My husband and I both work full-time outside of our home. If it were not for Babywise and the subsequent -Wise series, I would be a crazy person. We started BW from the get-go, and both kids STTN between 3-4 months…which seemed long for BW standards, lol. I physically cannot imagine being back at work for longer than a few weeks without a full night’s sleep. Let’s just say that I am an 8-hour kind of girl. To this day, my husband does the majority of MOTN checks.
The things that make working parents and BW successfully go hand in hand are consistency and routine. We were fairly strict with Eat, Wake, Sleep from birth. Of course, there were exceptions and flexibility, but we placed a lot of emphasis on starting off as we intended to go on. Hardly any naps are missed and bedtime is hardly ever pushed back. That does not mean you cannot be succesful if you are more flexible, but for us, we try to meet those standards the majority of the time. Our kids know those times are almost set in stone and non-negotiable.
I see so many sleep-deprived co-workers nearing the 6-12 month mark after returning to work, and their babies are still not STTN. It is also a temptation to budge on bedtime to spend more time with your children after being at work, but we have seen such a positive effect on our children from getting the maximum sleep possible and staying on a routine. The time that we do have is much higher quality when they are well-rested. BW also enabled us to give very specific instructions to our sitters, and our kids thrive even while we are away at work because they know what to expect and when.
I do have to add that I think a large part of our success has also been due to the ability to keep them at home with a sitter. We do not have to wake them to get out the door early, and they nap in their own beds every day. We’ve also been able to incorporate BW principles, like roomtime, that would not be possible in most daycare settings.
I am so thankful that BW helped us lay the structure and routine that has contributed to my kids being so well-rested and well-adjusted, despite my physical presence at all times. It helped us, especially as first-time parents, and also made communication with our sitters very effective. BW has given me peace of mind and made me a happier mom.
Bethany
