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Whether you’ve been off work for six months, a year, or two, going back to work after having a baby is a big change for you and your family. It can be exciting, nerve-wracking, and emotional all at once. You might be eager to get back to work and have some time away from home, but also worried about how to juggle family life with the demands of a workplace, and spend longer times apart from your child.

Planning and preparing for the change well before you make the switch will help make the transition smoother both for you and your child. Here’s how to prepare in the months leading up to the change.

Set realistic expectations

It’s easy to think you’ll slip straight into your old routine when you return to work, but life with a baby looks different. You might feel tired, your priorities may have shifted, and not everything will go to plan. Some days will feel easy, while others may feel overwhelming, and that’s completely normal — ask any parent who’s gotten a call from daycare about a sick child on their first week back.

Instead of aiming for perfection, try setting small, realistic goals. Focus on the things you can control and be kind to yourself and your child when things don’t go as expected.  This change is big both for you and for them, and adjusting will take time. 

Prepare routines ahead of time

Children — and parents — often cope better with change when routines are in place. In the weeks before you go back to work, start shifting your daily schedule to look more like a typical workday.

Wake up earlier, get yourself and your baby ready as if you were heading out, and try a few practice runs to childcare or your carer. This helps both you and your child adjust to the new routine, and gives you confidence that mornings won’t feel so rushed and unexpected once work begins. 

Organise childcare early

Finding reliable childcare is one of the biggest worries for parents heading back into paid work. Whether you opt for daycare, family day care, or rely on relatives, finalising arrangements early can ease a lot of stress.

It’s also worth having a backup plan. Babies and toddlers get sick often, and knowing you’ve got someone to step in when that happens will give you peace of mind. If your child is in childcare, get a friend or a family member to register their details with your child care service so that there are other people who can pick them up in case you can’t make it. 

Return to work at your own pace

Coming off maternity leave can feel like stepping into two worlds at once — the familiar space of your job, and the new role of being a parent. Many mums opt for part-time work at first, or return on a casual basis. There’s no right or wrong choice, only what works best for you and your family.

If you’d like to ease in gradually, talk to your employer about whether a part-time arrangement is possible. Many organisations are open to flexible hours, especially if it helps retain skilled staff.

Talking about flexibility at work

Open and honest conversations are key when it comes to flexible arrangements. Think about what would make the biggest difference to your family life, whether that’s adjusted hours, working from home a few days, or starting later to manage school or daycare drop-offs.

When you discuss your needs, frame them in terms of how it benefits both you and the organisation. Don’t promise anything you won’t be confident you can achieve, and openly discuss what your current availability looks like with the help you have available at the time. 

Be yourself and highlight new skills

It’s common to feel pressure to ‘prove yourself’ when you transition back to work after time away. But the new skills you’ve developed as a parent are incredibly valuable. Time management, problem-solving, patience, and resilience are all strengths that employers respect.

You don’t need to hide the fact that you took a break. Your identity and priorities are different now, and that’s okay.

Balancing breastfeeding and work

If you’re still breastfeeding, returning to work adds an extra layer of planning. Talk to your employer early about what support is available: access to a private space, flexible breaks, or the ability to adjust your schedule. Workplaces are legally required to provide reasonable facilities that support breastfeeding and ensure you’re comfortable and your needs are respected.

Build a support network

No one does parenting alone. Having a strong support network, whether that’s a partner, grandparents, family, friends, colleagues, or other parents will help you navigate through this new period in your life. Lean on people you trust for advice, backup childcare, or just a listening ear on the hard days.

Asking for help doesn’t make you less capable. The more you practise speaking up about what you need, the better equipped you’ll be to handle the challenges that come with being both a parent and an employee.

How Parent Pathways can help

Reimagining work after becoming a parent can feel overwhelming, even if you’re keen to step out of home and focus on work again. If you’re looking for support and guidance, whether that’s preparing for interviews, finding different childcare options, or just having someone in your corner, Parent Pathways could help you. You can read more about eligibility here.