Working from home with 15month old

[EMILYSSTAR]

Hi All,

Hoping someone may be able to give some advice. With us going back into lockdown does anyone have advice for working from home with a 15 month old.

He is normally at a childminder but she has made the decision to close until Feb due to growing concerns she has after some family have been effected by covid over Christmas.

So myself and my husband are both working from home and need some advice or tips for keeping the wee one entertained and how to get some work done over the next 4 weeks.

Didn't have to worry during the last lockdown as I was still on maternity leave so I just kept DS amused while hubby worked

Thanks in advance

Take it in turns.

Walking meetings with little one in a sling/backpack/buggy. The Wiggles. Endless stream of snacks. Nice colleagues!

Ask your employers for compressed hours/flexible hours. Take it in turns. One work from 7am whilst the other cares for DC. Both work during naps. Swap over around midway. Make hours up in the evening or on weekends.

Alternatively, nurseries are staying open. Apply for a nursery place. Ours still has vacancies as so many people are still on furlough. You might get lucky.

Yep, mine was 18m at start of lockdown last time and it's brutal. Shifts, naptime, snacks, tv if they'll watch it, but realistically 15 mins would be the most you'd get out of mine unattended, and we just had to tag-team and work had to manage expectations.

Does your workplace have flexi-furlough as an option? You're allowed to ask for furlough for childcare reasons. Appreciate it might not be for you, but worth checking.

First lockdown (DS was about the same age as your LO) and we split the day in two as he used to take one long nap betweeen 11-2. I took him out cycling in a trailer most mornings and my wife played games in the afternoon and we both worked whilst he napped.

This lockdown his naps have changed so we're working in 3hour shifts. First shift covers breakfast and getting dressed, 2nd shift is out for local walks with the dog and lunch, 3rd shift is mostly waiting around until he wants to go to sleep, 4th shift is a mix between dinner prep and play time.

Hi All,

Thanks very much for the advice.

Looks like shifts might be the way to go.
Unfortunately my hubby changed job within his employer a month ago and I started a new job that is currently temp after I returned from maternity so asking for time off /furlough isn't really an option plus we are both in jobs which are classed as key workers.

My work are flexible to allow me to work early /late the main issue will come if we both have any clashing meetings but some food should hopefully keep DS occupied for a bit if this does happen.

If you're both key workers, apply for a nursery place.

You can use a nursery. All nurseries are open as normal and you don't have to be a keyworker. Otherwise, shifts and distraction. Mine both watched a lot of tv in the first lockdown.

I'd suggest sitting down with your other half and working out a schedule that would work for you both based in your current work requirements, meetings ect and based on your DS naps, feeding time ect and then be open and honest with your employers and rearrange meetings where required.

My DS was this age last lockdown. DH was out at work while I worked full time from home, so if you've got the option to juggle hours with DH that would be a good way to go.

Otherwise, lots of TV! My DS got very into Pixar films last time.

I WFH with an 8 month old, i assune easier as he isnt mobile, but i end up in numerous different spots with my laptop. I sit on the floor with him with my laptop, play with him and type at the same time. Dining room, him in high chair playing with toys and food whilst i have the laptop at the table. Continue throughout every room on loop 🤣 then when nap time comes do everything 10x faster than normal