Please help me feel better about going back to work when baby is 6.5months...

[Lollyloup80]

This is my second baby, and I'll be going back 3.5 days when they're 6.5 months old.

With my first baby I went back when he was nearly 1 and did just 3 days.

I know it's not much different in the and scheme of things, and I know I'll enjoy the baby more when I'm off with them. But I just feel so guilty but needs must..

Anyone else have the same?

Not that long ago, maternity leave was only 6 months so most mothers went back to work around then. My son is almost 20 now and I went back 2 days, same for my ds2. They are both fine! More than fine. We'll adjusted, bright, happy men. They couldn't tell you what age they were left by me to go to work.

I'm now a childminder and the 12 month return to work has its downsides, babies take much longer to settle for example.

My Dutch colleagues mostly went back at 3 months as that is standard there. All have happy, well adjusted children.

When I started nannying in 1991 so almost 33yrs ago maternity was 12w

A lot of my jobs were from newborn /few weeks old

And many went back before then as couldn't survive on the £44.50 a week

Having a longer Mat leave does mean some babies find it harder to settle

Your baby will be fine as only a few month old so don't feel any guilt

They will be well cared for and sound alike you enjoy your work and nice to be a person again and not just mummy

I think full time would be different but 3.5 days is not that bad at all! You will still have lots of time to be with your baby and have a very close bond and share fun activities. And in the end it will be good for your little one to be used to building relationships with others as well.

Thanks everyone :-)

My dc are in their 20s, so I could only take 6 months maternity leave. They were fine and, with DC1, I was desperate to go back to work.

I went back at 6 months with my eldest. It was fine 🙂
He had a great childminder and not much separation anxiety at all because of his age.

My friend in Paris got 3 months only for each of hers. Her kids look pretty happy and well-adjusted to me.

I was told my career would be over if I didn't return within 2 weeks full time. I didn't but it shows some mums do (I returned at 10 months full time). Baby will be fine, you'll be relaxed on your days with them, you get to have a hot drink.

My maternity leave with my now adult sons was 20 weeks for each and that included my annual leave entitlement

I went back after six months

Rationale being that baby would settle easily into nursery

And they did