Home » Breastfeeding and working outside the home » Child care
Child care
From early in your pregnancy, you’ve probably been thinking about childcare. If you are planning to continue breastfeeding when you go back to work you will need to consider this when choosing childcare. Regardless of how much you plan for it, going back to work and leaving your baby can be stressful. Try to make arrangements that suit you and the balance you want to have between your work and family life.
Whether you choose a crèche or a childminder, finding one to suit you can take some time. Talk to your public health nurse or other mothers in your support group for information about facilities in your area. Word of mouth is often the best way to find what you’re looking for.
Things to Consider:
- If you are lucky enough to have a crèche at work, book your baby in as soon as possible. This can make it possible to breastfeed your baby during breaks.
- Make sure that any type of childcare provider you choose meets professional standards and is registered with the Health Service Executive (HSE)
- Tell your childminder that you are breastfeeding and that you intend continuing when you return to work.
- Try to find childcare close to your work or on your route to work.
- Tell your childminder you may want to breastfeed when you drop off your baby in the morning and when you collect him in the evening.
- Make sure your childminder knows how to safely store and use expressed breastmilk
- Before your maternity leave ends leave your baby with the childminder for short periods to help them get to know one another.
- Before your maternity leave ends do a few ‘test runs’ in the morning to see how long it takes you to get yourself and the baby ready and get him to the childminder and yourself to work. This will make your first day back a lot less stressful.
