Soapbox

When should women return to to work after having a baby?

Jan 07 11:01am

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Mara Lee, editor of Practical Parenting says, "It's quite insulting to make it a good-mum bad-mum choice."

"Some mothers are better having a balance psychologically if they're at work."

Janet says that babies are better off if they stay home with at least one parent until they are two or three.

What do you think? Tell us below...

154 Comments Report Abuse

11. kyllltt - Jan 07 08:33am

I have a four month old and I would love to return to work.But I have chosen to be a stay home mum.It means money is tight and my sanity is tested but I know every day my son recieves absolute unconditional love and you cannot put a price on that.xxxx

12. joannebaxter28 - Jan 07 08:33am

I went back to night work packing shelves at Woolies when my second child was nine months. I chose to go back to work as I was going crazy just beig home 24/7. I wanted to find a job where I could have a happy medium, I am home during the day and work for a few hours when they are asleep.

13. ircm92 - Jan 07 08:35am

My mother had to go back to work full time and I was put in child care from (at least) the age of 6 months. As a 16 year old now, I believe that going to child care full time from a young age actually gave me social skills that have been invaluable to me and that others my age are only just gaining.

14. knightvanessa - Jan 07 08:35am

I went back to work after 3 months 3 days a week so I therefore job share with another girl & my parents look after my baby & my father-in-law does every second Tuesday. I think it is a great balance for not only me but my baby as this enables him to have a very close bond with both grandparents

15. jenbrowntexas - Jan 07 08:36am

As a stay-at-home mum I believe the joy of seeing my daughter grow and flourish every day is worth any sacrifice, be it financial and/or emotional in order to satisfy my own professional aspirations.

16. louisecook32 - Jan 07 08:36am

I am a psychologist and we need to be careful interpreting the research mentioned. There are no long term studies to show whether increased cortisol has any negative effect in the future. Research also suggests that one-to-one care is preferable under two but this could be Mum, Dad or grandparents!

17. emegan64 - Jan 07 08:36am

I am a mother of 3 children and returning to work next week after having 6 months maternity leave, as much as i would love to stay home with my 5 month old son it is financially not possible for me to do so. both my husband and i have decided that to make ends meet we both have to work. Megan

18. wadeadam74 - Jan 07 08:37am

Is it right to go back to work just to keep up with the jone's. You can live on next to nothing if you realise that your son/daughter are the world to you.

19. amoresuzy - Jan 07 08:37am

I worked when my daughter was 1 year old stopped when she started pre-school, and stay home all through her years at state school, in that time i started a business in dressmaking, and did a corrosponding coourse in small business. I also did tuck shop 4 days p/week and assisted the teacher.

20. kravisha - Jan 07 08:37am

I agree that children need a consistant person in their life,and a parent is always the first option. But If a parent needs to work and has no choice but to put their child into care than a great option is Family Day Care. The child then has the consistancy of only one carer.

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