Returning to work after a baby: a guide for parents

What to expect when you return to paid work

Returning to paid work after taking time off to care for a new baby gives you the chance to:

reconnect with your job and colleagues
ease financial pressure
add variety to your daily routine.

You’ll probably find that returning to paid work after becoming a parent raises practical issues like:

getting used to new family routines
finding a child care option you’re comfortable with and managing costs
managing any stress that comes with balancing parenting and paid work.

Doing things you enjoy and thinking positively about your life are good for your emotional wellbeing. And when you feel good in yourself, you have more energy and warmth to put into your relationship with your child. If you enjoy your paid work, returning to work can be good for you, and good for your relationship with your child too.

New family routines when you return to paid work

To find a new routine for your family, it’s good to start by talking with your partner, if you have one, about your roles and responsibilities both inside and outside the home. You might also look at ways of balancing these with looking after yourselves and doing things you enjoy, like playing sport or seeing friends.

Here are other ideas to help you reorganise your family routine:

Make changes before you return to paid work. For example, you could get your child and family ready for child care by starting your new child care routine a week or so before you return to paid work.
Talk with family, friends, and early childhood educators and carers about your plans. Other people might have ideas for saving time or might be able to help you spot potential problems before they arise.
Ask your work colleagues how they made the transition back to paid work.
Organise to work fewer days or shorter hours for 1-2 weeks after going back to paid work, if that’s possible.
Think about who might be able to help you in practical ways. For example, family or friends might agree to register their details with your child care service so they can pick up your child if you’re held back at work.

If you’re breastfeeding and returning to paid work, your right to breastfeed in your workplace without discrimination is protected under the Sex Discrimination Act. If you need to, you can talk with your workplace’s equal employment opportunity officer or human resources department about where and when you can breastfeed or express breastmilk.

Child care and the return to paid work

The return to paid work might mean a change in your routines, but your child’s needs will stay the same. Your child needs to:

feel safe and secure in their daily routine
play and learn in a stimulating environment
have warm and nurturing interactions with the main people in their life.

If you can work out ways to fulfil your child’s needs when you’re not around, it’ll be easier for your child to get used to your return to paid work.

Your options might include centre-based child care or family day care, a nanny or grandparent care while you’re at work, as well as plenty of quality time with your child when you’re at home.

Here are other things that can make this transition easier for you and your child:

Organise your child care as early as possible, perhaps even just before or after your baby is born. Most child care services have waiting lists, especially for children under 2 years. Other people who care for your child might also need time to make arrangements.
Have back-up care options for your child in case their regular care is unavailable. This will reduce pressure and worry for you. Somebody who can help out at short notice and who you trust is the key. Some options are friends, parents from playgroup, grandparents and other relatives.
Have a back-up plan for when your child gets sick. For example, if you have a partner, can one of you change your hours or work from home for a day or so to care for your child? Or you might need to find somebody else who can help out with emergencies.
Tackle any questions or concerns about your child’s care quickly. If you’re worrying about your child, it can be hard to concentrate at work.
Talk to your child’s early childhood educators and carers regularly – not just when you have concerns. This can help you build a strong relationship with your child’s educators and make it easier to tackle any concerns that do come up.

If you’re spending a lot of your family budget on child care at the moment, it’s worth remembering that returning to paid work and staying in the workforce often means improved career prospects, better lifetime earnings and a better retirement income in the long term.

Feeling stressed when you return to paid work

When you return to paid work, you take on extra responsibilities. Naturally, this can cause you stress.

Some stress can be helpful, giving you motivation and focus to face challenges and get things done. But too much stress can be overwhelming, making it hard to cope with everyday tasks and enjoy family life and relationships.

Here are tips on reducing stress in your family life when you’re a working parent:

Stick to a routine if you can. Routines can help you feel more organised and in control, which lowers your stress and anxiety. They also help family life run more smoothly.
Plan food and cooking shortcuts. You could try cooking more than you need and freezing leftovers for future meals. Or keep a few things in the pantry or freezer for quick meals when you don’t have time to shop.
Do what you can the night before. Things like laying out clothes or making lunches the night before can make the morning less of a rush.
Ask for help when you need it – for example, from family, neighbours or parents you know from child care or school. Early childhood educators and carers, GPs and child and family health nurses can also tell you about other support available in your community.

If you’re finding the return to paid work very hard and you feel it isn’t working out, it’s worth talking about this as a family. There might be another way to manage your time and money so that you have a better balance.

If you’re still feeling very stressed every day, it’s a good idea to talk to a health professional. You could start by seeing your GP, who can help you make a plan for managing stress.

A big break from paid work?

If you’re thinking of delaying your return to paid work, keeping up to date will make it much easier to get back into the workforce when you’re ready.

Here are tips:

Keep in touch with old work friends. For example, go out for a coffee and a catch-up now and again.
Keep your online employment profile up to date.
Browse job ads to see what work is available and what employers are looking for.
Keep your skills and knowledge up to date by taking a course or reading articles by leaders in your industry.
Do some short-term, freelance or casual work to maintain your skills and networks.

Once you’re ready to return to paid work, sit down and think about the new skills you’ve gained raising a child. For example, you’ve probably learned a lot about negotiation, responsibility, budgeting and time management. When you’re writing an application, be sure to emphasise these, as well as anything you’ve done to keep in touch with your industry.

When you return to paid work after a baby, you might choose a work option that suits your family well now. You can always make changes as your family’s needs change.