Until you become a parent, you don’t fully understand the amount of responsibility that a new baby brings. You can think ahead, plan out your schedules and enlist the help of all your contacts, but in the end, it’s ultimately still going to dramatically alter your lifestyle. Luckily, you’ll have at least a few months of leave from work to get the hang of how to be a parent and connect with your baby.
However, just as soon as you start to get into a routine, it will be time for you to go back to work again. While some parents enjoy returning to the office, others have a harder time. It is a big adjustment no matter how you look at it, which is why it helps to get all of your ducks in a row before your leave ends. Consider adopting some of the tips below to make your life a little easier during this transition.
1. Have Back Up Babysitters At the Ready
When you’re the parent of a newborn, you need a Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C. You’re juggling so many things at once and if a babysitter falls through, you don’t want to be stuck at home when you were supposed to be at the office for a meeting. While your supervisor should be understanding about this, you don’t want it to happen often. It’s important that you have backup childcare plans in case of an emergency, whether that is calling one of your parents to come to watch the baby or calling a neighbor who you know is always home. They can place your baby in a baby swing to gently rock them. Make sure these contacts know where to find the baby’s gripe water for when they experience colic, teething, and hiccups.
2. Ask Your Partner for Help
While your partner also has their share of work responsibilities, make sure baby duties are being shared equally. If you start to fall behind at work because you are taking on too much at home, have a conversation with your partner about how they might be able to lighten your load a little. Open communication is extremely important when you have a baby, both within the family and with your place of work.
3. Use Your Commute Time
While sometimes it is beneficial just to relax while you are riding the subway to work, it may help to use this time to get things done. This way, you can avoid needing to do work while you are at home with your baby. If you’re driving, you can make calls for work so that you can cross a few things off your to-do list before you even get to the office.
4. Make Meals in Advance
It’s really helpful to plan out the week’s menu for both your baby and yourself. Meal prepping on a Sunday can be fun and it will reduce the amount of stress you feel during the week when it comes time to feed your baby. In addition to buying food for your baby, you can also consider adding in a multivitamin once your baby is six months old. Childlife Essentials Multivitamin & Mineral contains all twelve essential vitamins plus the primary minerals.
5. Let Go of Guilt
A lot of parents feel guilty when it comes time to leave the house and be away from their baby. While this is completely normal and understandable, you should try to let go of some of the guilt so that you can concentrate on what is really important. You’re a great parent who works hard to provide for your family. You’re doing the best you can and that is enough!
