Back to work after 5 mos & need commute/wake advice quic

[BVO]

I go back to teaching next Thursday after being home with my baby for 5 months  :cry:   Lucinda is on the 4/4 routine, for the past month, and doing pretty well with it.  Our wake-ups vary between 5:30-7:00am, and she doesn't usually go down for the night til late - 8-9pm.

My dilemma is...I need to get up at 5am for school, leave the house around 6-6:15am, and drop her off at day care at 7am (I have a 45 minute commute).  WHEN should I get her up to do her first feeding?  Should I feed from 5:30-6?  She will most likely sleep in the car and wake when we get there (7am).  Then have day care feed her at 9:30?  But according to EASY, she should go down for a nap around 7:30, after being there for only a half hour? 

See my dilemma?  I would LOVE some input!   THANKS!

[Deb_in_oz]

that is a tough call but you have several options.  my first question would be - does she wake up starving for food or is she like many (mine included) who like to be up for a little while first?  second question is how long does she usual stay awake for after first feed?

if she can wait for food i think the ideal would be to take her straight from cot to car around 6am - she can either fall back asleep in the car for 30-45 min and really start her day at 7 at daycare or she can amuse herself for 45 min and eat as soon as she arrives and take her first nap either around 8am  if she did not sleep or around 9 if she did.  then she can feed at 7/11/3/7.  if you are able to do a quick and quiet transfer from cot to car you can often keep her from waking fully if you treat it like a night feed (no eye contact or chat, just low key and start driving and hope the motion lulls her back to sleep).


if she wakes crying for food then as insane as i woudl find this - you could actually wake her at 5:30 for first feed and then she could play in the car for the commute and go down for her first nap at daycare around 7-7:30+ depending on her level of awake time.

good luck - i hope some of that helps.

[BVO]

thanks for your advice!  ANYthing helps these days!

To answer your questions, she is usually not starving when she wakes; she usually hangs out for awhile first before she starts to fuss for our attention.  And she's usually up for about an hour and a half to two hours after her first morning feed.

I don't do a dream feed and I think it might help to start that to stretch out the time she can last before that morning feed.  She usually wakes around 4, but I can shh/pat to get her back for another 2 hours or so.  If I dream feed around 11-12, maybe she won't do the 4am rustle and make it til we put her in her car seat around 6.  Shh/pat and off we go?

Also, I hate putting her in there with a night's diaper and having day care change it, but I know changing her will send her into super awake-mode and the 45 minute drive will be deadly.

I guess I'll just have to see what works best, but I'm so anxious about it!  Four more days til our world is turned upside again...does anyone have insights for a returning-to-work mom?  I know I'm not the first ever, but it sure feels like it! 

[Deb_in_oz]

sounds like you have a bit of a plan then.  try it and see how she goes.  key tip is to think positive and try not to worry  :wink:  as she will pick up on your tension...

if you try the Df make sure you give it a chance to work before writing it off as it can take anywhere from 3 days - 2 weeks depending on child to work.  if she is waking at 4am habitually (at same exact time every night) you could try wake to sleep (i posted about this recently so you shoudl see details)

and don't worry about the wet nappy for daycare - explain to them what you are doing and then they can get on board and be helpful - i assume they are nice and caring people so trust they wil support you through the transition

GOOD LUCK

[BVO]

thanks for the encouragement! you're right about the positive attitude - they pick up on everything!

[Leah's Mom]

Beth - I am also returning to teaching, but I still ahve a few more weeks to go!  I don't know how much help I can be, but just wanted to tell you I am as anxious and nervous as you sound! I did return to work for the last few weeks of the school year though, and it went fine. The first few days are rough but once you get into a schedule, things go smoothly and I began to enjoy teaching! Good luck!

[BVO]

Hi Christine ~
That's great to hear!  I was lucky enough to take leave from spring break til now.  I haven't even thought about teaching yet and I go back on Thursday.  I do think that once the kids arrive my mind will be very busy with them and my routine, that hopefully I won't worry about Lucinda as much!  She will only be 5 minutes from school, so I'm hoping to sneak over at lunch/planning sometimes  :wink:
Enjoy the rest of your summer break and have a good teaching year.  What do you teach?  I teach 7th grade math. :twisted:

[Leah's Mom]

Thanks! I hope you have a great year of teaching also. 7th grade - you're pretty courageous!  I teach K-4 Remedial Reading.