Part-time or Extend Maternity Leave?

[Anonymous]

Personally, I would extend maternity leave to 6 months and work full time at that point. Your baby probably doesn’t sleep consistently at night and you’re probably still sleep deprived.

I went back to work part-time at 4 months and then full-time 2 months later and I really don’t think it made things easier at 6 months. My child went through a sleep regression at 4/5 months and while it was nice going into work 3 days a week, it would have been nicer to still be on leave.

[Anonymous]

The choices are 1) part-time at 4 months followed by full-time at six months or 2) maternity leave until 6 months?

Definitely pick #2.

[Anonymous]

I agree. Maternity leave until 6 months. This part time stuff will be too hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will you be able to maintain your part time hours as part time or will there be hours creep ( will require you to work longer than agreed time in order to complete work)?

When I went part time with my first child, I ended up working longer than agreed upon hours and so wasn’t worth it.

I like the idea of staying back for 5 months and gradually transition to work by month 6.

OP here. My job hours will not change. I will work 3 8 hour days. I will need about 9 hours a day if we hire a nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I would extend maternity leave to 6 months and work full time at that point. Your baby probably doesn’t sleep consistently at night and you’re probably still sleep deprived.

I went back to work part-time at 4 months and then full-time 2 months later and I really don’t think it made things easier at 6 months. My child went through a sleep regression at 4/5 months and while it was nice going into work 3 days a week, it would have been nicer to still be on leave.

OP here. He already sleeps 8-11 hours a night. He's always been a very good sleeper. I think sleep issues happen at anytime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The choices are 1) part-time at 4 months followed by full-time at six months or 2) maternity leave until 6 months?

Definitely pick #2.

OP here. Yes. I can either go back part-time 3 days until 6 months, or take off and go back full-time at 6 months. I think both have benefits.

[Anonymous]

I learned on this board to not make PT permanent because you'll get paid less to do the same work in less time. Take 6 months and then go back full time.

I also agree that daycare is the best. Community, socialization, structure, activities. Now that I'm in the mommy world, I have trouble seeing why a nanny is preferred (unless there's a legitimate reason baby should be @ home, e.g. long-term sickness)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I learned on this board to not make PT permanent because you'll get paid less to do the same work in less time. Take 6 months and then go back full time.

I also agree that daycare is the best. Community, socialization, structure, activities. Now that I'm in the mommy world, I have trouble seeing why a nanny is preferred (unless there's a legitimate reason baby should be @ home, e.g. long-term sickness)

I wanted to do daycare but couldn't get in. Got on 5 lists at 20 weeks pregnant with some federal preference at 3 and nada. Did a nanny share and now understand nanny preference. Our kid got way more outdoor time, got to sleep in his own room, had a consistent caregiver, had his own playgroup and activities plus his buddy all that ensured socialization and community. We live in the city so maybe it was easier to have all this because our nanny can just make plans each day like library storytime, music shows, playground play dates. Also if you have your own nanny, they can handle sicknesses (plus your kid may get sick less), and you don't have an extra pick up/drop off. That being said, if we had gotten into daycare when my son was around 1 we would've left because it's expensive and I myself was a daycare kid and know the care would've been good. However he didn't get into daycare until he was 3 (!!!!) and at that point baby #2 came along and we were all very attached to the nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The choices are 1) part-time at 4 months followed by full-time at six months or 2) maternity leave until 6 months?

Definitely pick #2.

OP here. Yes. I can either go back part-time 3 days until 6 months, or take off and go back full-time at 6 months. I think both have benefits.

OP the vast majority of us who have done this before and responded said to take the 6 months, but it sounds like you’re still unsure so maybe there is something else making you think the part time will be better for you. You have to do what’s right for your family. Now that you’ve said it’s 3 full days I would personally, RUN to the full 6 months of leave! But it sounds like something is holding you back- maybe mental health wise you feel like going back would be better for you? Those things are important too and it’s ok if that’s part of it. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The choices are 1) part-time at 4 months followed by full-time at six months or 2) maternity leave until 6 months?

Definitely pick #2.

OP here. Yes. I can either go back part-time 3 days until 6 months, or take off and go back full-time at 6 months. I think both have benefits.

OP the vast majority of us who have done this before and responded said to take the 6 months, but it sounds like you’re still unsure so maybe there is something else making you think the part time will be better for you. You have to do what’s right for your family. Now that you’ve said it’s 3 full days I would personally, RUN to the full 6 months of leave! But it sounds like something is holding you back- maybe mental health wise you feel like going back would be better for you? Those things are important too and it’s ok if that’s part of it. Good luck!

OP here. I felt it would be a better transition for me and the baby part-time and build up to full-time. He gets used to a nanny or daycare, and I get used to be away. I don't want it to be a shock to him. It will also allow me to breastfeed longer, because I plan to stop breastfeeding when I go back to work full-time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The choices are 1) part-time at 4 months followed by full-time at six months or 2) maternity leave until 6 months?

Definitely pick #2.

OP here. Yes. I can either go back part-time 3 days until 6 months, or take off and go back full-time at 6 months. I think both have benefits.

OP the vast majority of us who have done this before and responded said to take the 6 months, but it sounds like you’re still unsure so maybe there is something else making you think the part time will be better for you. You have to do what’s right for your family. Now that you’ve said it’s 3 full days I would personally, RUN to the full 6 months of leave! But it sounds like something is holding you back- maybe mental health wise you feel like going back would be better for you? Those things are important too and it’s ok if that’s part of it. Good luck!

OP here. I felt it would be a better transition for me and the baby part-time and build up to full-time. He gets used to a nanny or daycare, and I get used to be away. I don't want it to be a shock to him. It will also allow me to breastfeed longer, because I plan to stop breastfeeding when I go back to work full-time.

Wait. Am I being dense? How does this help you breastfeed longer? If you part time back to work at 4 months in your original post you said you go back to work full time at 6 months. OR you take the extra two months and go back to work full time at 6 months. Doesn’t that mean either way you are full time by 6 months and will stop breastfeeding? If anything 6 months leave will help you breastfeed exclusively (if you are doing so) for 6 months. Going part time and pumping will not.

Also, I would say you are projecting a bit. The baby isn’t going to be shocked by the change. Unless the baby takes no bottles which you should definitely test. If anything a weird part time schedule will potentially throw the baby off because it is inconsistent. Babies do great on predictable schedules. Is there anyway you could do leave for 5.5 months and then maybe a two week transition. You definitely don’t need 2 months to transition and as most women are saying here that extra two months is invaluable. Time you will never get back! Unless at the end of the day you actually want to go back to work sooner. But let me tell you around 3 months babies get a lot easier and fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The choices are 1) part-time at 4 months followed by full-time at six months or 2) maternity leave until 6 months?

Definitely pick #2.

OP here. Yes. I can either go back part-time 3 days until 6 months, or take off and go back full-time at 6 months. I think both have benefits.

OP the vast majority of us who have done this before and responded said to take the 6 months, but it sounds like you’re still unsure so maybe there is something else making you think the part time will be better for you. You have to do what’s right for your family. Now that you’ve said it’s 3 full days I would personally, RUN to the full 6 months of leave! But it sounds like something is holding you back- maybe mental health wise you feel like going back would be better for you? Those things are important too and it’s ok if that’s part of it. Good luck!

OP here. I felt it would be a better transition for me and the baby part-time and build up to full-time. He gets used to a nanny or daycare, and I get used to be away. I don't want it to be a shock to him. It will also allow me to breastfeed longer, because I plan to stop breastfeeding when I go back to work full-time.

Wait. Am I being dense? How does this help you breastfeed longer? If you part time back to work at 4 months in your original post you said you go back to work full time at 6 months. OR you take the extra two months and go back to work full time at 6 months. Doesn’t that mean either way you are full time by 6 months and will stop breastfeeding? If anything 6 months leave will help you breastfeed exclusively (if you are doing so) for 6 months. Going part time and pumping will not.

Also, I would say you are projecting a bit. The baby isn’t going to be shocked by the change. Unless the baby takes no bottles which you should definitely test. If anything a weird part time schedule will potentially throw the baby off because it is inconsistent. Babies do great on predictable schedules. Is there anyway you could do leave for 5.5 months and then maybe a two week transition. You definitely don’t need 2 months to transition and as most women are saying here that extra two months is invaluable. Time you will never get back! Unless at the end of the day you actually want to go back to work sooner. But let me tell you around 3 months babies get a lot easier and fun.

OP here. I was a nanny for infants and younger children for 10 years before my current career. I do understand most will do fine, but I have known some babies who had a rough transition with moms going back to work. It can happen, even with younger infants, and it's not always bottle related. He is combo fed and takes a bottle. I think going back part-time will maybe help me figure out pumping at work and I can possibly breastfeed for longer than 6 months.

[Anonymous]

Hey OP. I’m a lawyer. Took 4 months. Went back full time at 4 months while DH did a month and a half of paternity and then DD was full time daycare.

I’d go back part time now. Your baby is fine either way but i loved the fact that my DH was home with DC when I went back. It helped me with the emotions of the transition to know DC was with her dad. I think the part time would be similar for you (and where’s your DH in all this!?!) If I didn’t have that transition I think a part time transition would have helped. Also I’d rather put a baby in care at 4 months than 6. Mine slept a lot at that age and was comfortable with her caregivers by the time she was sleeping less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I learned on this board to not make PT permanent because you'll get paid less to do the same work in less time. Take 6 months and then go back full time.

I also agree that daycare is the best. Community, socialization, structure, activities. Now that I'm in the mommy world, I have trouble seeing why a nanny is preferred (unless there's a legitimate reason baby should be @ home, e.g. long-term sickness)

Insane. Babies don’t need socialization and a community. They don’t even interact with each other.

Daycare is warehousing kids. It’s like a nursing home for babies. Do you really think your elderly parents are better off at a nursing home than a quality caregiver at their own home?

[Anonymous]

If money is a concern, then starting back at 4 months makes sense.