Working from home with a 1 year old?

[Evianontoast]

I'm a FTM and expecting my baby at the end of the year. I've started chatting with my mum about childcare when I go back to work because she and my dad would like to have the baby for 2 days a week. Husband gets 1 day off in the week (works Saturdays) and I will be WFH 2 days a week. In theory, that's the week covered.

HOWEVER

My question is - Is working from home possible with a 1 year old in the house? Have you managed it successfully? I'm thinking that my WFH days may need to be days she goes to nursery, as I'm not sure it'll be possible.

Thanks for your input!

No it’s not possible you’ll need childcare

I have a 15mo DS - absolutely no way!

Absolutely not

You need proper childcare

If your doing zoom meetings then I would say no. Wtf with a one year old is very hard , especially if your on the laptop a lot , mine loves to grab my laptop.

I have a 14 month old and went back to work recently. Short answer, it's impossible! Don't even try to do it.

Hi, my boy is 14 months old and I've been back at work since he turned 1. He is at nursery on the 3 days that I work (I WFH).
There is NO WAY I would be able to work from home and have him here! His attention span is less than 5 mins and unless I want him whinging away or destroying something, I have to generally give him my full attention and play with him. He is very clingy.
He also needs to go outside for at least an hr in the morning and again in the afternoon to really wear him out or he won't sleep all that well.
I would look at nursery/childminder or nanny.
Good luck xxx

With a newborn, sure (though not a full day by any stretch). A 6m old, maybe half a day spread out (ie work through all naps). Any older than that and it doesnt really work.

By the time you get down to 1 nap (which would be your only opportunity during the day), that nap is often vital to prep dinner, tidy, do all the things you cant with a toddler at your feet (haha, most things!)

Most parents find it hard enough to go to the loo or shower when looking after a baby or toddler let alone work.

@Fireflygal agree with this! I had to buy one of those baby den play pen things and tactically wait for for DS to become engrossed in his favourite CBeebies show just so I could nip away and have the world's quickest shower.

Left alone he would just climb everywhere and find ever more interesting ways to hurt himself.

I have had to WFH for the odd days when my 1 year old has been off nursery and it's not easy.

But also it always ended up being a really long day trying to make sure everything got done. Both DH and have been working from home while DS is in nursery and I find that it has made me keep to time boundary's that I might not have done in the past (i.e finishing on time!) and more focused and efficient as I want to pick him up on time. Nursery is just round the corner so still feel like I get to spend some time with him in the week but also don't have to pay for early drop off/late pick up that I might have needed to with the commute.

@tiggerwhocamefortea

It's dangerous, unfair on your child for your focus to be elsewhere and taking the piss out of your employer and colleagues

This.

You need nursery or a nanny for all the times child is not under care of GP.

Also you shouldn't plan to be working in the same place that GP are looking after your child - it's best if they take the child to their home.

@Evianontoast

I'm a FTM and expecting my baby at the end of the year. I've started chatting with my mum about childcare when I go back to work because she and my dad would like to have the baby for 2 days a week. Husband gets 1 day off in the week (works Saturdays) and I will be WFH 2 days a week. In theory, that's the week covered.

HOWEVER

My question is - Is working from home possible with a 1 year old in the house? Have you managed it successfully? I'm thinking that my WFH days may need to be days she goes to nursery, as I'm not sure it'll be possible.

Thanks for your input!

Not full time but it can be for part of the week depending on how flexible your job is. For example due to Covid I can’t find local childcare for my son for 5 days a week - only 3. But as I work in childcare (now am self employed so even easier) and spend roughly half the time at home planning / performing risk assessments & DH is totally home based the having him with with his for 2 days is fine.

No it's not possible.
Against lots of companies' policies too.

If you're happy with your one year old climbing on top of the microwave whilst emptying out the toothpaste then yeah crack on!

My 14 month old had also recently decided she's boycotting any nap that is not in bed with me, so I literally don't get a break apart from nighttime sleep where she usually wakes up at 4:30 to get in bed with me. She also wants to sit on my knee whilst I have a poo so I'd say no to the wfh 🥳

@miltonj

If you're happy with your one year old climbing on top of the microwave whilst emptying out the toothpaste then yeah crack on!

My 14 month old had also recently decided she's boycotting any nap that is not in bed with me, so I literally don't get a break apart from nighttime sleep where she usually wakes up at 4:30 to get in bed with me. She also wants to sit on my knee whilst I have a poo so I'd say no to the wfh 🥳

Generally if you start early and have baby in the same room with you so you can give undivided attention in frequent short bursts then it’s not bad. Sometimes when he’s poorly DS will sit on my knee while I’m in meetings - he’ll just play with whatever toy he wants or want to breastfeed and I can keep on working by going on mute when I’m not required ro speak or switch my video off as needed. While my profession is child friendly 90% of my time is spent talking to suppliers, accountancy legal and HR teams who are doing exactly the same thing.

But I must say wfh with a toddler may mean you do need to work more than 9-5 to ensure you get all your work done if especially if they’re younger - but it really is a gamechanger in terms of productivity. I get so much more done now both at home and at work and I don’t even work remotely full time.

@MrsKeats

No it's not possible. Against lots of companies' policies too.

Most big and small companies allow it now for remote or home based roles especially in industries that have suffered a brain drain due to covid and brexit. Covid has dramatically changed the rules for women who need flexibility. Like anything you just have to research and apply for companies that offer flexibility & ask for it once you are offered the role.

You'll definitely need childcare with that sort of role.
I had to do it during lockdown and my DS ended up falling and hurting himself while I was trying to teach via Teams.

Most big and small companies allow it now for remote or home based roles especially in industries that have suffered a brain drain due to covid and brexit. Covid has dramatically changed the rules for women who need flexibility. Like anything you just have to research and apply for companies that offer flexibility & ask for it once you are offered the role.

Really? I don’t know anyone who’s allowed to do this. And certainly not my experience in the public sector. Mind you, I don’t know anyone who wants to either, because most of us were forced to do it during lockdown and realised what a shit experience it was for us, our children and our employers.

I don’t think raising expectations that women will work and care for children at the same time is a positive step forward at all actually. That’s not flexibility.

I have a one year old and mostly WFH. He’s in nursery because there is no way I’m getting any work done while looking after him.

I don’t think raising expectations that women will work and care for children at the same time is a positive step forward at all actually. That’s not flexibility.

I really agree with this.
Flexibility around working hours is great but working and doing childcare at the same time just means you doing two jobs at once .... and probably not very well.

No. It’s completely impossible.

My MIL used to look after my son in my home while I worked in a separate room...even that was impossible.

Yes, you need child care.

My child turned one in the thick of the very first lockdown. I’m self employed and actually thanked my lucky stars that my work all but disappeared. I crammed frenetic working into the lunchtime nap and evenings. It was utterly impossible to work while they were awake. Too old for play pen, too young to take your eyes off for a minute. Do not recommend.