5 Tips For Working From Home With Baby

While most working parents know that's it’s not possible to work full time from home without childcare, most also find themselves in the situation of working from home with baby from time to time. Whether daycare is unexpectedly closed for weather, the nanny calls out sick, or your little one has their own case of the sniffles, you might wonder how you’re going to get any work done with baby at home. Check out the tips and tricks below for managing to work from home with a baby in tow!

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Check your expectations

While it’s certainly possible to get your work done while baby plays and naps, chances are you’re not going to get as much work done as you would in an office without your little one present. Check your expectations and recognize that today might look a little different than a typical workday. 

Plan your tasks around your baby's schedule

Just because you need to work doesn't mean your baby is going to suddenly stop needing you just as much as they normally do when you’re around. At the beginning of the day, take a few minutes to map out the tasks you need to complete and then schedule them for when might be most compatible with your baby’s schedule. For example, you might be able to easily respond to emails as baby plays on the floor next to you but need to save your conference or client calls for naptime. 

Expect a longer workday 

If you normally work eight focused hours in an office and then focus all of your attention on your little one when you’re together you’re probably used to only switching gears from employee to parent once per day. When you’re working from home with your baby though you’ll likely be switching gears far more frequently. Plan according to this and know that taking frequent breaks to engage with your little one and meet their needs probably means that your eight-hour workday will stretch into a longer, more broken up day of work and parenting. 

Foster independent play 

While your baby won’t suddenly become an independent play expert just because you have work to get done, you can use your work from home time to help foster your little one’s independent play skills. Set your little one up with a snack and a few favorite toys and let them enjoy themselves without your intervention for as long as they are happy and engaged. 

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Wear your baby

When all else fails, babywearing is a simple solution that will allow you to keep your baby close and comfortable as you get work done. Even if you usually only wear baby for walks or hikes, consider breaking out the baby carrier for your working-with-baby day and see how much you can get done with them hugged securely to your chest.