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.

By Sarah Holmes, Ph.D.

A baby crib is one of the most expensive things you will buy for your new baby. You can always go to your local store to shop for a crib, but you may find that your options are limited in terms of finding the perfect baby crib. Plus, it is much easier to sit at home and shop at your own computer than to go from store to store looking at baby cribs. If you decide to shop online for a baby crib, there are a few things you should keep in mind. This article will review a few pointers that will help you safely buy a baby crib online.

It’s All About Selection
One of the greatest things about online shopping is the selection! For example, if you decide that you want a round baby crib, your local store may not carry any at all. Through several online stores, you can find dozens of great round baby cribs made by several different manufacturers. While the wide range of choices may be overwhelming, it can be very useful when you are just trying to get an idea of the type of crib you want. You can review lots of different baby crib models in order to help you decide which baby crib features matter to you most (i.e., convertible, casters, both sides dropping down, etc.). Once you finalize the type of crib that you want, you are then ready for some serious price comparison shopping.

Compare Baby Crib Prices
You will be amazed to find that the very same baby crib may vary in price by several hundred dollars. That is because there are more than a dozen online stores that sell baby cribs. They all compete with each other meaning that you can get some a really good deal on a baby crib. They often offer free shipping, put their baby cribs on sale or offer “internet coupons” for a certain percentage off the total price. This is all to your advantage but requires you to shop around to find the best deal on a baby crib. One thing to look for is the shipping cost when comparing baby crib prices. One crib may be listed at a lower price but have a higher shipping charge. Make sure that you identify that actual shipping charges and take that into consideration when selecting the best priced baby crib. Many of the online stores will list the shipping cost right on the product page. If not, you may have to add it to you cart and “check out” to see what the shipping charges are.

Check the Online Store’s Policies
The last thing you will want to do before finalizing your online purchase of a baby crib is to check the store’s policy. You will want to make sure that it is easy to contact them by mail, email, and phone. If they do not provide this information, then you may not want to buy from them. You will also need to check out their shipping policies. Some will offer you a choice in shippers which may influence the shipping price. You will also want to check to see when they will ship the crib. Several online stores take 6 to 8 weeks to ship a baby crib. If time is short for you, you will have to select an online store that can ship the baby crib right away.

It is important to review the store’s return policy. If you decide on ordering a custom made crib, the online store may not allow any returns. If this is the case, you will need to be 100% that this is the baby crib for you. Online stores may offer free exchanges or may require you to pay to send the crib back. These are all issues that are important to take into consideration when deciding on where to buy your baby crib. Also, if you do decide to order a specialized crib such as a round or corner crib, be sure to order a mattress and baby bedding. Regular stores don’t usually carry these items and it’s best to order them online as well.

With this information in mind, you should be able to find the best online deal for a new baby crib. You will definitely find the widest selection online and most likely the best deal on the perfect baby crib for your new baby.

About the Author
Sarah Holmes, Ph.D. quit her full-time job in order to stay home with her baby girl. She created www.BabyCribCentral.com as a free resource to other new moms and dads. Her site compares prices on hundreds of baby cribs from more than 20 online stores allowing you to find the beset price with a click of a button. Her site also offers lots of information about the different types of cribs as well as all sorts of safety information about how to buy and use your new crib safely.