Freelancing with small baby - should I stay at home or rent a desk?

[Molip]

Hi Mumsnet,

I'm 20 week pregnant, I'm a freelancer and I work with illustration and animation in London. Currently working from home, but I used to rent a desk space in Dalston and I loved the community side of it, so I could go to work to do my job but still talk to my "co workers" and have a more social life after work.

I've seen there's a few of co working spaces in London with childcare, which is a very interesting option, but they are quite pricey (although less than childcare itself).

If I were to try to rent a small studio space, probably big enough for 4 or 5 desks, have a little area/booth that's soundproof and you can feed your baby and relax, do you think it could work out? I don't really mean this as a business, just maybe i would get together with a few freelance friends that are pregnant and rent this space, just so we have a place to work and mingle, and still feel comfortable with our babies.
My question is... would the baby need a lot of attention? Am I dreaming that I can take care of the baby AND work at roughly regular business hours?

You'll need formal childcare or time alone without the child being in your sole charge in order to work. It's not possible to focus on work and care for a baby at the same time. I have used one of the nursery co-working spaces you mentioned (not E London tho) and it was excellent. Alternatively you could work in evenings and weekends while your partner takes the baby.

You could also do a "childcare swap" with those other freelance mums you mention - take your baby and their baby for an hour or two while they work in another room, then vice versa. Again, you need headspace to work.

I think it's workable with a tiny baby if you have a very easy baby, no feeding issues, support at home, a good sleeper. But that's a lot of variables.

Once they get older and start wanting to be mobile and interact with you then it becomes less and less possible.

I'm a sole trader, but I took the full maternity allowance entitlement and by the time it ended, DD was going to bed reliably at 7 so I worked evenings and nap times. I've cut down now so I only work nap times, as she has a long 2.5-hour nap every day, and use evenings for myself and the odd bit of admin.

I can’t see anyone getting any substantial work done in this set up, sorry. Babies are a full time job - you need some form of childcare.

I see! I guess I was being very optimistic haha. Thanks for your honest answers! :) I'll probably get the childcare Co work space once i feel is right for my baby.

You need childcare. Work does not happen with a small child, unless you can be very flexible indeed and only work minimal hours. You will also not be able to focus on anything if you can hear your baby crying. I'd do the co-working with childcare, for sure, especially if it's cheaper than a "traditional" nursery place.