Maintaining Working from Home Sanity Part 2

Disclaimer: I'm letting you know that these are only my tips; do what works better for you. This will differ depending on your job responsibilities and if you have your child with you or at childcare/school.

This is my experience working from home after I had my kids. This post is the second part of the "Maintaining Working from Home Sanity" segment. For the experience and tips before kids, please look at part one. I found that my routine evolved with every month of my kids' development, and I was constantly adapting. It's a journey that keeps you on your toes, especially when your child becomes mobile. But remember, you've got this!

My most manageable time working from home with a child was when my firstborn was 1 to 4 months old. From the day we returned from the hospital, we established a flexible routine with my baby. This routine, which revolved around feeding, changing, and napping times, allowed me to work when she was sleeping or in her bassinet.

When our child was 5 to 9 months old, I set up a large playpen next to my desk to give her freedom of movement. I prepared batches of baby food in advance, and when she napped, I did housework. During her awake and non-feeding hours, I worked next to her. Working was easier when she was less mobile, but I made a game out of it when she became more active.

While I worked, I would sing to her, talk to her, and put music on so we could dance. She would crawl or walk all over and dance along. This would entertain her and allow me to work. I had some toys that I would allow for specific amounts of time so she would not get bored of them, so I would switch them around constantly. While she napped, I did housework. I also had a baby carrier that allowed me to carry her while I performed other tasks. The routine I started with her stayed consistent, with going longer in between for feedings and sleep as she got older.

Things got a bit more tricky when she was 9 to 12 months old, as she was more vocal and mobile. She required constant supervision, but thankfully, switching around the toys helped a lot, as she did not get bored of them so fast. All of this is to show what I did during work hours. This routine for her entire first year was from 8 am to 5 pm, but to ensure I had peace of mind and time with my husband, I had to do a lot of prep work.

I would get up at 4:45 am (sometimes my baby was up, but by 5 months old, she pretty much slept through the night) and make my husband's lunch for work. I enjoy cooking his meals and getting them ready. It sets my mindset on having a productive day. Then, we would have a morning chat while I prepared his coffee, and he would go on his way. I then had from 5:30 am to 6 am, all to myself. Usually, I would drink my coffee and watch the news or enjoy a book. By 7 am, it was time for breakfast for my baby, and by 8 am, I was starting my day at work. I would stop working by 5 pm, sometimes 4 pm, depending on the day, and get started on dinner while I entertained my baby in her highchair. My husband got home around 5:30 pm, and after dinner, he would spend time with her alone, or we would spend time together, all three of us, but he would bathe her and put her to sleep.

After 13 months old, things will become progressively challenging as the toddler chapter arrives. Toddlers require A LOT of attention. This is when their curiosity explodes, and it's great to encourage them, but safety, playing, and working all collide. This is where your job's flexibility type comes into play. Having a toddler at home will be harder if your job requires more meetings and you must be available throughout your work hours. If your workload can be split into different segments throughout the day, having a toddler at home (while still difficult) becomes more manageable.

Setting the room in different areas helps entertain your toddler with art, music, dolls, cars, crafts, blocks, etc. Your kid's interest will start showing now. Meal prepping can also help your day as it's one less thing to worry about during your workday. Remember that going for walks and using playgrounds near you are great ways to help kids burn out their energy. Plus, they look forward to that time. I hope this helps you when a new baby arrives in your work-from-home routine.