Maternity Leave

It's not that daycare can't babies earlier its what your state regulates...if they say you can go back to doing home daycare with a newborn then the rest is up to you and your dr. I worked in a center for almost 11 years. Took 7 weeks off with my son. Was so ready to get back and comfortable with him going there. My daughter I took 9 weeks and still wasn't ready to leave her. If you decide to shorten your leave and still feel you need some help maybe you can hire someone, family or friend, to temporarily help out. Or even have them just come to help with your own children during non daycare hours. Just some thoughts.

I know of other daycare providers that took very little time off. When my son was a baby, the provider in the home daycare he went to had a scheduled c-section on a Friday and was back home by Monday. She had her sister come help her with the daycare since she wasn't supposed to be lifting, but within a couple of weeks she was back to working by herself.

You should take off for the amount of time that you feel comfortable with and definitely get an answer from you pediatrician and/or OBGYN.

I would wait a least 6 weeks babies immune systems are not fully developed until 6-8 weeks. We are also currently in RSV season, which is October- April, and all babies are at risk for RSV their first year. Babies typically catch RSV from toddlers. I would make sure all of the other parents know how sick your baby can get if they bring a child over with the sniffles or a runny nose, the last place you want to be is at the hospital! Good Luck!

well, I was only off for 3 1/2 wks with my daughter, and I work outside the home in an office. The only thing I would be concerned about would be your baby getting exposed to sickness, but if your daycare children don't come when they're sick, the amount of time should be left up to you. in my opinion. hope that helps!

I would wait the 6 weeks at least. Your body needs time to recover. Even though you will be at home, you will probably not be ready to pick up other kids and take care of them as you do now. It's the rest you need more than leaving the house. I would think that if you had a work from home job that you sat at a computer, it might be different, but taking care of kids is a very active job as you know. Give yourself time to recooperate. :-)

I would say 4-6 weeks. I think it will depend on if you have a vaginal delivery or c-section. YOu should be healed up and feeling better with vaginal delivery by 4 weeks. C- Section takes 6 or so. The baby's health is important to think about too. Four weeks should be enough but that depends on weather and health and things like that. This is a general advice. The best advice would be to guide how you feel closer to three weeks. However, I can understand that you have other parents and children to think about. I know that when I find good childcare, I hate taking my kids anywhere else. Good luck. I hope this helps.

Hey Erica

I do home child care also, and if it where me I would not give your parents a set amount of weeks just yet. I know they probably would like to know so they can make plans. I just think having a baby is one of those things that can't be planned and organized in all facets. Wait and see how the delivery goes, and what the baby is like. Most babies don't sleep through the night until they are 8 weeks or so, so you may be to tired to have kids come back. If you end up having a hard delivery or c-section, or the baby has colic you may need 10 weeks. I would not commit to any thing yet. I would tell the parents to plan on 4 weeks and at three weeks you will touch base with them as to how things are going and how many more weeks or not they may need a different care giver. I would also take into consideration the kids you watch, how demanding are they, do they listen (they will need to be quieter when the baby sleeps, will they understand), they may need to wait longer for things because baby will need to come first. Will they be nice to the baby.

I know it is hard to think about 6 weeks w/o pay, assuming you are not charging the parents. But you know the kids you watch better then anyone, so how soon do you want them back while getting to know your new baby.

Anyway, thats how I would think about things. I hope this helps. Good luck! Let us know what happens. I really hope you have an awesome easy delivery and a healthy happy baby. Best wishes to you and your family.

T.

I would take as long as you think you need. People are different. I watch my cousins and I had my second baby on a Thursday, out of the hospital on Saturday and was watching the kids on Monday. I had my third baby on Monday, and then returned to watching the kids the following Monday. Just keep in communication with the parents and they should be ok with any amount that you take off.

If I had the opportunity to stay home and work after 4 weeks I think we would have done it. You might think back to when your toddlers were 4 weeks old and decide if you think they could have benefited/or suffered from bringing other children in.

I would really see how you feel. If you are ready at 4 the go for it if not then wait. This is the time your body needs to heal and for bonding with the new baby. The reason jobs and fed give 6 wks is babies can;t have their shots any sooner and can't go to daycare.

Take the 6 weeks. You need that time with your baby, and for you to heal. You also need to protect your little one from the germs the other ones will need. I babysat when I had my second, and wasn't ready even after 6 weeks!

Hi, I too have a home daycare where I watch 2 other kids besides my own. I had a baby in August and I took about 2 1/2 weeks off. I know people say 6 weeks, but I don't leave the house since I baby-sit. The kids are old enough that I didn't have to lift them too much. I had a very easy labor/delivery, so I just listened to my body. My kids were 5 and almost 2 when my 3rd was born so my oldest was able to help out a little bit after school. I would say listen to your own body.

i'm thinking six weeks is the norm b/c for those who work outside the home it is usually when childcare providers will accept the babies. listen to your doctor and your body. if your feeling good then i don't see why 4 wouldn't be ok. but if you feel like your not at 100% then wait the two extra weeks or more if you need it.

If you can, I would wait the full 6 weeks. Pending on your bleeding afterwards, you cannot lift much, so you would not be able to lift other kids. YOu will need to take care of yourself first, and your parents fo the kids you watch should understand that. At least wait until your little one gets it's first round of shots as well. Let him/her build up as much immunity as he/she can before you expose to more germs by the other little ones.

I know a lot of people return to work nowadays after 4 weeks, I almost did too. You just need to think of the germs that the daycare kids will be bringing in to your house and how comfortable you are exposing your newborn to them. Good luck with the new baby:)

It really depends on what type of delivery you are having. If you are having a c-section you won't be allowed to lift anything more than 10 pounds for the first 4 weeks. After I had my 2nd my doctor let me go back to work in 4 weeks but I only subsitute teach. So I wasn't lifting anything at all. I think it really just depends on each person and how they feel.

I would check with your gynecologist, they usually have restrictions on how much wieght you can lift. They would be the best person to ask regarding how much time you should take off. Probably also whether you have to have a C-section or a natural birth. Congratulations on your impending arrival!