Has anyone worked from home with a 1 year old?

[sunshinecitrus1]

Truthfully, how is it?

I'd imagine pretty impossible if you're the sole carer to!

Not feasible.
I worked from home one day a week while my mom took care of my son in the next room.
I wasn’t productive as he still wanted mommy. After a couple of months I went back into the office
It’s not fair on little one if you can’t give them the attention they need.

Do you mean working in the house whilst someone else looks after your child e.g. paid nanny, grandparent, your partner? If yes then that’s fine but I’d suggest an office with a door you can close, strict instructions you are not to be disturbed and noise cancelling headphones. If you mean trying to do a job whilst in sole charge of a 1YO then as most of us found out during the early lockdowns then it’s shit for you and most importantly shit for them as they deserve a caregiver’s full attention.

Impossible if you actually plan on sleeping (assuming you'd be working at night because there's no way on earth you can work with the baby awake).

It would be very strange if an employer was ok with this, they would expect you to have appropriate childcare in place.

Absolutely impossible unless you do a very easy job, IMO. We had a drama with nursery and my first 2 weeks back from maternity I had to do with DD1 in the house. DH and I were sharing looking after her and WFH and it was a nightmare, I have absolutely no idea how anyone with tiny kids got anything done when childcare closed during lockdown.

Would you be looking after the child or would someone else be there caring for them?

If you have a 9-5 type job its not possible to do either childcare or your job effectively at same time, would be unfair to your child and your employer and would be unsustainable

Thanks for your replies! Yes, exactly how I thought you would all respond but I just needed to hear it. I have childcare sorted for everyday apart from one day a week so I am contemplating whether or not I could realistically do this.

@sunshinecitrus1

Thanks for your replies! Yes, exactly how I thought you would all respond but I just needed to hear it. I have childcare sorted for everyday apart from one day a week so I am contemplating whether or not I could realistically do this.

You can't, and it could get you fired. Or end with your child being injured because your attention is constantly divided.

Short of a full blown Coronavirus complete absence of childcare, when you're working somebody else needs to be looking after your child.

I did it. Own business and didn’t want to use childcare.

Crucially I had flexibility and busy/ less busy periods so could manage my workload.

Basically it was fine until they started walking (thankfully a late walker) I had a play area in my office. Once they started moving it was really hard, majority of work then shifted to nap time or evenings. Lockdown also began and my workload quadrupled and when I really needed childcare there was none.

It’s hard but if you have to make it work you will find a way.

I’ve done it when they are off nursery sick but couldn’t do it every week. Far too hard and not fair on the child

I have a 2 year old now and can't work from home with her here even if my mum is here looking after her, because she knows Mummy is in the house and just wants me so whines and cries all the time for me. It was the same when she was one. The only way to do a productive day's work is to be somewhere other than where your child is.

It’s only possible when they are sleeping. I cannot even open my laptop in front of my child without them getting upset.

I never did this, but it would have been impossible. Son was into everything, climbing everything, throwing everything, couldn't even sit and have a drink let alone anything else!

It’s not a bundle of laughs, put it that way, that goes for any age up to 8/9.

Being interrupted disturbs your concentration. Stop, start, stop is frustrating

@Toottooot

It’s only possible when they are sleeping. I cannot even open my laptop in front of my child without them getting upset.

This is a good point - if I try and open my laptop while DD is around she tries to clamber onto my lap and play with the buttons. And if I don’t let her she gets upset. Not ideal for work

I had to do this several times last year when nursery was shut due to Covid or Grandparents shielding etc. One word - impossible!!!

I have had to do is on many lots of times due to nursery closing last year and the amount of times my son has been sick. It is so hard. You can't give your 100 percent to work ( or even 30 per cent) when they are awake, when they are napping you are tidying the mess up from when they were awake. You end uP working evenings and weekends to catch up and it's mentally draining. On the odd occasion when thEy are sick it's doable if your employer allows it but on a regular
Basis no.

If you mean wfh while your child care provider watches your child in the house, I recommend trying to hide essentially. It’s easier for the child if you don’t pop in and out constantly, but instead have a predictable schedule of appearances.

If you mean wfh without childcare, no, it won’t work.

I’ve been doing 7 hours work a week with my 10 month old at home (just easing back in after maternity leave) go back properly Next month and she’s going to nursery

I honestly can’t even open the laptop while she’s awake she is over wanting my attention, pulling the laptop etc

I just work during her 2 hour lunch nap now or after work when my husband finishes and can look after her

It be impossible to do a normal
Day

People on MN always say, 'you're not allowed too, it says it in your contract,' 'it's not possible' etc. Firstly I've never had anything mentioned about not looking after your child during working hours in any contract for any job I've ever had😂

My DD is 8 months old and I was going to return to work this month. I'd be working full time whilst looking after her (decided to extend my maternity leave so not going back as planned) so can't give you my personal experience. However, my close friend has a 1 year old son and she currently works from home full time whilst looking after him. She's a Housing officer who works for the council so her role is quite a hectic one but she manages it somehow.

I think if it's just one day a week you'll be fine. It'd be a bit distracting but I'd definitely look after my DD if it was only one day a week

Can’t think of anything much worse.

Impossible. I did it at the start of the pandemic when nurseries closed.

I had to just work during naps and make up my time after his bedtime. It was hell.

@sunshinecitrus1

Thanks for your replies! Yes, exactly how I thought you would all respond but I just needed to hear it. I have childcare sorted for everyday apart from one day a week so I am contemplating whether or not I could realistically do this.

Not realistic. It’s unfair on your DC as you won’t be able to give them full attention, and a bit dangerous too. You also won’t be able to give work your full attention, so both will suffer. The only way it would be possible would be if you could do all your hours during nap time and after bed time.l, but that relies on a completely flexible job and a great sleeper.

Either drop a day at work or get childcare.

@sunshinecitrus1 there is a huge difference between struggling through for a day because you’ve been let down by childcare or whatever and actually planning to do it every week 😳 I’m my opinion, the later is a terrible idea! And I can’t imagine any employers being happy with it long-term!

If you have childcare sorted for everyday bar one, are you able to condense your hours so that you drop a day at work? 5 days into 4, 3 days into 2 etc? Or if not possible then financially are you able to cut to less hours?