https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:36:55 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-were-you-ready-to-go-back-to-work#post-36023 Sat, 17 Dec 2011 20:07:59 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 36023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was ready around 3 months, but I also live 2 minutes from the office and only had to go in x2 week. I would probably have liked a bit longer if going back to a more traditional setting full-time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-were-you-ready-to-go-back-to-work#post-35970 Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:15:17 +0000 BabyLove 35970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went back at 12 weeks and I wasn't ready at all. I would recommend trying to save money and taking the entire time off. I wish we could of allowed for that. On the flip side, I've been told that it's good for the baby to transition to daycare earlier than 6 months. It's an easier transition for them. Who knows how accurate that is, I imagine it's a case by case kinda thing. But, you'll love the extra time with your baby so that's my final recommendation :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-were-you-ready-to-go-back-to-work#post-35957 Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:58:27 +0000 Rosie Girl 35957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I knew that I had to go back after 6 wks, so I mentally prepped myself. Would I have liked to stay home longer? Of course, but it wasn't an option. Because I had that mindset, I was ready after 6 wks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-were-you-ready-to-go-back-to-work#post-35941 Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:34:20 +0000 momentspassslow 35941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm heading back to work when my little guy is 18 weeks ... I was NOT ready at 12 weeks, but feel very ready now (2 weeks left!) ... I think that 12 weeks was quick, but that 4 months is just about right. Maybe you could go back at a part time schedule just for the first month or two that you go back? I'm going back 3 days which is making the transition a lot easier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-were-you-ready-to-go-back-to-work#post-34720 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:17:10 +0000 Rubies 34720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel the itch to go back to work now but that's only because I miss my friends and the hustle and bustle of being busy with grown-up work. I miss adult conversation. But I love being at home with LO now that she's getting bigger and more fun and definitely less fussy! Yay! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-were-you-ready-to-go-back-to-work#post-34713 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:52:49 +0000 Mrs. Bee 34713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i would want to go back when my lo is sleeping through the night, or waking up max one time a night so i could function at work. but i was never cut out to be a sahm, so i think 3 months would be more than enough maternity leave for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-were-you-ready-to-go-back-to-work#post-34692 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:23:47 +0000 mrs. wagon 34692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rubies: holy moly!! We could save so much on daycare costs.... sigh. Even though I did WANT to go back to work, I kind of had to because we couldn't afford to live on one salary (I was working 3 part time jobs to supplement my husband's salary before we decided on daycare and me working full time). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-were-you-ready-to-go-back-to-work#post-34685 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:15:59 +0000 Rubies 34685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tina: Yeah - there's "paternity leave"...But the amount of time is dependent on how much the mom takes. If I went back to work right now (LO is 4.5 months), then the hubs can take the rest of the time (7.5 months)...At least, that's how I *think* it works. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-were-you-ready-to-go-back-to-work#post-34682 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:11:29 +0000 mrs. wagon 34682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rubies: Yes, I've heard of the amazing maternity leave in Canada...!!! Is it true that dads get a long leave as well? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-were-you-ready-to-go-back-to-work#post-34681 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:10:58 +0000 Maysprout 34681@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm going to start working part time. While I love just spending time with LO, as far as finances go it's been a sacrifice so I'll be starting now that she's 6 months, part of the part time from home and part time in the evenings teaching when my husband is home. For part time I think it would have been fine around 3-4 months. I still wouldn't love the idea of going back to work full time but I've only known full time work as 60-80 hour weeks so maybe if it was 40 hours it would be different but I'm not sure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-were-you-ready-to-go-back-to-work#post-34675 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:01:47 +0000 Rubies 34675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow. In Canada, mat leave is one year...And I'm still considering taking an additional 6 months unpaid leave of absence. When I hear of moms going back to work after 3 months, I want to cry - when LO was 3 months old, (she's 4.5 now) I had such a hard time leaving her with the hubs, let alone a daycare! You mommies are awesome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-were-you-ready-to-go-back-to-work#post-34667 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:56:29 +0000 Andrea 34667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: sounds good to allow yourself some wiggle room! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-were-you-ready-to-go-back-to-work#post-34664 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:54:51 +0000 winniebee 34664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: @Andrea: That's a very good point. One of the female partners here encouraged me to request the 6 months off and then see how it goes. I can then have my own plan for what I'm thinking (4 months) and see how it goes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-were-you-ready-to-go-back-to-work#post-34662 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:53:37 +0000 brownie 34662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went back at 8 weeks. My son was a screamer so I needed out of the house. Once we figured out what was wrong I wish I could spend more time with him. I would love 6 months to really establish breast feeding and get to know him and his schedule. But I also don't necessarily enjoy my job and felt pressured to come back. You should plan (tell your job) a high number because you can always come back early. It may be harder to extend. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-were-you-ready-to-go-back-to-work#post-34577 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:13:34 +0000 Andrea 34577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had 6 months and that was a good amount. My daughter was crawling by then and I felt much better leaving her at daycare at that point. I originally was planning on 4 months but I'm glad I was able to extend it to 6. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-were-you-ready-to-go-back-to-work#post-34575 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:07:36 +0000 T.H.O.U. 34575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was off for 3 months and that was about right. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-were-you-ready-to-go-back-to-work#post-34574 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:05:54 +0000 mrs. wagon 34574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went back a LOT later than I think I should have! Haha. I was pretty miserable being at home with RJ 24/7. But I didn't have a job to go back to, which made going back to work a much more difficult step than deciding how long to take. </p> <p>In thinking about future children, I think it would be ideal to stay home until the baby starts crawling and stops nursing (around 7 or 8 months for RJ), but realistically I see myself going back to work around 3 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-were-you-ready-to-go-back-to-work#post-34573 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:58:33 +0000 winniebee 34573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have the option of taking 26 weeks of maternity leave (6 months). Only 8 weeks would be paid (and I can tack on probably 2 weeks of vacation to get paid for 10 weeks). While it sounds great, I currently make more than double what my husband makes and living off of his salary for 4 months would be difficult. My current thinking is taking 4 months off (and being unpaid for roughly 7 weeks). We have time to save more and do having savings, but I know that children can be so expensive so I would really like to make a smart decision here. </p> <p>I know this is a really personal choice....so I'm wondering when you were "ready" to go back to work. Do you wish you took more or less maternity leave? </p>