Am I way over my head with this?!

[PinkStrawberryDream]

Long story short, I am currently on Mat leave and due to go back to work mid-August, however I am currently looking for a new job as my current one isn't suitable to do alongside having a baby (currently a flight attendant for reference!)
I have applied for a full-time role (40 hrs a week) on Indeed which offers hybrid working with a minimum of 3 days in office, which I am able to do with the childcare I have arranged.
i have been offered an interview next week which I've accepted, but I don't know if I should mention that I have a young child that I will be looking after alongside WFH, or what I should say if they question why I can only do the same 3days each week in-office as it says on the job description: "The role is 40 hours per week, Monday – Sunday and will be based on site. The working hours for this role are a weekly alternating shift pattern, working 08.00am - 16.30pm and 08.45am - 17.15pm."

obviously I'd rather not mention that I'm a mum as I know that can hinder my chances of getting a job, but at the same time I don't want to lie or be dishonest!

What do I do?!

Exactly.

You’ll either be in the office full time while you are training, or you’ll have regular online meetings with your line manager. I WFH for three years and had at least two online meetings a week with my managers.

OP, I think it would be good if you could confirm that you understand what everyone is saying when they say you CAN’T work from home while caring for your baby. It’s the equivalent of taking your baby to work - not going to happen.

Light duties wfh during peak COVID isn’t really comparable to a full on remote role that will require your whole attention between the hours 9 to 5 (or whatever).

It’s hard to point this out several times and not sound a bit condescending but genuinely worry this point is flying over your head!?

To give some practical advice though, I think you either:

Phone them before the interview to ask if part time will be possible (number of days you have or could get childcare for) and if not, don't waste their time

Go for the interview, if it goes well consider trying to source full time childcare or ask at that point if part time is possible

Do not mention or ask about wfh whilst caring for the baby

Child should be in childcare that age, you won’t be able to work properly with a baby at home. Older kids are fine when they don’t need you. But babies and toddlers are full on. You either go part time or take the job if offered and pay for childcare, or get a relative to help out. WFH isnt a thing to save on childcare fees, your employer expects you to be working with no distractions

You get childcare (nursery etc) on your WFH days - the benefit of WFH is no commute so less hours of childcare needed.

There is no way around it OP. Your employer is not going to pay you to work while you are also taking care of your young child so your options are to see how they feel about you being part time and using nursery, or you don’t get the job.

...if I could work from home and look after my child at the same time, it would save having to pay for nursery..

Of course it would, but an employer doesn't want to pay you for 5 days if you're only working 3 and minding your baby the other 2.

This kind of nonsense is why many companies are demanding people return to the office 5 days.

If you mean to tell the future employer that you don't have childcare on your WFH days then I suppose you must be asking if you can work atypical hours? So evenings while you do have childcare (from your partner)? Any other scenario is bonkers and you categorically will not get this job

The job description says it's an onsite role, so all this talk of WFH whilst caring for a baby is irrelevant. You can't do that, by the way. As everyone else has told you. Unless you're planning to take baby into the office with you and pop them in a desk drawer whilst you're working?

During Covid, I had to WFH with a 4 month old. It was absolutely awful. Trying to take calls, concentrate on writing emails etc whilst dealing with a fussy baby who didn't want to be put down was impossible. I managed because I had no other option, but in normal circumstances, it's just not remotely feasible.

You will have two options here: email them in advance of the interview to ask if part time would be considered as although you have applied for a full time role, you’ve looked at childcare options and this isn’t doable at this time. They may come back and say there’s a possibility of job share, so at that point your proceed to interview. Or they will say no, and you need to decline the interview. OR, you wait until the interview and at the end you have the chance to ask questions. At this point you float the possibility of job share/part time. They’re likely to push you to commit to full time, and may be frustrated that you’ve wasted their time.

For reference, I’m in a hybrid NHS role and if you have a child under 10 they have to be in childcare, particularly during school holidays, or you cannot work from home. Those who have been caught out (child crying, walking past camera etc.) have been disciplined.

Most organisations have a rule that wfh with a child under 10 is not allowed.

that I would be caring for my child on my WFH days

Genuine advice: get childcare and don't try to screw over your company by looking after a child when you're meant to be working.

I'd still go for the interview and ask for part time work, maybe even suggest a short term of part time whilst you arrange childcare. You cannot work with a child. It may seem possible now with an 8 month old but they will soon be running around the house getting themselves in danger, throwing tantrums, singing at the top of there voice and begging you to play with them. You won't be able to do your job effectively and your child will not be appropriately stimulated at best and could be seriously harmed at worst. Toddlers need fully supervising and you won't be able to do that whilst working.

Honestly from a purely practical point of view. Most work laptops now have programmes which monitor time away from computer etc. you'd just end up getting fired and be back to square one.
would you consider minding a friends child for a few days along with your own. Might be a potential source of income and allow you to save on nursery costs for your own child

If you’re working you can’t be looking after your child at the same time, it’s very simple - you need child care for the hours you work whether you’re full time or part time.

The job description says based on site so hybrid working may not be possible and usually isn't while training anyway. There doesn't seem to be any mention of flexi time either.
As everyone has said you can't wfh and care for you baby so either use full time child care or part time

What type of role / industry is it maybe someone can give you some suggestions

Wowee that's a lot of responses haha.
just to clarify, I am aware that I wouldn't be able to WFH whilst looking after LO, my main initial question was more how do parents manage to WFH whilst having children, but am going to float the offer / ask for the possibility of a part-time role and see what the outcome is. If they say no, then like others have said it's not the job for me and I'm still continuing to job search / apply for things that do offer part-time.
Thanks everyone for their responses, but only thing I will add is maybe don't be so rude some of you :)

You literally said "maybe I can work from home and look after my child at the same time", hence everyone telling you that you couldn't.

Anyway, I'm guessing you've realised that's a no go now. Best of luck with the job hunt.

but you literally talked several times about doing childcare while WFH.....

You literally said this, but ok… maybe you’re realised now it’s a crazy idea.

I am open to working part-time like I said before and have been looking/applying for part-time jobs too, but as I said I'm not having much luck with places getting back to me so thought maybe if I could work from home and look after my child at the same time, it would save having to pay for nursery as we all know it's very expensive, and I would basically just be working to pay for the fees!