There are many sound reasons for families to commit to having one stay-at-home parent, at least during the early formative years. Wanting to care for your child yourself, enjoying the smiles, and being a part of your baby’s fleeting childhood  are all legitimate desires. But returning to work after a career break to look after young children for a few years might be more challenging than you expected.

Fathers do stay at home to be their kids’ primary caregivers sometimes of course, but in most cases the parent who ends up taking a career break is still the mother. Her career will be impacted by the very fact that she gets pregnant. Taking time off for prenatal appointments, regular pregnancy signs and symptoms, and of course going on maternity leave, can and often do all affect a woman’s earning potential and chances to climb up the career ladder.

Individuals don’t always have control over how being a stay-at-home parent will impact their future jobs, and it depends on the profession as well. Still, there are proactive steps everyone who is committed to being at home with their children for however long can take to improve their odds of being able to pick up where they left off when they want to. Here are our tips. » Read more: Career Transition: Going back to work after a career break to care for children