WFH with a baby

HollyIvy89 · 2025-10-01T15:38:15+00:00

is it unreasonable to work at home (away from office on agreed days) whilst having a young baby in the home being looked after a babysitter/nanny (not large home)

LittleGreenDuck · 01/10/2025 16:39

Not if you have childcare and private space to work, so not trying to work in the living room whilst the nanny is playing with the baby.

Hugely unreasonable if you were trying to look after the child and work at the same time.

SilenceInside · 01/10/2025 16:43

With a nanny/cater for the baby and an appropriate space for you to work then it’s absolutely fine. It might be difficult for you and baby if you don’t have a separate space to work, and it wouldn’t be appropriate if you have any work calls where baby can be clearly heard crying.

Justploddingonandon · 01/10/2025 16:43

Not if the nanny is there all the time you're working and you have a separate room to work in, but when the baby becomes a toddler it will be very hard to get them to understand why they can't see you while you're working. A good nanny will head them off but this usually results in tears.

WhitstablePearl · 01/10/2025 16:43

On the other current thread about WFH I gave some of the reasons I (employer) do no want people WFH.

And here is a prime example. Clearly any parent is going to stop work and go to their child if they sound distressed.

ShesTheAlbatross · 01/10/2025 16:44

I think that’s fine. I’m sure plenty of men with SAH wives do this all the time without anyone blinking

Happytap · 01/10/2025 16:44

If the baby is being cared for by a nanny I see no issue at all!

How is that different from working from home while a stay at home parent is around with the children? My husband WFH full time and I stay at home with our three kids. He works in the study and I look after the kids in the rest of the house - how could that not be ok?!

Happytap · 01/10/2025 16:45

WhitstablePearl · 01/10/2025 16:43

On the other current thread about WFH I gave some of the reasons I (employer) do no want people WFH.

And here is a prime example. Clearly any parent is going to stop work and go to their child if they sound distressed.

Not if they're being looked after by a competent adult. What about employees with sah partners?

You clearly don't trust your workforce to get the work done which is a whole separate issue to WFH

Whoevenarethey · 01/10/2025 16:48

Not unless the baby is being taken out all day by the nanny. Sorry but I think it would be very distracting as a parent if you could hear your baby crying. You would want to go and comfort them, especially if they sounded distressed or were taking (what you think) is a long time to calm.
If you are WFH and have one of those offices in your garden and the baby would be in the house then I think that would be less of an issue as you wouldn't be aware of what was going on.

Complet · 01/10/2025 16:49

Of course, as long as it’s in a separate room and you won’t be disturbed on calls. I doubt the nanny will keep them indoors all day anyway.

Itstheshowgirl · 01/10/2025 16:50

In a house big enough to have separate space the sure I don’t see why not.

ThirdDesk · 01/10/2025 16:50

ShesTheAlbatross · 01/10/2025 16:44

I think that’s fine. I’m sure plenty of men with SAH wives do this all the time without anyone blinking

This.

Complet · 01/10/2025 16:50

Whoevenarethey · 01/10/2025 16:48

Not unless the baby is being taken out all day by the nanny. Sorry but I think it would be very distracting as a parent if you could hear your baby crying. You would want to go and comfort them, especially if they sounded distressed or were taking (what you think) is a long time to calm.
If you are WFH and have one of those offices in your garden and the baby would be in the house then I think that would be less of an issue as you wouldn't be aware of what was going on.

I worked from home when my husband was on parental leave. I was in a separate room and could occasionally hear noises. I didn’t find it off putting or feel the need to rush in. Managed to concentrate on my work fine, I forgot they were there half the time. If you’re happy with your childcare, I don’t see why you would feel the need to step in.

ComtesseDeSpair · 01/10/2025 16:53

If you have a relatively soundproofed office space and aren’t going to be trying to intervene if you hear tantrums or crying, yes. If you have a lot of calls and colleagues and clients are going to hear a lot of background noise of crying, shouting, banging on your door, probably not.

Some nannies may be initially reluctant about this scenario because having your boss close by and ready to leap in at any moment can be a bit distracting.

Shr3dding · 01/10/2025 16:55

You need to say whether you would be working in a room away from the baby and what your plans would be for if you can hear the baby in distress

gymbummy · 01/10/2025 16:56

ShesTheAlbatross · 01/10/2025 16:44

I think that’s fine. I’m sure plenty of men with SAH wives do this all the time without anyone blinking

Totally agree with this. I don't believe any man would even think to question this if they had a wife/partner at home caring for the baby full time and a room with a door

Shr3dding · 01/10/2025 16:57

ShesTheAlbatross · 01/10/2025 16:44

I think that’s fine. I’m sure plenty of men with SAH wives do this all the time without anyone blinking

They do but I'd hazard a guess that for not many of those men would it enter their heads to interrupt their work if they could hear the baby crying

It's very similar but not exactly the same imo

ShesTheAlbatross · 01/10/2025 17:02

Shr3dding · 01/10/2025 16:57

They do but I'd hazard a guess that for not many of those men would it enter their heads to interrupt their work if they could hear the baby crying

It's very similar but not exactly the same imo

Show quote history

So you think it’s reasonable for a man to work this way (with a baby in the same house) but not for a woman? But I assume you wouldn’t think that was an acceptable policy for a company to have?
My company’s policy is that you cannot be responsible for the care of a child while wfh. So whether it’s the child’s other parent, another family member or paid childcare, someone else has to be there. I think this is very reasonable, and obviously it applies to mothers and fathers.

Op1n1onsPlease · 01/10/2025 17:08

Of course it’s absolutely fine.

I did this for years - hybrid working with a nanny caring for my DD. It was lovely as I could still feed her to sleep for her naps and we would often have lunch together. Outside of these times (breaks I was obviously allowed to take) I didn’t see her because the nanny was excellent and they were out at classes and playgroups etc a lot anyway.

AmpleLilacQuail · 01/10/2025 17:08

I’ve always wondered how dads with stay at home wives manage to do it. It must be so distracting whenever they want to get a coffee or go to the loo!? I think complete separation is easier, but appreciate that’s not always possible.

I had a colleague whose mum looked after her toddler at home and she was constantly away from her desk and ended up working most evenings to make up for it. Nightmare for all involved.

Southshore18 · 01/10/2025 17:08

is there space. are you in calls or online meetings? would a crying baby be an issue. What happens if the baby is upset otherwise. Can you work?

I have to say, it wouldn't be for me and far too distracting. Can you go to the office instead or and baby to nursery?

LadyoftheMercians · 01/10/2025 17:13

Shr3dding · 01/10/2025 16:57

They do but I'd hazard a guess that for not many of those men would it enter their heads to interrupt their work if they could hear the baby crying

It's very similar but not exactly the same imo

Show quote history

You could possibly be more exist, but....?

Bitzee · 01/10/2025 17:16

Yes of course that’s fine so long as you have a private workspace with a door, the nanny knows not to disturb you and they will do plenty of baby/toddler groups out of the house. Loads of men do this whilst their partner is on mat leave/a SAHM.

HappyAsASandboy · 01/10/2025 17:19

If there is someone else to care for the baby and you can trust yourself to leave them to it, then it’s fine.

I used to do this when my kids were toddlers. They would wave me off to work at the door, I’d drive round the corner and park, then walk back and sneak in to my office while their carer distracted them. Then they didn’t want to disturb me all day because they didn’t know I was there.

At the end of the day I’d sneak out while they were distracted, drive the car back home and come in to a wonderful welcome!

Flopsy145 · 01/10/2025 17:21

WhitstablePearl · 01/10/2025 16:43

On the other current thread about WFH I gave some of the reasons I (employer) do no want people WFH.

And here is a prime example. Clearly any parent is going to stop work and go to their child if they sound distressed.

What job requires you to be glued to your screen for the whole entire work day and not take 5 mind to give a baby a cuddle? She says she has a nanny so doubtful that would even happen.

LivingOnCoffee567 · 01/10/2025 17:22

Whoevenarethey · 01/10/2025 16:48

Not unless the baby is being taken out all day by the nanny. Sorry but I think it would be very distracting as a parent if you could hear your baby crying. You would want to go and comfort them, especially if they sounded distressed or were taking (what you think) is a long time to calm.
If you are WFH and have one of those offices in your garden and the baby would be in the house then I think that would be less of an issue as you wouldn't be aware of what was going on.

I went back to work at 6 months post partum. Baby's bedroom is next to my home office. No issue whatsoever.

I would pop in to breastfeed him. Nanny did an excellent job the rest of the time. It meant I got more time with him as well as I wasn't wasting time on a commute.

I did have to be strict with myself to not interfere as I reminded myself that I would just be making the nanny's job harder in the long run.

It's actually harder to WFH with a toddler as they know that you are there. But a baby? No issue.