Back to work at 6/7 months - too soon?

[peanutbutterlove]

Hi, my son is due in September and I plan to go back to work in April for three days per week, putting my son in nursery for those days. I am a teacher so if I don't go back in April then I will have to wait until September which would be a bit of a strain financially... Is 6/7months too early for my son to be in nursery three days per week?

Hi Peanut,

Why would you need to go back only in April or September?

At my school most teachers return for 1-2 weeks before the summer holidays start.

If it needs to be April though, don't worry you & DC will be fine.

3 days a week is not a lot of time in a nursery & many children will have started a lot younger than 6/7 months.

Good Luck!

Sorry I should have explained I will be starting a new teaching job not going back to the same school, so will need to be at the beginning of a new term. Thanks for the reassurance!

Hi peanut when DS was born 11 years ago everyone got 6 months maternity leave! If you put him into nursery at 6 months he will be settled there before he gets old enough for separation anxiety. And I bet all the staff will be delighted with a little baby.

I put my son in nursery at 6 months (for less than 3 days a week but the theory is the same) and he's been absolutely fine. No separation anxiety as he's too young and the nursery have really helped with his weaning.

His key worker was one of the first people he stretched out his arms to be picked up for so she must be doing something right.

I would go back in April. I went back in April (also teach) and it was good to break into it, then have the holidays to look forward to. My baby was just under six months and I went back full time. (Short commute and usually finish at four so it was ok)

Go back 20 or so years and us mums were returning after just 3 months. It really doesn't have to be a problem- in fact you'll probably find the separation thing is much more straightforward. It only feels worrying because a lot of women take a full year off nowadays so you feel 6 months is short in comparison. However the chances are your child will settle more quickly because he's that bit younger, and also you'll feel less 'out of the loop'.
The only things I would say are trickier are the physical demands, particularly if your child isn't sleeping through and/ or you are still bf, but emotionally I would say its easier

If you can possibly afford to wait I would go for Sep.. Is such precious time and you might end up feeling that you really aren't ready

I had my daughter in October and returned to my teaching job four days per week in April when she was just under six months old. This was out of necessity for financial reasons.
She's fine, I'm fine and although the house is a bit of a tip, we have adjusted well.

Having the six week break to look forward to was a real bonus and the age she was by then meant I was there when she started standing and crawling.

I also think id resent going unpaid during those six weeks!

I went back full time at 7 months. It was fine, and in fact good for me as I was getting tired of the coffee morning circuit. I was very happy with my childcare choice which made it easier. I don't know about your plans for breast feeding but I thought I'd mention that I thought I'd struggle to maintain it. Especially as DS loved lots of feeds. However it worked well just feeding when we were together.

I had my baby in September last year and went back in April. I had been made redundant, so thought I'd better start looking as I didn't know how long it would take to find something as luck had it I got the second job I went for. I was ready to go back by then as I'd been off since I was six months pregnant, and with two children to look after all day I was going a bit spare.

I went back three days at first, but have just gone back to full time.

It was fine - I put my baby in nursery two days and my mum had her one day. My son was already at nursery two days so was less of a change for him.

I found my daughter (baby) was not in the clingy stage at six months, and readily got used to nursery - I've heard it can be much harder at the 9months - 12 months stage which ironically is when most mothers finish maternity leave. She is relatively good with strangers now and not clingy, which is a good thing.

He'll be fine!

My twins were born just on the cusp of changing to the current ML provision. I still went back at 5.5 months FT and don't regret it in the slightest. They've never been very clingy, possibly to do with being twins , but I suspect it would have been tougher at 9-12 months.

I went back at 5 months. Had no choice. Was terrified but love it! Now been back six months.

It was 18 weeks when I had my eldest.

You'll be fine whenever you go back. Family finances are important, and all the childhood years are 'precious'. Don't over-sentimentalise, and find your own balance. And remember, you can make it all up as you go along.

You do need to make sure you are 100% confident about your childcare arrangements.

I went back after 6 months with each baby, working FT. It was fine. They settled to nursery 2 days pw really well and by the time separation anxiety time came along nursery was sufficiently familiar that they were fine. If it's what works for you then go for it.