Heading back to work after maternity leave is often met with mixed feelings. New mothers often feel guilty about leaving their toddler with a caregiver and they also experience the strain of balancing family obligations with work commitments. Take a look at these tips for surviving the transition back to work and getting a new routine up and running:

• Leave the guilt behind – Feel good about accepting new challenges and confident that you’re doing what you feel is best for you and your family.

• Look for reliable childcare – There are plenty of qualified caregivers and excellent daycare facilities for consideration. Look for a safe, stimulating environment, trust your instincts, and be sure to ask a lot of questions.

• Prepare to transition from breast milk, or formula, to the world of dairy – As a parent you want to ensure a smooth transition to regular milk without too much hassle. Consider a transitional milk product (one adapted to toddlers) that contains a protein level and ratio (whey/casein) closer to breast milk, making it easy for tots to digest. Also, for optimal nutrition, consider milk products that are enriched with the vitamins and nutrients your toddler needs such as: omega-3 DHA, vitamins C, A, D, and B6, and with 4 per cent fat content.

• Plan your mornings and dinners – Decide ahead of time which parent will get your toddler dressed, fed, and ready before you both head out the door. For dinner, pre-plan before the week begins and try cooking dinner the night before so that all you have to do is warm everything up and enjoy a little post-work playtime with your tot.

More information on these topics, along with some additional tools and resources can be found online at www.natrelbaboo.com.

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