Babies at the office

dehsignz · July 2010

Anyone have the opportunity to bring your baby to work with you when done with your leave? I hadn't even considered this but today my boss brought up the idea, small office of just the boss and myself. Curious to hear if anyone has done this and it has worked out well.

lildevil968 · July 2010

I do it, but only on days that no one else is in the office.

megann831 · July 2010

honestly I think that's a little selfish. Most of us would love to be w/ our LOs all day, but you really think your baby wants to sit in an office all day? You can't get your work done while giving your baby all your attention, so the baby would have to sit on the floor entertaining him/herself while you change/feed the baby in between your work.

I'd rather pay someone to watch and play with DD so I could focus on getting my work done quickly and correctly and then get quality time w/ DD

seanandcallie · July 2010

megann831:
honestly I think that's a little selfish. Most of us would love to be w/ our LOs all day, but you really think your baby wants to sit in an office all day? You can't get your work done while giving your baby all your attention, so the baby would have to sit on the floor entertaining him/herself while you change/feed the baby in between your work.
I'd rather pay someone to watch and play with DD so I could focus on getting my work done quickly and correctly and then get quality time w/ DD

amdicl · July 2010

I did it after 3 weeks of leave. My office is small as I am a Realtor and I had my assistant and another agent in my area. After about 2 weeks of part time, I realized that it was not going to work for us. I was too nervous about every peep he made annoying other people, but I think I was being too sensitive. If I wasn't so worried, it could have worked better.

seanandcallie · July 2010

megann831:
honestly I think that's a little selfish. Most of us would love to be w/ our LOs all day, but you really think your baby wants to sit in an office all day? You can't get your work done while giving your baby all your attention, so the baby would have to sit on the floor entertaining him/herself while you change/feed the baby in between your work.
I'd rather pay someone to watch and play with DD so I could focus on getting my work done quickly and correctly and then get quality time w/ DD

I feel that this could be a little harsh and unrealistic. I have known mothers who instead of quiting and having to cut things in their lives, have taken their babies to work with them. Many times, paying someone else to watch your child could take most or all and sometimes more than the money you make.

If your boss is ok with it, and you feel ok with it, then I would give it a try. If it doesn't work it doesn't work. If it does, then great!

MrsRebecca · July 2010

megann831:
honestly I think that's a little selfish. Most of us would love to be w/ our LOs all day, but you really think your baby wants to sit in an office all day? You can't get your work done while giving your baby all your attention, so the baby would have to sit on the floor entertaining him/herself while you change/feed the baby in between your work.
I'd rather pay someone to watch and play with DD so I could focus on getting my work done quickly and correctly and then get quality time w/ DD

While I think this is worded harshly, I agree with what she is saying. Of course there are working women who want to be with their babies all day. But she was given the option to bring baby to work.

I don't see how you could focus on work AND a baby at the same time without one suffering. I don't think it's selfish at all- boss offered and is obviously fine with it. I just don't see it working out.

berrysweet · July 2010

megann831:
honestly I think that's a little selfish. Most of us would love to be w/ our LOs all day, but you really think your baby wants to sit in an office all day? You can't get your work done while giving your baby all your attention, so the baby would have to sit on the floor entertaining him/herself while you change/feed the baby in between your work.
I'd rather pay someone to watch and play with DD so I could focus on getting my work done quickly and correctly and then get quality time w/ DD

Realistically, most babies play by themselves for a portion of the day. Even babies of stay-at-home moms. And you know what, I think learning how to play independently is important. Personally, if my boss offered that to me, I would have absolutely given it a shot.

ETA- Obviously a baby shouldn't play alone ALL day, and with some jobs this situation wouldn't work. But in some fields, I could see this working, especially when LO was a newborn and napped a lot.

.

nattyncbride · July 2010

megann831:

honestly I think that's a little selfish. Most of us would love to be w/ our LOs all day, but you really think your baby wants to sit in an office all day? You can't get your work done while giving your baby all your attention, so the baby would have to sit on the floor entertaining him/herself while you change/feed the baby in between your work.

I'd rather pay someone to watch and play with DD so I could focus on getting my work done quickly and correctly and then get quality time w/ DD

I agree with this. Either you are working or you are taking care of your child. Where I work, even if you are allowed to work from home, you have to have proof that you have daycare or in house care b/c let's face it, if you are 'working from home' with your child, you aren't working. I have worked places with children, and it's annoying to me and I never can count on that woman to get the work done.

All that said, if your boss is suggesting this to you, it might be a good fit for you and your employer/colleagues. It would not work for me (nor would I want an office mate to bring in a kid), but that's not to say it won't work for you! Good luck!

REDWOOD · July 2010

I took DD to work with me for about a month or so after I returned from leave. This was until DH, a teacher was out for the summer. I should mention that I work for my family's business and I share an office with my mother and so she was a big help. We pretty much do the same things and so while one of us weas doing something for DD, like feeding or changing a diaper, etc, the other was getting the work done.

I agree with the pp about babies learning to play with themselves. I want my DD to do this so she can exercise her imagination.

In all, it was great having her with me. My mom got time with her grandchild and I got to have her there with me.

ju1ia · July 2010

I went back to work for a small company, DS in tow, when he was 4 days old. It was definitely a struggle for the first couple weeks, but my boss knew that DS came first and that he was lucky to have me back so soon after birth. It was wonderful having him with me for the first 3.5 months, but now that he's older and more active, I feel a lot better knowing he's getting the attention he needs at daycare.

That being said, I still have him with me one day per week...and while that's not the most productive day of the week, it is nice to have him here.

megann831 · July 2010

I'm not sure how I sounded harsh, just because I used the word selfish? I've thought about looking into a nanny job where I could take DD or leaving my job and then we'd have to sell the house and move into a small apartment, and I just have said to myself that's selfish, it's more important for DD to have a nice day w/ someone who can give her all their attention, even if it can't be me, than to spend the day w/ me but not be able to afford to do anything. Some people have different situations. If you have to give most of your paycheck to childcare, than it would be worth it to look into other options

Bianca42 · July 2010

I work at home. My 5 year old goes to daycare every day. The baby goes to daycare Tues and Thu and then stays home the rest of the time. When I first started back to work, I was able to get in about 7 hours on the days when LO was home with me...with skipping lunch. Now, he needs a lot more attention and it's just not working any more. Starting Monday, he will be going M-F and the 5 year old will be home with me until he starts kindergarten.

It can work for a while, but it's hard to make yourself focus on work when it's way more fun to play with LO.

Anna&Rich · July 2010

I take DS w/me. I work for my dad and uncle in a small office, its only the 3 of us, and a lot of times they're not even there b/c they do construction work. I also am only working part time for them right now, so its only 2x/wk, but i can see how i can do at least another day, if not 2, but still only 6 hours a day. I don't know what will happen as DS gets older, since before he was even conceived, i've been trying to figure out another career, but right now, this is what's working for us.

Most days he sleeps on the way to work and all the way 'til his next feeding, then he plays either on my lap or in his pnp and still gets attention while also leaving him some time to play by himself, takes another nap, eats, and then its time to leave. I bring toys that don't really make noise and he gets lots of playtime and interaction at home too. Once he's napping less, i'm sure it'll be interesting to see how things go. And we have had a couple days where he did not nap well and ended up crabby, but we dealt w/it fine. I don't have a lot of work to do, usually little things here and there, i'm more used for just answering the phones which don't even ring that often. (just have to add, i hate my job, just don't know what direction to go in, this one allows me some freedom and still pays the bills, i actually like working way more then this job allows) So right now the situation is working for us.

aocain02@yahoo.com · July 2010

I'd love to bring DS with me to work. I just wouldn't get a lot of work done and he'd probably distract all my coworkers. You can always try it out for awhile or bring him with you for part of the day and do daycare for the rest of the day. I know we found some that did part time infant care.

Flowr4246 · July 2010

I've brought her in for a couple of hours, here and there, when I've had a glitch in childcare or whatnot. But I don't think it's something I could ever do on a regular basis. I get distracted way too easily and she's way too much fun for me to have her here and still be productive enough to not lose my job altogether. (It's the same reason why I could never work from home with any kind of regularity.)

More power to anyone who's got the type of work environment that would allow this and can make it work for themselves though!

dehsignz · July 2010

Thanks for the input, it's interesting to see the different points of view. I had never considered this and was shocked that he brought it up.

It is a very small office of just he and I so I don't have to worry about bothering anyone else. I would plan on taking baby out for a nice walk or something on the lunch break to break it up. Realisticly I know it wouldn't work much past 6 - 9 months but this new option is exciting.

Cali Mommy519 · July 2010

OK, this is what im going to say about this.

Its hard! REALLY HARD! But so worth ever minute with my DS.

I work for a family Construction Company. It's Myself, DS, MIL, FIL, and 2 Estimators. We Are all Family.

There are some days where i spend a ton of time with DS because hes having a needy day. Which personally i like. LO is my 1st priority and everyone i work with knows this.

I love that i can get my work done and still take care of him, and not have anyone suffer.

It works for me. It may not work for everyone. DS does a lot of playing. He loves sitting on the floor. Playing with toys, rolling around and hes does alot of "talking to himself" (SO CUTE)

let me say that its a house made into a office. My ILs own the house next door, bought this one and its just office. about 3,000 SF of office space.

I have my own room for DS and I. If he needs to cry he needs to cry. (not CIO but you know, get fussy) Hes teething, so we have our moments. We play. he sits on my lap and plays while i work, he loves his bumbo. I am always talking to him and working at the same time. Hes NEVER left alone, or neglected in anyway!

He naps at the same time each day, nurses (which is great) when he needs to and we get in 40+ hours.

Everyone loves to interact with him. There are also 4 dogs here all the time that he sits and plays with and Laughs at.

I think i am so blessed to be able to be a mom and a good employee at the same time.

I think if you have the opportunity to give it a shot, go for it. If he does not work, it does not work for you. My situation is a little different, it takes some getting used to. I have "family" around me all the time, however, we make sure that hes not a "distraction" to getting their work done. We are super laid back here, we all just go with the flow. I have a very loud and obnoxious family!

He gets so excited to be around people who he loves and loves his back!

My DH also works for the company, as well as my dad. They're in the field, on job sites, but get to see him when they are off and come back to the office each day! everyone is blessed in my situation. It is NOT in anyway "selfish" of me to have DS with me while I work. Its better than having to pay for DC, It would cost me more to have him there. If he had to go to DC it would be cheaper for me to be a SAHM.

Good luck in what you do. If you do have any personal questions I will be honest and tell you what i think. Please just ask, I lurk during the days, when things get slow i post. Of course my day is full with everything going on, but I LOVE IT! So worth it.

Hope you have a little more understanding about bring LO to work in my situation. Everyone is different.

I say, Try it. go from there. it may or maynot work for you. GL! Big Smile

Cali Mommy519 · July 2010

Forgot!

I also have everything i need here with me. we use a PNP, Swing, Bounce chair, bumbo, playmat. Excersizer. That way it really is like being at home while we are at work. So keep that in mind as well.

My MIL helped us buy a few things, but its double everything, so I dont forget things each day. We do however, bring a few toys back home each day.

GL!

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