Exclusive | Forget mom and dad Gen Z, millennial mothers are bringing babies to job interviews

It’s a parenting trend that gives “mommy-and-me” a whole new meaning.Millennial and Gen Z mothers are bringing their babies to job interviews in an effort to combat the soaring costs of child care — insisting that any company that doesn’t value or understand their role as a mother doesn’t deserve them.“It takes hours of planning,” says Melissa Riling, 35, a jobseeking mom of one from the Hudson Valley, who totes her tiny tagalong to appointments with would-be bosses.“I feed him, dress him in an outfit that matches mine, set up his activity center or find something to watch for screen time.

It’s intense.” She’s pitched herself for a number of positions since the top of the year, meeting with potential employers, both in-person and via Zoom, while her 11-month-old son plays, coos or catches a snooze nearby.Each time, she’s made hiring managers aware that her tot would be in tow. “Childcare is too expensive to get every time I interview for a job that’s not guaranteed,” Riling tells The Post.As a multi-hyphenate mama who specializes in event designer, floral care and modeling, Riling is just one of many cost-conscious mamas pulling double duty these days.While child-free Gen Zs — newcomers to the corporate world ranging in age from 18 to 27— are asking their parents to join them on job interviews for support, new mommies within the demographic (and a few who are in their thirties, like Riling) are bringing their babies along.  The U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services regards child care affordability as a cost that does not exceed seven percent of a family’s income, according to a recent study by Robin Hood and Columbia University. The researchers found that in New York City, the average annual cost of sitter services — support provided either at home or at a child-friendly center — is around $12,900. Unfortunately, the eye-popping price makes proper child care unaffordable for 52% of NYC families, including both...