Have peace of mind returning to work with your precious bundle being well cared for.
Your maternity leave is ending soon and you are feeling anxious and uncertain about resuming work, and adjusting to the working routine after such a long break. To ensure a smooth transition, you might want to start exploring your child care options before returning to work. Are your parents, parents-in-law or other trusted family members able to care for your baby? Should you have your baby cared for by a domestic helper, a nanny or in an infant care centre? You may also have to learn to work with your support system to help with the care of your baby while you are at work. There is bound to be some separation anxiety but you can overcome this by planning your care arrangements early and assuring yourself that your child is in good hands.
Getting a trusted family member like your parents or parents-in-law to care for your baby is a good option. You can be assured that they would love your baby, are reliable and trustworthy, and will therefore look after him well. They are also likely to care for him in your home or theirs, which is a familiar environment for your baby. However, if your parents or parents-in-law are elderly, they may or may not be equipped or able to deal with strong-willed babies and toddlers.
The care and development of children has seen much change over the years so your parents may have different views on how to care for your baby.
Some families may engage a domestic helper to look after the baby. A realistic expectation of the domestic helper in managing the household chores and caring for the baby should be set. Having a trusted relative at home to supervise and oversee the helper is a good option.
Nannies look after children in their own homes or in the baby’s home. There are agencies that can help you find a nanny who lives near you. Nanny services are not licensed.
There are infant care centres providing full and half-day care programmes for babies from 2 months - 18 months old. Some centres offer flexible programmes that cater to different work arrangements. Before you decide on an infant care centre, it is important to know and understand the programme at the centre.
Visit the Child Care Link website at
www.childcarelink.gov.sg or call 6258 5812 for more information on centre-based infant and child care.
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There is no need to stop breastfeeding just because you are returning to work. With a bit of planning, your baby can still be fully breastfed and receive the best nourishment for him. Here are some tips to help you juggle with resuming work and the desire to continue to breastfeed:
You can express your breast milk manually by using your hands or with a manual or electrical breast pump.
Place of Storage | Recommended Storage Duration |
Expressed milk at room temperature of 25°C | 4 hours |
Expressed milk in a cooler with ice pack at 15°C | 24 hours |
Breast milk freshly expressed and stored in the fridge at 4°C | 48 hours |
Frozen milk in 2-door fridge stored at -5°C to -15°C | 3 - 6 months |
Frozen milk in deep freezer at -20°C | 6 - 12 months |
Thawed breast milk stored in the fridge at 4°C | 24 hours |
If you have problems with breastfeeding or are worried, be sure to speak to your doctor, lactation consultants or mothers who have managed breastfeeding successfully despite returning to work.
Visit Parent Hub, for more useful tips and guides to give your baby a healthy start.
Download the HealthHub app on Google Play or Apple Store to access more health and wellness advice at your fingertips.
This article was last reviewed on 15 Nov 2022
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