Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Working from home with a baby

45 replies

MusicalTrifleMonkey · 11/01/2021 15:50

How do people work from home with a baby? I have a 14 week old who mostly naps on me. I have a little tray table for my laptop but I need to be back at work in a couple of months time, only part time, but I can’t understand how I’m going to do it!

Those of you who work from home with a little one, how do you do it? Can you give me any tips? My time will be flexible but I’ll have deadlines. The problem I find is that their attention is short so it’s 10 minutes on this and 5 minutes on that. Is it even possible?! I will have no support except DH who is now increasing his work hours as his work place are struggling.

Thanks

OP posts:

LindaEllen · 11/01/2021 16:50

What would you do if you were at work? Who would look after baby? That's what you need to do now!

Hoppinggreen · 11/01/2021 17:00

I think if you are deadline based it’s worse.
I don’t have small dc any more but I only used childcare 2 days a week because my work could largely be done at any time and other than that I was in charge of my own diary so could manage meetings
If you have deadlines then you really will need childcare of some kind

Ansterdame · 11/01/2021 17:09

Are you in the uk op? If so then holiday accrues during mat leave.
I know that wfh with kids has been an essential part of life for many this last year but it is not an option outside of the pandemic unless self employed. I’m surprised when people think it is to be honest. When you go back to work after mat leave, baby goes to childcare, it’s as simple as that really.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families Jobs

SuperbGorgonzola · 11/01/2021 17:21

I wouldn't give up or reduce your work more than you need to. The baby days are short in the context of a career, and you might come to regret cutting back so much for the sake of a couple of years.

Childminder does sound like the better option, and if you can work flexibly then you can minimise the number of days you need. Personally I've found 1/2 full days preferable to 3/4 half days as you sometimes feel like you've no sooner dropped them off, and it's time to pick them up again.

Original poster

MusicalTrifleMonkey · 11/01/2021 17:26

Yes in the U.K.! I have a project I was committed too, but if it’s a case of putting him in childcare then I will look at handing it over!

OP posts:

Rainb0wDrops · 11/01/2021 17:28

In normal times I'd say absolutely don't attempt it without childcare in place.
I've been wfh for years and still put my little one in nursery when I returned to work so I could focus and they would be looked after properly.
However much of that has gone out of the window so with an understanding employer you may be able to work around it for a while - but it's hard. It means no time to yourself at all and always feeling like you're failing at either being a mum or your job. Not trying to be harsh, just how it's felt during the lockdowns with no childcare.

I'd also think ahead, what will you do in 6 months, 12 months when the baby is more mobile?

InkieNecro · 11/01/2021 17:38

How do you mean flexible and what hours were you thinking? I did indeed wfh with a 1 and 3 year old as a single parent but it was the hardest thing I ever did.

Morning meeting attended with me muted while watching the children. No more work until 1 when they went down for their naps. Get maybe 1 hour of work done before 3 depending how easily they go down. Wait until 7 when they go to bed and then do the other 3 hours of work and finish between 10 and 12 depending on how much youngest woke up. Fall into bed, be woken at 5 and repeat. No way could a full days hours be done.

Starsky88 · 11/01/2021 17:45

It is possible. I’ve done it with my 3DC from when the youngest was 1 month old. You have to be super organised. Baby always comes first but that doesn’t mean work has to suffer either. It’s easier when they are younger. They want feeding, sleep, nappy changes. Easy while working. It’s harder when they get older. Bulk of the work is done while baby sleeping, in the night, early mornings.. food prepped just anything to make it easier while your working. You just have to multi task. I love it

Ansterdame · 11/01/2021 18:22

Agree with the last 2 posters that it could be physically possible to make it work but this kind of flexibility only works if the employer is on board with it. An employer has the right to say that their employees can’t look after their kids and work at the same time

Monkeypeas · 11/01/2021 18:25

OP you definitely do accrue holidays AND bank holidays while in Mat leave.

If your baby is about 3.5 months now and you we’re thinking of returning to work in s couple of months, that would be when baby is around 6 months old???

You have options here involving kit days and annual leave.

1st option is to start doing KIT days from 6mths (you get 10 KIT days) but I recommend doing at least 2 per month otherwise your tax and pension contributions makes the pay negligible.
You’d still need childcare but your DH could book annual leave for those days.

You could also return to payroll at 6 or 9mths (you can’t also use KIT days once back on payroll) but use all of your accrued annual leave and bank holidays to be off work all week (so you’d be on annual leave rather than Mat leave) or to reduce your week to part time without reducing your pay.

If money isn’t tight then you could do this at 9mths to still have as much time off as possible but without the zero mat pay you get in the last 3months.

OR you do what I did and tack your accrued holiday on to the end of a 12 month mat leave and have 13.5 months off.

It all depends on your finances and how long out of the business you want to take

TitsOot4Xmas · 11/01/2021 18:27

[quote MusicalTrifleMonkey]@Suzi888 I was going to do part time flexible but as I say I would have deadlines so that would restrict me as if I didn’t make them I’d be letting people down! I don’t think I’d have any annual leave hours as you don’t accrue them on maternity do you?[/quote]
You absolutely do!

MsChatterbox · 11/01/2021 18:30

If you can afford to not work then enjoy your baby. Wfh will just cause you to resent baby any time they need you and you're in the middle of something. They really do grow up fast 🥰

lifestooshort123 · 11/01/2021 18:35

Think about what you'd have done if there wasn't any covid (I wish!) and that could help you decide where you go from here. Would wfh still have been option or would it have been a case of use childcare or take a longer career break? Good luck.

springdale1 · 11/01/2021 18:36

I work 24 hours a week in a fully flexible job. My daughter (6 months) goes to nursery two mornings a week and my husband has Friday afternoons off so looks after her. This is about 14 hours, I do the other 10 when she is napping or in the evening.

Suzi888 · 11/01/2021 18:38

@MusicalTrifleMonkey yes you will accrue annual leave hours on maternity. At least, you should do.

rainbowdashsneeze · 11/01/2021 18:39

It's not possible. You will need childcare, you won't have the time or energy to complete work tasks to best of your ability. I have a 9 and 13 year old and I've had to take up my keyworker place as I just couldn't get anything done. Last week was so stressful I cried on a work teams meeting I was so embarrassed. My 9 year old came in to offer me a drink (little sweetheart) and proceeded to trip and spill it all over me whilst I was in a meeting.

Sheleg · 11/01/2021 18:40

I work from home. 17-week-old baby naps on me and I work (edit and proofread) one-handed on my laptop.

Fressia123 · 11/01/2021 18:50

I did it for about 8 weeks. Then I got a babysitter who helped 10/15 hours. Now he's going 25hrs to nursery. I WFT but I have full flexibility and have been able to work while he naps/ plays. I also work the odd hour in the evening and/or weekend.

Starlightstarbright1 · 11/01/2021 18:55

I am a childminder...I have a parernt who works with a sling wich baby sleeps in that..

The problem with 14 month olds though is they might be a great sleeper one week, awake day night the next week.

I have parents drop their children off who have been awake most the night and a see how tired they are and wonder how they are going to do a days work never mind looking after that baby too.

As soon as they start moving you have no hope.

one thing I will say is do work towars your baby napping in cot.. It will make the transition into childcare easier and if you do spend time working from home much easier if you get an hour where you can just get on without having to whisper on phonecalls.I type much faster without a sleeping baby on me.

Just think all your options through before deciding.

Mumguilt19 · 11/01/2021 22:37

I currently work from home with a baby, I have no choice as nurseries are shut in Scotland at the moment. I will say it’s very difficult but I’ve managed. That has been done to an understanding employer and working around feeding and nap times etc. You need to have a chat with your boss and see what can be done. Good luck 😀

Flip

1 2