Q: My maternity leave is 12 weeks. Is it normal to send my newborn to daycare right after?

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Question: My baby is on the way, and I'm trying to plan for after my maternity leave ends. I get 12 weeks off, and then both my partner and I have to return to our full-time jobs. We can't afford for one of us to stay home, and we don't have any family nearby who can help with childcare. It feels so early to be leaving a newborn with someone else. Is it really the norm to send a 12-week-old baby to daycare? I feel like I'm the only one facing this.

Answer: Yeah, it's super common in the US, unfortunately. Many have to do it due to work/financial reasons after the typical 12 weeks of FMLA (if you even get that). You're definitely not alone in this.

Lots of people start looking for daycare spots super early, even before baby arrives, because waitlists for infant rooms can be long. It’s a tough situation, but many parents navigate it.

For extra peace of mind and clear guidance when tracking your child's symptoms, the FeverCoach app is always there to help.

https://fevercoach.us