please help, I went back to work today

[sweetpies]

So my maternity leave was over, and (sigh) I had to go back to work today. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to stay home for four and a half months, and even more grateful that my mom will be watching DS every day. However,  it was the day from Hell for DS.  He barely napped and has been clingy and cranky since we got home. Please tell me that he'll adjust. How long did it take your LO to transition? What did you do to ease things?

[gingy]

No experience, but I'm sorry today was rough! I can't even imagine. It has to get better though, right?!

[laur110]

It will get better! He will settle into a routine. Did he eat ok at your mom's?

[DirtyLurker]

He will adjust! DD just started daycare today (relatives kept her prior to today) and she didn't nap well bc she was distracted by all the new things in her surroundings. But we went through this when we traveled to Nicaragua for 3 weeks and she recovered just fine. It just makes for a fussy week or so. I just gave tips to her teachers to help comfort her and know her hungry/tired cues. Other than that I recognize that I can't control how she reacts at daycare when it comes to how she adjusts her schedule, so I plan to keep her routine as steady as I can during the times I can control like mornings and evenings. Hope tomorrow is easier!!

[sweetpies]

Jan 20, 2015 20:54:46 GMT -5 laur110 said:

It will get better! He will settle into a routine. Did he eat ok at your mom's?

Yes,thank goodness. He's been routinely getting a daily bottle since he was 2 months old. He has still been nursing lIke crazy tonight.

[triumphgrrrl]

He'll settle in. My mom watched my LO for a few hours a few times a week before i went back so it wasn't totally new. He still gets a bit clingy at night, but that's mostly when he had a bad day and doesn't feel well.

[annapunkalunka]

There will be good days and bad days. I've been working since October and I can say confidently that good days greatly outnumber the bad ones (for us anyway). Give him some extra snuggles tonight. It'll get better once he settles into a routine. Hang in there!

[jamjoyful]

It will definitely get better. I think it took DD1 a couple weeks to adjust and then she was fine! As she grew older sometimes she would cry when she had to leave her daycare friends.

[Deleted]

Hang in there it gets better. I don't get as upset as I did at first.


But....I also play the lottery now where i didn't before. Maybe I'll hit it big so I can call in rich.

[davidbowiesbulge]

The thing that helps me the most is getting as much done on the weekends so I get as much baby time as I can after work. Dd2 has only had bad days on days she feels sick. It does get better.

[khopec]

It definitely gets better. The first couple weeks are the hardest. Hang in there it's a tough transition but it's gets easier for you both. ;-)

[mrsnorris]

No experience to share but sorry to hear it was tough today! Most things get easier with time and we settle into routines. Even LOs can take time to adjust, so I'm sure he will settle in and get used to the new normal. It's also so nice that he gets to spend that time with grandma! Building that close relationship from all the time together will be such a nice thing for them both! It always helps me if I can think about the up side to the situation.

[acorn99]

The first two weeks are the hardest, but it will get better.

My advice for the first couple of weeks is to enjoy the snuggles when you get home...other chores can wait. Once you get through the initial transition, you will figure out a routine. I always made sure to get my morning stuff ready the night before. H and I just started more formal meal planning for each week and cooking big Sunday emails and that has really been a big help.

[puffandstuff]

Sorry it was a rough first day. It's gets better. 

[vk]

He will adjust! I hope the rest of the week is better for you, and so on!

[jlynn62511]

We have a sitter for LO 4 days a week and 1 day she goes to my in laws. She would be so cranky that night and I finally found out that LO was only napping for 30 minutes. My MIL would rock her to sleep (which we don't) and then try to put her down. LO would wake up and MiL would pick her up even though she was just looking around and not even crying. I had to explain that we put LO down drowsy and she would gibber jabber herself to sleep. Now LO naps much better and evenings those days have improved. The break in the usual routine really messes with my LO. Maybe have a conversations about how the day goes and she if there are any big differences?

[shevacc]

Jan 21, 2015 7:54:24 GMT -5 acorn99 said:

The first two weeks are the hardest, but it will get better.

My advice for the first couple of weeks is to enjoy the snuggles when you get home...other chores can wait. Once you get through the initial transition, you will figure out a routine. I always made sure to get my morning stuff ready the night before. H and I just started more formal meal planning for each week and cooking big Sunday emails and that has really been a big help.

All of this! Except the Sunday cooking...I'm still not that organized, though I wish I was!

Big hugs to you! It's so hard. I've been back to work for 3 weeks and this is my second kid. It's getting easier...DS is now fine but I'm still a little sad. I do enjoy pooping in peace and eating with 2 hands. You can do this!

[yogini kiki]

It definitely gets better and I agree with the others re: snuggling once you are home. Sunday meals help us also.

While at work...I highly recommend taking really long luxurious shits and eating hot food and drinking hot coffee. Those things help me feel better while at work because I can't do them at home!

[sweetpies]

Thank you so much ladies for your support. DS was cranky all evening, but did give us a 6 hour stretch of sleep, which is great for us. When I called to check in with my mom, she said that he'd been soing better with napping today.

@lizziebennett I have definitely thought of investing in the lottery cuz working sucks.

yogini kiki & shevacc I had the most enjoyable lunch and luxuriate over taking my time in the bathroom.

Right now I'm enjoying pumping without having to hold onto a wiggly baby.

[heybombershay]

Jan 21, 2015 12:37:44 GMT -5 yogini kiki said:

It definitely gets better and I agree with the others re: snuggling once you are home. Sunday meals help us also.

While at work...I highly recommend taking really long luxurious shits and eating hot food and drinking hot coffee. Those things help me feel better while at work because I can't do them at home!

I don't think I've ever heard the phrase "luxurious shits," and as a teacher, I will never get to know those.

He will transition though sweetpies. My DD has been doing well... better than me at least. She attached herself to me the first week or so but has been becoming a better eater and napper at daycare. Good luck!

[Courtniko]

Glad he is doing better today!
Once you get into more of a routine it will get a bit easier.

[peanuts]

I guess for us it wasn't a big deal, but DD was 7 weeks when I went back. I understand how it would be much more difficult at 4.5 months compared to 7 weeks because you've had that much more bonding time, and by now LO knows when you are and aren't there. But I'm sure it will get better, glad to hear today seems to be better!