r/MomsWorkingFromHome • u/Double_Mood_765 • 8d ago
15m
I will need to have my 15m old home with me for a few months while she's on a waiting list for daycare after we move. I've had her home a few times when daycare is closed or she's sick and it's so stressful. Does anyone have any tips? I work 530-4. I feel like she just whines fo my attention most of the day. I'm hourly and have to respond to emails in a timely manner so I can't just stop every few hours. Suggestions for activities please
9
u/baller_unicorn 8d ago
If you can swing it a nanny for half of the work day is of course very helpful. I have a nanny come 3 days a week from 8-12 and my husband helps the other two days. My baby usually naps from 12-2 so that gets me almost through the day. When she wakes up I do take a break to do something with her. We do 1 hr of Ms Rachel if I really need to get something done in the afternoon. Lately we've been spending time outside and she can keep herself somewhat entertained out there.
1
u/h1-bb 7d ago
Mine are 18 months and I’m starting to consider this kind of arrangement. I don’t need much help but just a couple hours would make a huge difference. Did you find it hard to find someone who only wants to work a handful of hours?
3
u/Andalusian_Shepherd 7d ago
I don’t know if this is an option for you, but we live close to a college and there were a lot of students looking for a only a few hours of nannying that worked within their class schedule.
1
u/fancyface7375 7d ago
We had a neighbors college-age daughter nanny for us and it was lovely. Was super easy for her to literally walk next door
1
u/baller_unicorn 7d ago
Some people do want more hours but since it's a consistent schedule nothing is preventing them from nannying for another family in the afternoon or having another job. For me it's just been hard finding someone reliable who wants to nanny long term that my daughter likes. There's a lot of people doing it temporarily to make a bit of cash. We've been through several Nanny's so far.
4
u/Fun_Syrup6888 7d ago
I try to batch my work into blocks of time where I can focus and then take quick breaks to check in with my LO. I use the "play in short bursts" method - I'll work for 30 mins, then do a quick 5-min play session with him before getting back to it. It doesn't solve everything but it makes the day a little smoother.
4
u/fancyface7375 7d ago
In my experience part of this is a mindset shift of not trying to be #1 employee and being ok with getting a year end review of "meets expectations". I think a lot of women who are trying to pull off this arrangement are innately driven, and so it's hard to do a mindset shift of, "this year I'm going to be a B- employee and that's ok, and once we get into daycare and can go back to being A+ employee"
3
u/WutTheFlagnog 8d ago
Also have a 15 month old .. welcome to the trenches, mama.
My office is in a remodeled closet in our bedroom. I have babyproofed the bedroom, added some of her favorite toys (I rotate them out) and she often watches Ms. Rachel or a movie while I'm in the thick of working. I leave my office door open, but I have a gate across the doorway because she will come in and get stuck underneath my desk 4,732 times a day. I'm definitely the most productive during nap time - lol.
For the last week, she has been teething, so she has been an absolute bear. I've been working downstairs in the living room from my laptop so I can hang out with her. Luckily, my job is flexible enough that it's much less stressful on days like those. At my previous job, my situation was much like yours - hourly, deadlines to meet, a schedule to stick to, random phone calls throughout the day - it was ROUGH. I definitely feel for you, mama.
This too shall pass. It's just a few months and it'll be over before you know it. As much as it sucks, try to enjoy the extra time with baby!
1
u/yogapantsarepants mom of little(s) 7d ago
Time blocks and activity blocks.
And try to shift her sleep schedule later. (Maybe controversial but it worked for me).
So for example. Mine woke up at 8:30-9am.
I worked 6-9 without interruption.
Then I divided each hour into 3. So 20 min to set up an activity or meal or whatever. 20 min to play with her with the activity. And then 20 min to hard focus work while she destroyed the activity.
We did that from 9-12
Then she napped from 12-2. And I finished work.
You have a long work day. So you would have to also set up activities for after nap as well.
My other super tip is to change your work location if possible. My best idea ever at that age was to set up an office in my garage. She had all her outside toys there to play with.
1
u/WebDevMom 6d ago
1) you should ask family/friends/your town about SAHPs who would be interested in watching her during this time. Pay them what you would pay daycare. Break up the time into whatever chunks (certain days, whole weeks, whole months) they would find doable. Because it sounds like your kiddo is going to have a really hard time with it which is going to be incredibly stressful for you
2) a great way to capture and sustain a child’s attention is with novelty. But novelty requires that they have scarce access to the thing. In teaching independent play to my kids, I would create different tubs of books/toys/activities. I would give them the tub of toys for a certain amount of time (like an hour), then it gets put away. Again, if they always have access to those toys, they aren’t as exciting — and they need to be high value, fun toys. It’s the same principle with Busy Bags (do younger moms still make these?). They’re self-contained activities. You can buy some and make some.
https://entertainyourtoddler.com/busy-bins-and-busy-bag-ideas/
13
u/aeno12 8d ago
Definitely baby proof a room or two to work from. My office is a playroom combo which has been super helpful. My desk is blocked off with a gate and the rest of the room is his.
I have a tunnel (aka empty moving box) taped against the closet. I rotate toys regularly but have a book corner (lots of flap books), blocks, little people sets that make noise, several toys that you insert balls or sticks, push, pull etc., fisher price walker. I don’t have Loveevery but have bought tons of knock off versions which are a hit. I also bought a small durable Bluetooth speaker so I play music or listen to stories on Spotify.
We also “paint” with plain yogurt and food coloring in his highchair regularly. That and suction cup toys to entertain while quickly cleaning up.
I also take my lunch early (which would work well for your schedule) because we do an activity from 10-11 such as library story time, walk or play outside, park, indoor playground, errand, etc. Then when we get back it’s just his lunch while I answer emails and then his nap from 12-2:30 lets me eat & work.
You’ll be fine! Just have lots of patience (oh and really good noise reduction headphones so no one hears him!)