Hi, I am new to this site but really need some advice please from an outsiders point of view (I normally speak to my sisters with regards to baby matters!)

My little man is nearly 7 months old and I have made the decision to go back to work in October. One of my very supportive sisters has said she will look after my lo for me. The only issue is, I am now in two minds whether I am doing the right thing. Financially we could afford for me to not work (as my hubby has a good job) but this would mean that I will be on a very tight budget and any form of luxuries will probably be a no no and the bills I wanted to pay off will be on hold. If I go back to work I would easily be able to afford all of these little luxuries we are currently used to and pay off our bills very quickly.

Am I being selfish worrying about luxuries when I should really be spending time with my lo? or am I doing the right thing by going back to work by giving my lo a better future?

Is anyone in the same situation?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

Its a difficult decision to make. If I had the choice I would much rather stay at home with my little girl. I have been back at work for 1 year and work 4 days a week. I do miss her a lot when I am working and cherish my day off with her in the week.

Could you not go back to work part time then you would get the best of both worlds?

Could you not go back to work for a short time and pay off your bills then finish work

Good luck x

I don't think your being selfish at all! At the end of the day you should do what you feel is right for your own situation. The fact that your sister can look after lo is great as you have no worries about lo going to anyone unfamilier and if it means extra cash to spend on luxuries and extras for lo, it's all good

We run our own business and I chose to return to work even though I didn't have to but as it benefitted our business (hence more money for us all) etc I decided it was right for us. My sil currently has Kade but he's going for a settling in day at a childminders tomorrow and even though I am a bit restless about it, I know as long as he's happy & it's the right decision for us so that's what counts.

Go with what you feel is right for you and don't feel guilty for any decisions you make. At the end of the day your doing it for lo anyway.

Thank you both so much for your advice. I have been into work today and asked my boss if I could work 4 days a week with the hours of 8am to 4pm. Fingers crossed that they will let me do it.

How did you get on with the 4 day request.

My work just declined my request to work from home one day a week but said i could work part time (4 days). Unfortunately I'm the main breadwinner and can't afford to drop even one day a week - it would mean £300 a mth less!

So come 1 Oct I'm back full time!!!

So don't want to go.

Really fell that we should all get at least 1 year off work with full pay (if working before get pregnant) and that pur partners should get at least 1mth if not 2mths off for paternity!

Hi all, I returned to works full time following 10months off, it is so hard that first day when you hand them over to the nursery. Thing is now I don't regret it my little girl loves nursery and it's helped with her interaction skills. I've just found out I'm pregnant again and my dilemma now is do I take her out of nursery when the baby comes or do we still send her once or twice a week.

I have found that since having my little one I have become even more ambitious! I am determined to succeed in my job and provide as much as I can for him. It is crazy really as before having my baby I wasn't really that driven!

i had no choice financially about going back to work- things would have been far too tight if i hadnt returned. But i was very lucky that i went back part time, and could fit my hours of work around my mum and oh, as i do shift work.
but i think now after being back at work just over a yr, given the choice i'd want to go back!! it may sound very selfish, and i love spending time with my lil boy- but you do need some time out even if it is only work!!!
i'm now preg with my 2nd and will make the same decisions again, i will prob have a few months longer off (had 9months with first), but thats down to longer statatory now and longer entitlement with work as have now been there longer!!
i think the decision is very dif for everyone, some people it suits to stay at home and some it doesn;t.

I have just arranged to return to work part time (3-4 days per week) when my lo is 6 months old. I am really looking forward to it. I dont think you should feel guilty about going. Being a good parent is about doing the right things when you are with your lo. I know some people who have been at home everyday with their lo's but are not good parents (sadly one lady has just had her lo's taken away from her).
Your emotional wellbeing, mood etc is so important to how you treat your kiddies that you must at times put yourself first.

I returned to work part time after having my first daughter, full time with my second daughter and am now working for myself from home after having my son in December, and work the hours I want to work around my children. I realised I missed out on so much with my daughters I really couldn't face leaving my little man. You have to do whats right for you though...

good luck with whatever you decide. x