I’m heading back to work after having my first baby. My (beautiful amazing) son is 4 months and in a rough sleep regression so I’m often tired. I’m starting back part (20 hours) time from home. Any tips/encouragement from the other working moms out there?

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I should have started back part time, instead of full time. You did the right thing.

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Congrats! You got this!

The first few weeks are really hard, personally and professionally. I have two boys age 2 and 4, and coming back both times I felt brain dead and like I could barely remember how to do my job. Take plenty of time to roll back on, and assuming you’re coming back to familiar engagements, don’t be in a rush to pick back up all the tasks you used to do from whoever did them in your absence. Take enough time to get briefed on what you missed and give yourself a ton of grace in actually bringing value, it will take a few weeks before you get back in the swing of things. Also the sleep regressions will keep coming, so make sure you and your partner have a good division of night vs morning duty, and since you’re part time I’d try to make a schedule that lets you sleep in (or just chill until 10am) if you’re the night-duty parent.

On a personal front, it’s going to feel like a huge change to not be with your baby as much. Some people get really emotional about “leaving” their baby, while others love feeling like themselves again and talking to adults. Like everything else with pregnancy and parenting, you may surprise yourself with which camp you fall in, and it may be both simultaneously.

4 months is when I went back with my second, my first was even earlier, and in retrospect they are so so tiny, it’s really a shame we don’t get like 6 months paid leave. Enjoy this time, it goes so quickly!

Do you have help or are you trying to do part time and watch him too?

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Thank you! My husband and I both work from home all the time so we’re going to shift our schedules to watch him until he starts crawling. We’ll see if it works!

Yes, the brain stuff is what I’m most concerned about. I know I can do it but it will be an adjustment. Thanks for your note about grace!

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Good you started off part time. I started a new senior role job full time right after maternity, when my baby was 4 months and I almost died of stress!! I’m managing now, but it’s still very stressful!! Take it one day at a time

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Thank you all! I’m loving the advice on the other bowl as well.

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It gets better!!!! Try to keep to a routine and know this will pass.

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Congrats on your new little one! Nothing better than baby snuggles.

Give yourself the time and space to deal with the emotional rollercoaster that is transitioning back. There are so many dimensions to being a working mom, and it takes some time to nail down a flow that works for you. Take it one day at a time!

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Sleep train. CIO.

Just take it one moment at a time!

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