New Baby / New Business

Hi Everyone,

I have a while to sort this out but was hoping for some advice form "self employed mums" out there, who have been blazing the trail before me...

Basically my husband and I are starting a new business (fine food store, come cafe), anyway it is due to open in November and my bubs is due early April. The thing is for our business to be successful I will need to jump back in the saddle pretty quickly after having my baby. Most people think we are crazy, but there wasn't a good time to have either and as we were TTC for 14 months we weren't putting all our eggs in that basket (so to speak).

Anyway... I think I am going to have to return back to work (with bubs in toe) in some level of capacity within a month or so.

So... My question is, has anyone returned to work that soon, and if you did do you have your own business and was the baby able to sleep away while you work.

Am I expecting too much???

I can't speak from my own experience, but in the past ten years or so the people that own the milk bar around the corner from my place have had two new babies/kids and pretty much brought them up in the store. I suppose it's different though, they live in the attached house so it's probably easier for them... :think: It all seemed to go well for them, in any case :)


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there was a restraunt we used to go to and we knew the people very well and they brought their daughter up in the restraunt. you can always make it work. just make sure u have the room.

I think it can definitely work, aslong as you have some space (ie. office) thats out of harms way there should be no issue.
Also you might have to look into OH&S standards just to make sure everything is above board. (but as it's your own baby i highly doubt you would allow unsafe practices).

DP's cousin owns her own business (batteries) it can be a very dangerous place for kids BUT she had a port-a-cot setup in her office, she put gates on doors when the kids were older and followed all OH&S rules with her kids & her staff, there were no issues at all and she found time to manage the business and be with her kids.. the best of both worlds really.

I didn't own a cafe/food business but I did launch my own biz when my bub was 12 wks old and it involved expos and things like that and she went everywhere with me. I would suggest you invest in a couple of good baby slings to suit different situations. Start with a wrap style like the hug-a-bub (basically just a long piece of material) or other newborn hugging sling - something that distributes the weight evenly over both shoulders and offers you flexibility as they grow. Once they are able to sit up there are a range of good carriers, the ergo is one but I know other ladies here have got some others that they have used that are great - they can do front carries, side/hip carries and back carries.

I think the easiest time will be when they are little and just want to be held and sleep. Miss A spent most of her first 6 mths in a sling either at work or doing housework at home lol.

All the best!!!

Thanks guys, this is awesome :) I feel much more at ease.