Being a stay-at-home parent can be a tough job as well as incredibly rewarding, however, some parents do want to do more with their time when at home, and they may look at working from home with a job that allows them the freedom to be a parent whilst also being part of the corporate world, in whatever capacity that is.
If you are a new parent and want to carry on working from home, then you could be stuck on how to go about that and create a daily schedule that suits you and your baby. That said, you can’t afford to feel unwell when you are trying to balance work and parenting. This could lead to less attention paid to both your child and your job. Hence, you could consider having a proper work setup at home.
Create a work environment that is comfortable, but does not compromise your productivity. An ideal setup would be a sturdy desk, plug points and access to the internet. Though the things just mentioned are vital, it is also necessary to have an ergonomic chair. This ensures that your posture is correct and your spine can stay healthy for a longer time. However, if you have already begun to notice signs of bad spinal health, you might want to head to an ortho urgent care and have that checked out by a medical professional. That being said, by incorporating a convenient work environment at home, you will be able to focus on your job and without neglecting your familial duties (or your health) in any way.
Furthermore, here are some other tips below on how to work from home with a baby as well as how you can stay productive without losing your mind in a sea of baby clothes and zoom calls.
A Strong Internet Connection
First and foremost, if you are planning on working from home for the foreseeable future, you will need to make sure that you have a sufficient and workable internet connection on your computer, laptop, phone, and any other device you have to communicate with. Without the internet, you will not be able to do your job properly from home, especially if you rely on a connection.
What Internet Speed do I Need to Work From Home With?
There are different internet speeds available, with some better than others, but it is essential to know that you need at least 10Mbps download speed per person and no lower than 1Mbps upload speed per person. Any lower than this and you will experience loading issues, lost connections, and if you have to use a VPN, you may not get the best results which will delay work.
Fiber Internet
Fiber-optic internet is a broadband connection that can reach 940Mbps of internet speed. It boasts less lag time due to the use of fiber-optic cables which can send data incredibly fast meaning that uploading and downloading take less time.
They are a lot more durable than traditional cables and are able to get through severe weather conditions. This type of internet is great for those who do remote work and need to constantly be connected. Look at the providers in your area and see what deals they have that you can go for.
Cable Internet
Some areas do not have fiber connections, so they have to rely on cable internet to help them get connected. It may not be as fast as its successor, but it can still be good for individuals who need to work from home.
Download speeds can range from 25-1,000Mbps, however, your upload speed may be a lot slower, so that can cause some lagging issues for people who need to do multiple internet-based tasks with their work. There may not be many cable providers compared to the fiber ones nowadays, but they are out there, you just need to do your research.
What could affect your internet speed
Your internet speed will fluctuate over time, it could be to do with the connection in your area, power cuts, interference, software you use, and how many other people are using the internet.
It would be in your best interest to get the right speed for what your household needs. If you are a large family with some children at home as well as your baby, then you will need to factor this in, but, if it is just you and your partner and baby, then a slower internet connection wouldn’t be too bad.
Keep in mind what you need. It is hard juggling a baby and a job, as well as staying productive during the day, so don’t put yourself down for trying. If you truly cannot get a great internet connection, tell your boss and work out a way that you can adjust your times which could suit better for your work output.
A United Front
Being in a relationship means that one or both of you will be working, with this dynamic, you need to decide between yourselves how you are going to look after your baby and ensure that you get uninterrupted work time to complete the necessary work-related tasks as well as care for your baby.
Partner shifts
If you and your partner both work from home, you could think about taking advantage of shift work hours so you are able to bring the money in without compromising on care. If one of you can work in the mornings, whilst the other afternoons, and vice versa, then that will be helpful with specific work requirements and care.
Grandparents
Reaching out to family can help a great deal when trying to sort out a schedule for your little one. Whilst it is great to bring them in for help, you also need to think of them and how they can handle looking after your baby. They are not just a babysitter, they are so much more.
Since they have been supporting you throughout your life, you could do things to show them how much they mean to you. For example, if their 70th birthday is coming up, you can plan a birthday party and look for 70th gifts and other ideas to get them something special. Similarly, you need to keep in mind their needs and wants to show them that you care about them and that you do not consider them as your ‘babysitter.’
Paying them
They may be your parents and your baby’s grandparents, but they are giving up their time from a few hours to a whole day, so they will be taking them out to a few places over time. Offering them money is important, they may reject it initially, but keep at it, they are doing you a big favor to fit in with your schedule.
Set out what they need to do
Your baby will have a routine to help them get settled and be fed at the right times, you will need to let their grandparents know when nap time is, the hours they are allowed to play, and when to feed them. Giving them this schedule will help them have a set-out plan that will help with this transition. Don’t forget to give them all the equipment they need, like toys, a baby carrier, extra clothes, etc.
Challenges
Their grandparents will know that handling a baby is tiring, and raising any children is something that takes a lot of patience and time, nonetheless, if your baby is going through a stage at the moment, but you still need to leave them with their grandparents, then you have to let them know what’s going on or they will struggle. Giving them an example of what they can do, as well as the tools needed to help them, will ease that worry.
Hiring a Nanny
Sometimes you are unable to look after your baby full-time or part-time, and neither can their grandparents, so you have to think in the long term. In this case, you may want to hire a nanny to help out around the house and with the day-to-day duties so you can be free to keep working.
The cost
You can’t put a price on caring for your baby, but, it can be costly to hire a nanny, and it will cost more to have them for longer/adding in more duties. There are different hourly rates that are listed below depending on the state you live in. If you want to know more, you can always go to care.com to see about other states.
- Seattle, Washington – $21.50/hr
- Brooklyn, New York – $19.75/hr
- Washington, DC – $19.00/hr
- San Diego, California – $18.50/hr
- Portland, Oregon – $18.25/hr
As mentioned before, these are only a handful, you will need to check in with your local area to see what a nanny would cost where you are. They can help in multiple ways and offer you the support you need to get through a day of jobs and virtual meetings.
Speak to Your Boss
You may be nervous about speaking to your boss about adjusting your schedule and changing your work hours to suit your child, but it is a necessity, and if they are a parent-positive working environment, then they will understand that you have to make changes.
Working Out a Shift Pattern
If you are able to work at weekends, you could say that once every 2 weeks or so you can do weekend hours, so you do not miss out on pay but have the option to have a couple of days free during the week to handle childcare.
Speak to Your Colleagues
Having an open and honest conversation with your boss is important, but you are normally working alongside your colleagues, so you will need to discuss with them how you’ll be adjusting your schedule and workload as you work from home. They should offer you that support as well as be helpful on those days when you need extra assistance.
If you are co-working on a project then you can set up a daily zoom call or schedule phone calls as and when needed. This will keep you in the loop with work without compromising on looking after your baby.
Sleep Is Key
You are a new parent, and you are going to be incredibly tired looking after your child and juggling working from home with your little one, so make sure that when they are ready for their naps, you take some time to sleep too. They may have a sleep pattern with their naps, so if you can put your head down and have a little nap along with them, then take that advantage.
Lack of Sleep
You probably know that lack of sleep is not a good thing at all, but if you neglect it for too long, thinking that you can get stuff done when your baby sleeps, you will burn out and find that you are not able to focus which could lead to burnout. Lack of sleep can include –
- Less alertness
- Sleepiness during the daytime (may fall asleep randomly)
- Impaired memory
- Stress in a relationship (definitely not good for new parents)
- Drop in quality of life
- Accidents can occur
Any one of these above can affect you looking after your children/babies, so you need to think about what you can do to help yourself when working and being a parent.
For example, do not use your phone in bed as the blue light can affect your sleeping pattern, have some time to yourself during the day when you are not doing your job or household jobs, and if you wake up during the night, do not look at the clock, your brain starts to overwork calculating your time left to sleep, which will turn your brain on and have you thinking of other things.
Despite trying out methods that may help you to get more hours of shut-eye, if you continue to suffer from sleep related issues, you may want to consult with medical professionals (such as Gwinnett Sleep) who could suggest solutions that may help you sleep better.
Utilize Multiple Devices
You may find yourself needing to leave the house at points during the week, this could be for many reasons, one being taking your baby out of the house and having them have independent play or going to a play group with other babies so they can have time out of the house and interact.
If this is the case, then you will need to let your office know as well as any colleagues you are working with so they know where to reach you. Just because you are away from your computer and desk and are not physically in the office, doesn’t mean you can’t do any work.
You can use your phone to schedule meetings and any upcoming tasks when you are out of the house, plus you have the option to take a zoom call wherever you are. Your devices give you the freedom to walk around and carry on with your day.
Use smart tech products
When you plan on working from home for a long period of time, you can use technology that allows you to control various home devices from your smartphone. This may require the installation of smart electronic appliances and their synchronization with a voice assistant (such as Alexa).
As an additional option, you could also install Motorized Blinds on your windows, which could allow you to control the amount of light and heat coming in. With a semi-automated home made possible by technology, you may not have any difficulty working from home with children.
Managing Your Stress
Last but certainly not least, your stress when working from home can be pretty high. You worry about if you are doing enough with your job as well as if you are taking care of your baby in the best way.
You must make time to eat, take breaks, and have fun. It may seem like a lot to think you can do all of that, but as time goes on you will get into a pattern that will help you manage your time better and your workload. Try and create a daily routine for you both, and do one thing a day that relaxes you, whether it is a walk or taking a long bath, this will help you feel more in tune with yourself and your baby.
Conclusion
You have a baby and a job, each one comes with its ups and downs, but the most important thing you can do for yourself is to keep the lines of communication open with those around you. Tell your partner if you need help, speak to your parents for support, and reach out to your manager and colleagues for job support. There will always be people there to help you.