pump 3x a day at work, it's my quiet time every few hours to sit and breathe and look at pics of my boy ☺️

Bickey11

I lost my mind for the first week and actually the whole 2 weeks leading up to it. And I fought the urge to be that mom who was like "why isn't my baby as perfect as he was when i left him" every time I picked him up. However, almost 3 weeks in, I can drop him off without crying, but i duck out of work early every chance i get because i miss him so terribly every day. I don't remember being this way with my 1st 2 kids, but my oldest is 18 and ready to flee the nest and this will be my last child and I just want to absorb every waking breath of his now knowing how quickly it goes by.

I too started on a Wednesday and then the next week was Thanksgiving so that was a short week as well. I've still yet to go a full 5 days because he was sick 1 day the 3rd week and i was sick this past Monday. Beware, once they get around other babies they do become outbreak monkeys. It makes you appreciate the time you have so much more, and even makes the fussy bits easier to get through because you're dealing with it less often. 

But it has its perks. I'm not having to do a load of burpcloths and bibs everyday now, because daycare provides those. I can pee whenever I want at work. When its time to eat lunch, i can eat my lunch. And adults, i have adults to talk to!