Adventures in Mommyhood: Taking Baby to Work

So last week I started back at work and I am so fortunate that I work in an office setting and am able to bring her to work with me. I am only doing half days right now because pretty much by the time I get her and myself ready, in the car, and to work and settled then have to actually do a few hours of work, I'm quite exhausted. By lunch time it's time for a nap for both Lilly and mommy. 

Here are some tips for any moms out there thinking about taking baby to work with them:

First of all taking your baby to work will not be the best situation for every job and work environment. If you think it will be a good fit with the kind of job you have, you will need to talk with your boss about what options you have. If you work in an office in a  cubicle or a space that doesn't have door or closed off area, is there an option for you to move to an office with a door. Discuss whether you can work on a part time basis to get you and baby acclimated and on a schedule and/or if there is a way you can do some work from home.  Once you and your boss have discussed your options and determined your schedule, a few days before (or you can even try a whole week, depending on your baby) you plan on going back to work, figure out what your schedule will be. Think about what time are YOU going to have to wake up, how long is it going to take you to get ready (shower, dressed, coffee, breakfast, etc.), what time is BABY going to wake up, how long is it going to take to get baby ready, and what time do you and baby need to leave the house to be at work on time and start planning accordingly. Think about preparing as much as you can the night before, have diaper bag packed, lunch packed for you, and anything else you'll need to take for your little one. 

Here is how it works with me and Lilly:

5am-6am
Lilly and I both wake up, Lilly eats 6oz bottle then lays in swing, I pump

6am-7am
 I eat breakfast then wash up and get dressed

7am-7:30am
I get Lilly cleaned up, changed, and in the car

7:30-8am
Commute to work

When we get to work Lilly will eat again sometime between 8am-10am, depending on how long she naps and then I pump again. She stays awake a little bit, but is easily entertained by her bouncy seat or on her tummy time mat. I get as much work done as I possibly can with constant interruptions for her pacifier or to sit in my lap and look at the computer screen while I work. She'll usually take another short nap and wake up by 12-1, then we go home to eat lunch and we both take an afternoon nap and then I get dinner ready.

My Essentials for Taking Baby to Work

These items have helped me tremendously in having Lilly at the office with me

1. Thirty One Utility Tote to carry all my stuff in to the office

2. Thirty One lunch tote for my lunch

3. Thirty One Thermal Pouch for breast milk storage

4. Baby Floor Mirror

5. Ju Ju Be Changing Pad

6. Fisher Price Tummy Time Mat

7. Fisher Price Bouncy Seat 

A bouncy seat is the perfect alternative to her swing

8. Aden+Anais Swaddle Blankets

9. Baby Einstein Lullaby Classics 

Music is crucial in having Lilly in the office, it is the perfect background noise for her. 

You can also try Baby Einstein radio on Pandora.

Adventures of Mommyhood: The First Month

My baby girl, Lilly, was born on August 1st, 2013 and has been a relatively great baby so far! She has been sleeping for 4+ hours from the first night we brought her home so things have been pretty much a breeze. She's only fussy when she's hungry or gassy and is great in the car and when we take her out. She went on her first road trip to visit grandparents in North Carolina and slept the entire 4 hour drive there and back.

Having survived our first month with a new baby, here are some of my pointers for new moms bringing home a newborn and what to do the first month:

- Don't worry about getting baby on a schedule right away, wait until they are a few months old. Let your baby eat and sleep for however long they want and how often they want, especially the first month. They are trying to figure out what they need and how much they need in this first month of life. Letting Lilly sleep and eat when she wants for however long she wants has been a great pay off for us. She has developed her own schedule pretty much, I have never had to wake her up to feed and have not had any really late and stressful nights with a fussy baby.

- Take advantage of resting as much as you can the first 6 weeks, you and your body will greatly appreciate it. Don't try to do too much too soon or worry about trying to loose the baby weight, give yourself and your body the time it needs to heal properly. 

- Take advantage of your friends and family that are offering and willing to help you. If you need to take a shower, need the rugs vacuumed, the dishes washed, a load of laundry done, a few things picked up from the store....don't be afraid to ask for help.

- Depending on your needs, find some time for yourself. Whether it's one hour a day or a few hours on the weekend, find some time for you to relax and get things done that you want to get done. I am very blessed that my parents live right next door to us. My mom has been a life-saver. If I need to go grocery shopping or run some quick errands or need to get some house cleaning done, she will help me or watch Lilly while I get some things done. Since my husband works during the week, we have an arrangement where I get up with her at night during the week and on the weekends he gets up with her if she wakes up (she will usually wake up around 3 or 4 in the morning and then at 7 or 8) while I get some extra sleep.

- If you want to hold your baby, hold your baby! You only have them like this at this stage for a very short window in time. Get all the peaceful baby snuggles you can and want.