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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think I could work from home with a brand new baby?

337 replies

SanitysSake · 10/02/2017 13:14

Just mulling over a few ideas to keep the funds coming in whilst at home.

Is it possible, or am I living in cloud cuckoo land?

Would be grateful to hear from any stay-at-home mums who also manage to work from home.

Any hints, tips, experiences, advice would be most appreciated.

OP posts:
MistressPage · 10/02/2017 13:25

It depends what you're doing. I do 5 - 10hours a week from home while my 18month old is napping. I would struggle to do much more as when he's awake he needs my full attention. I doubt I could fave fine anything for the first year!

anonbecauseiwanna · 10/02/2017 13:25

Really not possible and I have a laid back baby in comparison to some friends.

CryingShame · 10/02/2017 13:25

I had days with DS where all I ate before DH came home in the evening and cooked tea was 2 pieces of toast and one cup of tea. All day.

If you haven't got time to eat, I'm not sure you'll have time to switch on a PC but maybe you'll have a baby who settles better than DS did and sleeps for longer than 3.5 hours at a stretch in the first 6 months of their life.

It's not a plan you can make until you know what baby you've got.

Namelesswonder · 10/02/2017 13:26

Depends on if you get a 'sleeper' who will be put down for periods of time or if you get a baby who only ever sleeps 40 minutes at a time for the first 4 months of their lives.....no way to know until they are born

NarkyMcDinkyChops · 10/02/2017 13:26

Totally depends on what you do, your situation and the baby involved. I've done it, I quickly had to give up with my high needs ds, but could do it easily with my easy, sleep all the time dd.

So the answer is, nobody knows!

user1484394242 · 10/02/2017 13:26

On your own? I'd say no. We did it but there's 2 of us. Although it would probably depend what you were doing, how many hours etc

drivingmisspotty · 10/02/2017 13:28

Author Maggie O'Farrell did it: www.theguardian.com/books/2012/oct/18/maggie-ofarrel-how-to-write-book

And I remember watching a programme where Addison Lee cab company tried allowing kids in the office and it worked well for the babes in arms stage. I think they continued it after the show.

But it depends what you do, what your personality is and how strapped for cash you are? It's not just that you might not have time to wash your hair but having a baby is a massive emotional moment. You will probably be sleep deprived and IMO if you can, you will probably do well to prioritise getting to know your baby and your new self. And resting!

I would never say never, you might find you have a 'good' sleeper and work nourishes you. But I wouldn't had it set in stone and be relying on the income until you see how you feel when the baby arrives.

BIWI · 10/02/2017 13:29

You haven't got a baby have you?! Grin

There's no way with a new baby. Sorry but YABU

Whathastheworldcometo · 10/02/2017 13:30

It can be done. I do. With 2 of them 3rd on the way. But it depends on what you do
Some things it's possible. Others not possible.

arethereanyleftatall · 10/02/2017 13:32

I did it fine with both my dc. Both slept a lot as newborns, and entertained themselves as toddlers. I did admin work from home, only a few hours a day.

JennyOnAPlate · 10/02/2017 13:34

No chance, sorry.

I could have perhaps managed it with dd2 until she was about 3 months old, but dd1 screamed the house down every time I tried to put her down. It would have been a struggle to work with her strapped to my front in a sling.

They are 7 and almost 9 now and I can work for an hour or two with them in the house, but I definitely couldn't make any important phone calls!

BarbaraofSeville · 10/02/2017 13:35

If you are employed, rather than self employed, chances are that working from home and caring for children will be specifically prohibited in your company's WFH policy.

NarkyMcDinkyChops · 10/02/2017 13:36

Are people who are saying its completely impossible paying attention to the people who have said they have actually done it?
Does this not make you change your mind even slightly about the possibility of it?

Buzzardbird · 10/02/2017 13:37

Have you tried it with a baby that is not "brand new"? Grin

3luckystars · 10/02/2017 13:37

Nope.

3luckystars · 10/02/2017 13:38

I mean nope I don't think it's possible.

LunaLoveg00d · 10/02/2017 13:38

hahahahahahahahahahahaha

No bloody chance.

I'm self-employed, I work for myself. I do computer based stuff, writing and research and the likes. With a very brand new baby you could potentially log in and work while the baby sleeps, but this wouldn't be in any sort of pattern. Once the child starts being awake more, crawling or walking you can't do ANYTHING meaningful unless they're asleep.

As others have pointed out, people who negotiate work from home with existing employers or who get one of the very few "call centre from home" type jobs have to arrange childcare while working.

GarrulousGrimoire · 10/02/2017 13:38

Depends what you do and what type of child you have. I did a full liquidation of a company with a newborn, 2yo and 6yo and it was the most stressful time of my life.

Work now with 2yo at home or the 7yo and its fine, add the middle one into the mix and it goes horribly wrong.

If it's something like copywriting where you can do it to your own schedule and your baby isn't high needs then you'll be fine.

If it's anything time pressured or where you need to speak to someone FORGET IT. It will ruin your first months with baby.

WaitrosePigeon · 10/02/2017 13:38

Why do that to yourself? Confused

You want to enjoy your new baby, not be worried about work.

BackforGood · 10/02/2017 13:39

Ha Ha Ha

I was lucky if I was even dressed and had had breakfast by midday to begin with.

YABVVVVVVVVVU

WaitrosePigeon · 10/02/2017 13:39

Also, you don't know what 'kind' of baby you are going to get..

GarrulousGrimoire · 10/02/2017 13:40

Oh or anything that requires a length of time concentrating forget that too. You will only be able to dip in and out.

user1477282676 · 10/02/2017 13:40

I did it but it was awful. I have worked for myself for a long time and when I had DD2, I had work to do immediately following a c section. I was at my computer, working, the day I got out of hospital...I had a foot on the baby's basket, rocking it as I worked.

Never again!

29redshoes · 10/02/2017 13:40

I couldn't do it, and others tell me I have an "easy" baby.

Everyone is different though. I am surprised at the people saying they could have done it when the baby was really really tiny (under ten weeks). That was by far the worst time for me with DD. Guess you just never know how it will go!

EpoxyResin · 10/02/2017 13:40

Me and dp both work from home one day a week with our 19 month old, and have done since I went back to work when he was 7 months.

I'm surprised by all the "no chance" posts to be honest! Granted, you have to have a certain kind of work with a certain kind of (understanding) employer, but who's to say you don't have this? Me and dp do completely different kinds of jobs and we both manage it; dp's is more intense (important conference calls etc.) but more reactionary so he actually finds it easier at home with ds than me. I have to sit down and concentrate but luckily I'm much better at what I do than is expected in my job so I mostly cram a day's work into the after lunch nap. We're probably very lucky with ds but he is who he is and it works for us.