Freelancing with baby is it possible or crazy?

[Maja123]

Hi
I have already 3 year old with 15h blessing nursery and in a month will welcome baby girl. I was thinking to become virtual assistant. Is it possible to be mum of 2 small and do little hours (I want to do just 5-10h a week) or is it totally crazy idea? Also is it better to do freelancing or work for Time etc, or other esablished agency.

[k2p2k2tog]

You don't freelance when it suits you, you freelance when it suits the clients. Clients aren't going to want to pay someone to do a half arsed job because there's a baby and a toddler in the house needing attention.

[Catinthecorner]

Assuming you can get childcare/the other parent will be primary at that time of course you can do it

[KadabrasSpoon]

I do my freelance work when the DCs are in nursery. I'd personally find it difficult to work with them at home plus I'd want to play with them. A newborn might be different though if you get one of those happy sleepy babies I've heard rumours off I find that a freelancing relies on reliability and reputation though so if you end up letting clients down it won't work long term.

[Callamia]

I have a preschooler and a baby, and I work evenings, and during the time that the baby is asleep and the preschooler is at nursery. That’s probably about 10+ hours per week.

You could probably manage ok during the early baby days, but they don’t last that long - and daytime sleep reduces, would that work for you?

[Dairymilkmuncher]

I had a similar plan with my last baby and it didn't work out, was terrible actually I put myself under a a lot of stress trying to accomplish the impossible. He was nothing like my eldest and wouldn't settle for long naps he wouldn't sleep at night so if I got him looked after for an hour here and there so I could work I would be exhausted and overwhelmed with housework etc etc and I wouldn't be as fast working as I did pre baby because I was so tired.

He has calmed down now and goes to childcare more, I have more help with the house and I can pick up more work and glad I set up on my own but took a few years

[MushroomTree]

Freelancer and single mum to 10 month old DD here. No input from her father or any other childcare. I work when she sleeps which is for 2 hours in the day and then about 3 hours in the evening before she wakes up for a feed. It's bloody hard work and I'm not able to work enough to earn anywhere near what I was before having her.

But I didn't want to have to just shut up shop and not work. I'm not cut out to be a SAHM and the few hours I do work helps me keep my sanity. Not sure if that helps you!

[WTFIsThisVirus]

I recently was working from home, and I was looking after my son for 2 days a week as well. I found it really hard work, and would not recommend it, personally.

I think if you're going to take on any kind of work, childcare is essential. Kids are so unpredictable; you don't know for sure when / if you will be able to get any work done.

[MaverickSnoopy]

Yes I think it's possible but I do think it's hard. I have a friend who has been freelancing for over 5 years and she has 4 children. She currently has 1 at home while the others are at school. She works full time but by her own admission she is often up working until 11pm at night. She has various apps on her phone so she can be on the go and work at the same time. She is very highly regarded in her profession with outstanding feedback. She is however always on the lookout for affordable childcare and finding a better balance.

I have some experience. I am employed and work 3 days a week - 2 of these are from home. I have childcare for all 3 days. If my toddler is off sick then I take the day off. If my school children if off sick then I just work from home, but younger children need attention.

I did also try freelancing but it's on the back burner at the moment. I was doing it via people per hour and found that I was taking low paid jobs when I should be earning more. Consequently I was having to fit in 10 hours/week which for low pay wasn't worth it for me. After their fees this worked out at £75/week, whereas my employed hourly rate is £20/hour. I would fit the hours into my evenings and frankly it wasn't good for my sanity. I sometimes squeezed things into nap times but then I wasn't really getting any down time either. Had I been earning my worth it would have been a whole different kettle of fish and I would have happily made it work. I really do need to try again and do it properly this time.

A pp is right, you do the work when the client wants it but then it's your responsibility to work out deadlines and schedules with the client when you accept the work. For example they offer the work on a Tuesday and want it for the Thursday. Only you will know if it's feasible and you then ensure that the work will be completed, largely by doing it as soon as you get it, in case any children related obstacles come up.

You won't know unless you try OP. The hardest bit is finding work and that's where I think you would need to concentrate your efforts.

[MaybeDoctor]

I think it is possible, but probably something short/defined like discrete admin tasks where you can set the time the work is carried out. I don't think you can be 'on call' as a VA with a baby and pre-schooler at home.

Maverick agree re PPH - it seems almost impossible to get work on there now.

[MumsinBusiness]

I agree that being a freelance VA might not work, but there are other freelance roles, like mine, school fundraising UK, lots is by phone & email, with the occasional, quick school visit.