How old was your baby when you went back to work?

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I went back p/t when DS was just turned 1; I am now full time and he's two on Friday. I started full time a month before his second birthday.

What helped? A fantastic Nursery. I cannot speak highly enough of this place. I don't feel bad for leaving him and he adores it. Sure, I'd rather be at home with DS but he'd rather be at Nursery some days I'm sure. It also helps that my full time work is now very different to my part time work: pt was just to make ends meet, ft is now for ME and enjoyable. Yes, the money helps but it's essentially a paycut for 18 months so I can do something I love.

It also helped to have loads of pictures of DS around me and sharing an office with a woman who adored hearing about DS and seeing pictures and movies taken on my digital camera!

[kawazuki]

i had no choice but had to go back to work p/t so 3 days a week when DD was 6 weeks old.

she is now 18 months old and i am just going back full time.

it was hard, but i worked afternoons and nights so i still got alot of baby time and mainly did weekends so she was with daddy..

[visitor1]

I went back to work 2 days a week when DD1 was 5 months old. I stopped working about 2.5 months later before DD2 came along.

I then just worked from home on my own business

How i coped....i sent her to a friends house so i knew she was with some one familiar and one on one due to her age

[MantaRay]

When DS1 was 7 months old I went back ft. We all found it very overwhelming, so within a month, DH and I had both dropped down to 4 day weeks (so that DS was only in care 3 days a week). I worked 4 days a week until DS2 was born (DS1 was 19 months), then went back 2 days a week when he was 8 months old (mostly from home). I later increased to 3 days and then went ft (not at home!) when he was about 15 months.

If at all possible I recommend starting with pt work. Ft is very full on and it certainly takes some adjusting to. All the best hun, please let me know if I can help you out with more information, tips etc.

[DoubleK]

i started a part time job a couple of weeks before DD turned 2, my hours started at about 16 per week (thurs & fri nights, sundays 1-9pm) this suited us, as she was just home as normal with dp. i ended up picking up an extra night (wed) and also every 2nd saturday (1-9pm)

i am currently trying to decide what i want to keep doing, as i need to cut back, but cant afford to leave just yet!

we have all adjusted really well. our routine suits us all. the only thing that is a bit hard is my finishing time. its a take away shop, so there is no set 'finish' time. dp starts work at 5-6am. so if im home later than 9.. i feel bad.

dont let your boss push you into going back full time, you need to do what suits you and your family. personally, i know i couldnt handle full time work, so i wont be doing that at least untill dd2 is in school.