How do you deal with wfh and having a toddler?

[FerreroRochey]

How do you ensure you work, and keep your little one entertained?

Is it your own business or are you employee?

The pandemic taught me that it’s not possible. When DSs were toddlers they were in FT childcare.

They spend the days in nursery, or with the nanny.

You don’t, you can’t properly work and look after a toddler at the same time.

You cannot really work without a good run of hours in which you have no childcare responsibilities.

Half an hour here, a school run there you can make up the time.

All day, everyday doesn't work.

Nursery.

You don’t because the bottom line is one or both will not be being done properly

What everyone else said. You can't wfh and look after a child. Both are full time jobs. It would be a disciplinary where I work.

You pay for childcare.

In fact many companies have a stipulation that you cannot be looking after children and wfh at the same time, I’ve applied for jobs recently where one of the questions on the application form has been whether you have childcare in place.

Childcare.

Toddler is pretty much the worst age for trying to do anything else while looking after them. They need watching all the time for safety (or mine did) and it’s a crucial time for interaction so they learn to talk, follow social cues etc.

Pay for childcare. Is this a serious question ?

Childcare. Possibly you can work during naptime and after bedtime, but that depends on the toddler.

You pay for childcare same as if you wotk out of the ome. Wfh doesn't mean you don't need childcare. Your poor toddler

It's bizarre that people actually think this is even an option. No-one would have done it pre-covid, and unless you're self-employed, it's unfair on bothe the employer and the child.

If you work, you need childcare, whether you travel to a workplace or work from home.

You don't it is impossible. Occasionally for short periods, sure. Everyone who did it in the lockdown knows that either your work has to suffer or the child's needs are not met. And it was both of those most days.

They go to nursery, same as they would if I was in the office. Anything else is not fair on them, and it’s a fucking nightmare for you (did it for 4 months in lockdown 1 out of necessity and it was horrific.)

It's completely impossible. You need childcare of some kind.

Getting flashbacks of lockdowns now, and my kids weren't even toddlers - it was so stressful I lost a lot of my hair and it still hasn't grown back as fully as before ☹️

Nursery for my working days. I sometimes get a bit some on days off as she still naps for 2 hrs. One super busy week she was off as had a temp and waiting on pcr results (this was a few months ago) and I sort of managed to get a few hrs done per day with tv on for her. It wasnt ideal!

You use childcare. I had a home based job pre-covid and started work part time when DC was 10 months. DS went to nursery on my working days. It was crazy how many people back then assumed working from home was great for me as it meant saving on nursery fees.

You can't. It's impossible. The only way to do it for a few odd days here and there without paying for childcare of some description is if you tag team (say, an hour or two on, an hour or two off) with your partner, who is also working from home. And you simply cannot do that for more than a day or so.

Yep, childcare

The OP has posted in recent weeks about staying in a five-star hotel in Turkey, flying to Nairobi, and being thousands of pounds in arrears on her energy bills.

I think it’s fair to say that she’s something of a fantasist, so I’ll back out now.

You pay for childcare.

I paid for childcare.

Working with a toddler there was utterly impossible. During the pandemic DH and I did 3hr shifts around each other. It was the only way to be able to work.

If you are WFH then your full attention should be on your work. So use childcare just like the rest of us who go out to work have to.