https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 17:24:29 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-returning-to-work-amp-day-care-after-2#post-2309243 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 17:21:23 +0000 Corduroy 2309243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone, this is encouraging.</p> <p>@blackbird: @cascademom: I can tell I will have a harder time returning after baby #2. If I could stay at home with him and keep LO1 in day care full time I would be tempted to do it. Not that I don't love LO1 but the idea of being home FT with both is enough to make me want to go back to work ASAP. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-returning-to-work-amp-day-care-after-2#post-2308892 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 11:49:33 +0000 blackbird 2308892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cascademom: that's great to hear! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-returning-to-work-amp-day-care-after-2#post-2308880 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 11:42:52 +0000 cascademom 2308880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: I'm still at the same job, but with a different mindset than the first time. Life was so stressful coming back to work after LO #1 maternity leave for a number of personal reasons. This time around, it's still stressful because of our bigger family and an impending move. Selling, buying, and moving with an infant and a toddler is stressful alone. Add pumping at work, daycare, etc. It's a lot, but I'm in a happier place this time around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-returning-to-work-amp-day-care-after-2#post-2308845 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 11:14:27 +0000 blackbird 2308845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cascademom: I think coming back to a better job makes a huge differenceb </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-returning-to-work-amp-day-care-after-2#post-2308793 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 10:41:34 +0000 cascademom 2308793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: I had such a great time on maternity leave this time. Being back at work is rewarding, but tough. Baby J is so different from E. It's like night and day experiences. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-returning-to-work-amp-day-care-after-2#post-2308780 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 10:34:12 +0000 blackbird 2308780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also had a harder time going back after #2 than #1. T was a more easygoing baby, so I actually enjoyed my leave. </p> <p>That being said, I came back at a reduced schedule, primarily so I could get to the gym easier and run some errands without it being a circus. Without that, I'd probably just go in the evenings after E is asleep. </p> <p>Mornings are pretty smooth, thankfully. It's evenings that are all over the place. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-returning-to-work-amp-day-care-after-2#post-2308775 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 10:28:53 +0000 LuLu Mom 2308775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me, I had a harder time going back to work with #2 than #1, which was strange. I was a lot more sad about leaving and missing our time together. WE had a similar set up, DD1 still went to daycare while I was home with DD2. </p> <p>The biggest thing will be getting a morning routine down, we do man on man defense in the morning, DH takes one girl and I take the other, this helps cut down on the time it takes to get ready. Baby ahs a bottle but DD1 has breakfast at daycare, so besides a drink it's just getting dressed/teeth and hair brushed/ and out the door. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-returning-to-work-amp-day-care-after-2#post-2308766 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 10:24:01 +0000 HappyBaker 2308766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our transition actually went better than I thought it would, and it was nice to get back into a routine after maternity leave. When I went back DS was only 10 weeks, and DD was almost 3. It definitely takes a lot longer to drop them off than it did with just one kid, just because there's more stuff to put away and we have to go to two different rooms (they're in a center). I've found it easier to have a separate daycare bag for each kid.</p> <p>The main thing is to pack their bags / your bags and get everything ready the night before. Mornings are crazy when 4 people are involved! I shower the night before so in the morning I just throw on my clothes and then get the kids ready while DH showers and gets ready. DD eats breakfast at daycare and it's hit or miss if the baby needs a bottle or not. 8 months in and we can wake up and get ready in 30 minutes, which I think is pretty good!</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-returning-to-work-amp-day-care-after-2#post-2308751 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 10:19:50 +0000 Adira 2308751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Having two in daycare is only slightly more difficult than having one. My biggest concern was getting them both in and out of the car on my own, but your oldest is 2.5, so that shouldn't be too much of an issue. I always open up Xander's (2.5) door first so he can climb in and then I go around and put Logan (10m) in the car and then back around to buckle Xander in. It'll be fine! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-returning-to-work-amp-day-care-after-2#post-2308740 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 10:17:28 +0000 cascademom 2308740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The transition from maternity leave to working with two kids has been interesting. It's a learning thing for us. The baby wakes up early, so right now, if he gets up early, I drive him to daycare. Then, I get ready for work and help with the eldest. Other days, all of us leave together and do a big circle in the neighborhood: drop off baby, drop off me at the El stop, then eldest gets dropped off. </p> <p>When we move, both of them will hopefully be at the same care facility. It may make mornings easier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-returning-to-work-amp-day-care-after-2#post-2308731 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 10:14:36 +0000 Corduroy 2308731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How was your transition back to work &amp; daycare after having LO2+? Any tips or special concerns for round 2?</p> <p>I'm going back to work in two weeks after having LO2. He'll be 4 months and DD is 2.5. She's been going to day care while I've been on leave. The kids will be at the same one room, in-home day care that provides food. I'm thinking things won't be too complicated in our circumstances but I'm worried I'm missing something big.</p> <p>My parents are coming for my first two weeks back to watch LO2. Then DH may watch LO2 for two more weeks. I wish we weren't doing that and that LO2 was going straight to day care so I (&amp; LOs) could adjust to the new routine faster. DH really wants to LO to be a little older and save a month of daycare. </p>