Going back to work

I'm going back to work full time in just under 3 weeks and I'm absolutely dreading it. My baby will be with my husband's family member who is also watching her own 2 year old at the same time and it just hurts my heart knowing that I can't be with him all day and that someone else gets to bond with him instead. I'm trying to tell myself that it will be fine but I'm struggling. I'm feeling guilty for leaving him and feeling a sense of jealousy, thinking that my baby may see someone else as their primary caretaker. Does anyone who's been in a similar situation have positive stories to share when daycare or similar worked out well?

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Hi! I just had my son in July too, but have a 2 year old daughter. I had these same feelings when I sent my daughter to daycare. (I was a daycare teacher so I've seen both sides). I can assure you, your baby will only ever see you as mom. You are it for them. They might love and care about other people, but you will always be their safe place! Make sure to be positive about going and help your child feel safe and excited about going! It can be so hard those first few weeks, but it will get easier. Your feelings are very valid. ❤️ my daughter loves going to school, but runs to me and hugs me when I pick up. Having a good relationships with the teachers, I know she's safe and loved, but there is no one like mama!

@Marissa thank you for sharing this! ❤️ It's what I needed to read.

I'm gonna have to make this a short comment Because i'm trying to use speech to text and nurse my wiggly baby Boy. But I left my daughter after being home with her for four months because of the way my work schedule was.. I left her with Her father. We are together anymore. However She and I have a beautiful and close bond.. 💗💗 She is five years old

@Michelle that's great to hear ❤️

I am in the same boat & am feeling the same way-I’m assuming this is very normal ❤️

Just posted about the same thing and just saw this. I’m a mess too

@Taylor it just feels too soon to leave them with someone else :( they are still so little.

Same I know the feeling. I switched over to overnight just to stay with my daughter

in our community

Is it bad of me to think this or no?

My husband has been abroad for work (1 day and exploring for 1 day) for 2 and a half days which means I’ve had both kids (1 year and 4 year old) for 2 and a half days plus cooking, cleaning, taking them to clubs, bedtimes!
He came home late afternoon and said I’m so tired, I just need to chill. I said can you wash up whilst I sort kids dinner out, he said he’ll do it later which means he won’t do it and I’ll end up doing it so I said no do it now please otherwise I’ll end up doing it and he said well you have been home and I’ve been away so you’ve just been relaxing.
Don’t know what planet he is on but having the kids alone for 2.5 days is not relaxing. I was stressed!

When he was away, I did miss him and wanted him to come back but now he’s back, I want him to go away again😂
Is that bad?

Post partum dad

I have a 2 month old. A few weeks ago my husband crashed out because he didn't feel like he was getting to bond with her. I started exclusively breastfeeding around that time and honestly didnt see the big deal. Baby and I left for a few days and when we got back home, everything was fine. He was extremely hands-on. He helped with my meals, her bedtime, bath, stories.....for a few weeks it was great. Then he randomly sounds depressed af. He says our lo is better off without him, he wants to sleep all day , he asks me not to watch tv then tried playing a video game. He refused to reply to me when i asked any follow-up questions. Then he woke up our baby trying to race me to the bathroom first thing in the morning . He's doing a weird mix of crying, trying, and giving up. Im starting to feel like I cant handle him not being able to handle life with baby and just want to be alone. Are there resources for men?

My 2 year old won’t eat nothing but snacks

Is this normal ? He won’t even try anything I eat .. he really only like pizza fries and spaghetti… nuggets and snacks bananas some other fruit but like anything else he won’t eat if try but I don’t want to force him I’m just I feel like bad I mean he isn’t losing weight I breastfeed mostly still

Really bothered by this

A friend posted this and it really bothers me because that is exactly how she parents her kid, and it's rather unfortunate because when our kids hang out together, her kid has a meltdown at least 5x within an hour. We have know them for years and it's only gotten worse. My kids will concede to hers, because they don't want to see their friend crying, but it sucks because they give up so much of their toys and enjoyment to keep the peace. We aren't hanging out as much anymore but it's rather sad to think she doesn't intervene more in her child tantrums and just let's it slide

Shift worker daddies - advice please?

My husband works shifts (6am-6pm days or 6pm-6am nights) so when he’s on shift we either get about an hour or 2 before he goes to work or an hour or 2 when we gets home with him.

I don’t think people who aren’t married/have babies with shift workers fully understand the impact of feeling like a solo parent sometimes.

Does anyone have any advice? I do have parents who can help but I struggle to leave my baby with others as I always feel like they don’t understand the need for tracking wake windows or feeds and our baby will not sleep unless we black out a room or go for a car drive . Everyone seems to think ‘if he’s tired he’ll drop off’ - no he’ll just get overtired and have to then pay for it during his night sleep. So I feel like it’s just easier for me to do it all myself.

When my husbands off work he is great but I do take the mental load of telling him what to do or even reminding him of wake windows etc because he’s not here and forgets routines. He’s also being tested for ADHD currently so there’s that on top of shift work.

Just looking for advice on how to stay sane/keep routines or share loads with shifts workers?

Thank you ❤️

Feeding

My son is coming up to five months and I just started giving him oatmeal and rice cereal. When can you start trying veggies or fruits? I only give him the oatmeal or rice cereal once a day right now which is what the paediatrician had said to do. I’m just curious to when anybody tried anything else with their kids cause my son eats a lot of formula and he’s VERY curious when I eat.