10 things to consider if you are going back to work soon.

My Top 10 Things to Think About If You’re Going Back to Work Soon

Going back to work after having a baby is a big shift, whether it’s your first time doing this or you’ve been here before.For some parents, everything feels completely new.
For others, there’s a sense of knowing what’s coming and also realising it might feel very different this time.

I’ve been through this myself. I’ve gone back to work as a mum. I’ve left a baby in childcare. I’ve tried to hold routines together while managing guilt, logistics, and the quiet identity shifts that happen after having children, both as a first-time parent and again with more than one child. For me, it’s always been the routine that’s felt hardest.

Alongside this, I’m an Occupational Therapist working in perinatal mental health within the NHS, supporting parents through this transition every day.

These are the things I gently encourage parents to think about before they return, not as a checklist to perfect, but as support.

1. Practise the routine

If this is your first return to work, the routine will probably feel unfamiliar.
If it’s not your first, it still might not look anything like it did before.

Childcare arrangements, school runs, different hours, and multiple drop-offs all change how mornings flow.If you can, practise the routine ahead of time. Notice where it feels rushed or stressful. If something doesn’t work, it’s easier to tweak it now than when everyone is tired and the pressure is on.

2. Think about the night before

Ask yourself what really needs to happen the night before to make mornings manageable.

That might be packing one bag or several.

Who’s helping?
What happens if no one is?
What needs to be ready so mornings don’t turn into damage control?

Thinking this through can make a big difference.

3. Make “ready the night before” a rule

This one often matters more when you’ve done this before, because you know how quickly mornings can unravel.

Bags packed.
Clothes out.
Lunches sorted.

I’ve been the mum who arrived at nursery and realised I’d forgotten to take out wet clothes from the night before. No spare set, a meeting in 45 minutes and a 40 minute commute, and no headspace left to deal with it. Getting things ready the night before isn’t about being organised. It’s about being kind to yourself. You will always thank yourself for it

4. Try on your work clothes sooner than you think

Bodies change after birth, every time. Even if you’ve returned to work before, your body may feel different now. Try on your clothes early and notice how they feel.

If they still work for you, great.
If they don’t, that’s okay too. Give yourself time to find clothes that feel comfortable and supportive, rather than something you’re hoping to “get back into”.

5. Pay attention to the feelings, including guilt

First-time parents often feel guilt about leaving their baby.

Second-time parents can feel guilt about being pulled in more than one direction, or about not feeling as emotionally overwhelmed as they did the first time.

You might feel sad about leaving your baby and relieved to have space to think again.
You might miss them and still enjoy being back at work.

None of this means anything bad. These feelings can exist at the same time.

6. Talk to work sooner rather than later

Support will look different depending on your situation.

Some parents need a gentle re-entry.
Others need flexibility around school hours, drop-offs, or sick days.

If you’re in England, you’re entitled to up to 10 paid Keeping in Touch (KIT) days while on maternity leave, though it’s always worth checking current guidance. These can help the return feel less abrupt whilst getting paid!

7. Use settling-in days for you as well

Settling-in days aren’t just for your baby.

They help you get a feel for routines, build trust with carers, and feel more confident about where your child is, whether this is your first experience of childcare or not. That familiarity can make the return to work feel a little lighter. Also talking to them about naps and sleep and working out how that will look when in childcare days.

8. Make food easier if you can

Going back to work takes energy.

If you’re able to prepare freezer meals or plan simple dinners, that can help.
If not, shortcuts are allowed. Easy meals, food delivery, repeating the same few things.

This is about saving energy, use it for things you want to do.

9. Keep life quieter for a while

This transition can take more out of you than you expect.

Low-key evenings and gentle weekends can help everyone adjust, especially in the early weeks. It doesn’t mean life will stay like this forever. Just while things settle.

10. Think ahead about feeding and practical support

If you’re breastfeeding, it’s worth talking to your employer before you return.

Do you have a private space to express?
Somewhere appropriate to store milk?
Time to do this without it becoming stressful?

These conversations can feel awkward, but they matter, and you’re entitled to support. Going back to work isn’t about proving you can manage everything. It’s about adjusting, practically and emotionally.

Whether this is your first return or not, it’s okay if it feels hard. It’s okay if it feels different to last time. It’s okay if some parts feel good and others don’t.

You can love your children deeply and still value being you.
You can miss them and enjoy your work.

Both can be true- on that note! I hope the transition goes as well as it can, be kind to yourself.

Lucy x