Most of us, except for the Canadian women, have to head back to work after 6-8 weeks with their new baby. The Canadian moms get a full year off, the lucky ducks! Regardless, for moms who work outside of the home, and choose to work outside of the home, going back to work after their baby is born is bound to bring a mix of emotions.

At two months old, the thought of leaving your newborn for 8-9 hours a day may seem daunting and heartbreaking. Some women have no choice; while others choose too go back to work, feeling like they will be a better parent if they are with other adults during the day. Either decision is a personal one and is right for the person making it.

Family Objections
Sometimes a woman will make a decision to return to work when she doesn’t financially have too. Or she will want to stay home when financially she needs to work. In these cases her spouse and other family members may not support her decision, causing problems and friction in the household. This can affect not only the adult members and the other children, but also your baby who can feel the frustrations, even if he can’t explain it. Try to quickly solve the arguments by weighing all the pros and cons and making the best decision for your family.

Daycare
Finding a place to take your baby when it is time for you to go back to work can be hard as well. In some areas of the country, there is a very long waiting list that you must get on when you get pregnant. There is also the issue of the cost of daycare, and whether you make enough money to make it worth paying for the day care. Then you have to choose what kind of daycare you want to put your new baby in.

In-Home Daycare
Private or in-home daycares are nice because there are a very small number of kids in a private house and in many cases your baby will get much more attention than they would in a bigger day care. In some cases you may find that your baby is the ONLY child in that providers care. If you go with an in-home daycare make sure you find one that is certified by your state and that you check out the records on that home ahead of time. State certified homes have certain standards that they must follow and are subject to drop in inspections at anytime, so you have a better chance of your baby being properly taken care of in that home than you would in an uncertified home.

Daycare Centers
There are pros and cons to daycare centers. They are state certified and follow the state standards closely. You will rarely have to question what your baby does all day as it will be spelled out for you. They are normally sanitized properly every night, food is regulated, and a schedule is closely followed. However, the rooms can often be overrun with children, and in some cases there will be one provider taking care of 6 or more newborns the same age as yours. Your baby’s needs may not be met as quickly.

Family/Friend
If you are extremely lucky then you have a family member or close friend who has offered to watch the baby for you while you work. This is the best situation because you know that the baby will have more quality one on one time and it will come from someone who generally cares about him, and isn’t just getting paid to watch him.

However you look at it, going back to work after you have a baby is incredibly hard on mom. Going from spending 24 hours a day with your new baby to only 15, where at least half of which you are asleep can be a huge adjustment. If you have to go back to work, finding a safe place for your baby to be can at least help you feel more comfortable about the whole situation, even if it doesn’t make it easier.