What should I get done before return to work?

[arabella36]

I'm going back in 2 weeks. The baby will be in nursery. Starting to feel a bit nervous now! DC is 11 months.

What would you advise doing before returning to work? It's my first baby so there may be things I haven't thought of.

TIA

Review your finances to take into account any changes in salary / outgoings (childcare). Likewise review any death in service benefits / company benefits (healthcare, childcare etc.).

Check when the nursery will be shut over the next year and one / both of you get your leave requests in now.

Book a holiday (bearing in mind nursery closing dates)so you've got something to look forward to.

Make a will if you haven't already (not necessarily before your return to work but something that should be on your horizon).

Stock up the freezer for nights when neither of you want to cook.

Think about your childcare strategy for when your baby is ill and can't attend nursery.

Brilliant advice, thanks.

Buy a bag to put spare clothes in when you take dd to nursery
put her name in any clothes you'd be sad to lose
buy her wellies and waterproofs just for nursery
leave her for a couple of settling in sessions first
make sire they've got uptodate emergency contact numbers
enjoy this time at home!

Get a haircut
Go to the optician's
Go to the dentist
If you are on the pill, have your appointment for your next prescription
Get your boiler serviced
Get any large home deliveries done and dusted

Anything that you would otherwise ideally need an appointment in working hours to do!

And, personally, I would also recommend a daily afternoon nap while you have the chance!

Wow was just coming on here to ask the same question - thanks everyone.

have 4 weeks until go back to work but still rather nervous, it was always "next year" but now its here argh!

I'm back in a fortnight and have been asking friends for tips. As well as the ones above, they've suggested:

• buying all birthday presents and cards that you need for the next few months;

• getting next size baby vests, socks and other basics (eg jeans) that you know they'll grow into so if they have a growth spurt, you don't have to do an emergency shop;

• get numbers of local takeaways;

• bulk buy nappies, wipes etc;

• if you're full time, think about when/how you'll get DC's 12/13mo jabs done;

• get your car or anything else that might need to be serviced, serviced;

• dig out your old work clothes and check they're clean, that you have tights, know where your work coat is (I can't find mine!).

My friends have warned me that the first couple of months can be a bit chaotic as you get into the swing of it and so doing anything that can be done in advance (such as birthday presents) just makes life a bit simpler.

Good luck!

Thank you very much for those ideas, that's very helpful

Make sure that your DH doesn't automatically assume that you'll do all the nursery drop-off and pick-ups, sickness cover and other associated childcare emergencies. In fact, if you can, arrange it so that he does the first few emergency covers so that you can settle into work and hit the ground running.

Nearly all the women I work with run themselves ragged because their husbands don't do any of this stuff. Don't try and be superwoman in those few few months, it doesn't matter if your child's trousers get too short.

Be kind to yourself, and if you can afford it, get a cleaner.

I've asked friends exactly the same and here was their advice to me:

Ensure freezer is full of meals for both the adults and the DC. Do a 'big' shop so you've got a months worth of toilet roll/dishwasher tabs/washing powder etc etc in.

Make sure you're really on top of all the household stuff, so have a big clear out, deep clean house i.e get windows cleaned, clean oven, file/deal with all paperwork etc so that house is easier to maintain.

Do the same with your car, clean inside and out, check tyre pressure, fill up with washer fluid/oil/petrol.

Make life as simple as possible so arrange for all bills to be paid by direct debit.

Put a list of morning and evening routine up on fridge (or wherever) so that you/DP can do a mental check-off before heading out to work. This should include things that must be in DCs nursery bag.

Get your and DCs clothes out the night before so you know what you're both wearing.

Make sure you know where your work mobile/laptop/car park and building pass are, get some cash out for coffee and lunch. Ask someone in your team to get a password reset for laptop/PC (you won't remember it after a year!) and let you know what your new desk telephone number is. Take a tin of biscuits in for team!!

Keep the first weekend after you've returned to work activity free so that you can just chill - don't underestimate how knackered you'll be!

Thanks for that! But oh my goodness, I feel a bit scared! Redaing your post has made me realise how organised I'll need to be - and it doesn't really come naturally. I have been doing a lot of decluttering though.

I know what you mean, whilst I am looking forward to going back to work I also can't quite get my head around how intense it's going to be, but hey, many people seem to achieve it so I think we'll be ok!

Another one - organise DCs 1st birthday party.

Thanks Hollybolly I haven't even considered the first birthday party!
If anyone is looking at this thread, what do you do for a first b'day? Cake with family?

This one was during my 2nd maternity leave, of course it all depends on timing: arrange school visits for any schools you are considering for DC1. Seems a long way away but time flies!