pls. help, re: Going back to work with baby...

I am due in sept. and taking off 12 weeks, my boss said he will work something out with bringing the baby to work with me, he now asks what my plans are after the 12 weeks, what is fair to tell him? This is what I was thinking for options?

4 days a week = 32 hours with Baby -8:30 -4:30

5 days a week = 40 hours total - 32 hours with Baby 8:30-4:30 one day work from home

Is this fair? Is it even possible to work 32 hours in an office with a 3 month old and a pack n play

this is all for 3 months, when baby is 6 mos. old daycare it is.

Re: pls. help, re: Going back to work with baby...

Yes it is possible :) I just did it for 7.5 months. I worked 4 days a week in the office and one day at home. Luckily I had my own office with door so it made it easier. Made it easier for nursing, changing and while he was sleeping. He was a pretty good baby and slept alot in the beginning so I was able to get alot done.

You have a nice boss to allow you to do that :)

Re: pls. help, re: Going back to work with baby...

Personally, working 32 hours/week with the baby seems to be a lot and I would not be able to it. It would be too distracting IMO.

However, it seems like some can do. More power to you, I personally wouldn't be able to do it.

Re: pls. help, re: Going back to work with baby...

Thank you for the responses, I really don't know what to do, maybe I will just try it and see how it goes. The office is NOT extremely busy and I think it can be done.

Re: pls. help, re: Going back to work with baby...

I don't know what profession you are in, but you are lucky to be have that option, my job would never work out that way. If you are payed more to do the 4 at the office, 1 at home I would do that because you might have to play catch up at home anyway...why not get paid for it? I work 4 days full time, and end up doing some sort of paperwork on sunday nights.

Re: pls. help, re: Going back to work with baby...

No way would I be able to work with my daughter but every baby is different. I had to hold her constantly. There was no pack n play or bouncy for us. Honestly I don't know how fair it is to your boss' to expect to bring your baby to work 4 days a week and actually get work done but I'm not sure what kind of job you have. Maybe it's doable.

Re: pls. help, re: Going back to work with baby...

I think this all depends on a few factors:
What kind of work you do
The type of baby you have
Your boss

If you are interacting a lot with customers/other professionals I don't believe that you can have a baby in the office with you for that long. I only saw that because not everyone in the workplace likes to hearing a crying baby on the phone or not be able to talk to you about a work issue because the baby is fussing or needs you. I work from home and Molly was home with me for 5 months...the baby is priority #1 (of course) and if a customer/co-worker needs to speak with you and the baby is crying, you have to go to the baby. that is not professional IMO. There were times I couldn't answer the phone because I was feeding her or she was crying. Molly was a pretty easy baby so I was very lucky. But every once in a while she would start crying when I was on a conference call and it was VERY hard.

Some babies need A LOT more stimulation than sitting in a pack and play for many hours. You should invest in a travel swing as well. Other babies are big criers and need to be held a lot. You can't do your job if you need to hold your baby the whole time.

Your boss may love babies but not want a crying baby or 1/2 of your attention at times. This may seem great on paper but I think you really need to see how it goes and have a back up plan in case the baby and office just don't work out well. Maybe bring the baby 2x a week, work from home 1 day and have a sitter for 2 days a week.

Good Luck! I think it is great that your boss is being so supportive.

Re: pls. help, re: Going back to work with baby...

well first i will say that you are so lucky to have this kind of job!!! i could never work with my son with me. it will be hard because it will be like doing 2 full time jobs all at once. having an infant is alot of work, especially if you are breastfeeding!! i hope it works out for you. i dont' like the idea of 3 month olds going to childcare even though i know for most there is no way around it!

Re: pls. help, re: Going back to work with baby...

Well, my daughter is almost 11 weeks old, so let me give you a realistic idea of what it's like to have a baby that's around three months old....(based on my experience, of course)....

She does not really take many naps during the day.
Cries if she's not being held.
Needs constant stimulation from me or the swing or her bouncy seat, however, has a short attention span, so I constantly need to change activities.
She has to eat every three hours or else she screams. There is NO waiting a couple of minutes. If I'm on the phone, in the bathroom or trying to eat, everything must stop for her.
Then, there's the reflux.....
She spits up, or should I say vomits, during every feeding. Usually all over me or whomever is feeding her.
She MUST be held upright for 20-30 minutes after each feeding or else...you got it....she vomits.
Etc, etc, etc....

Taking care of a baby is a full-time job, imo, and I do not know how easy it would be to do that AND work in an office. If you completely worked from home, I'd say it would work, but going into an office is a different situation.
I'm NOT discouraging you from trying to set up an arrangement, I'm just giving a realistic opinion. You NEVER know what kind of baby you'll have. You may know that babies have no schedule, but you really don't KNOW it until you live it. If you can wait until you are out on maternity leave to make this decision, that would be your best option. What if you have a colicky baby that never stops crying, no matter what? I think you need to tell your boss you have to wait and see. I'm sure he'd understand that.

Re: pls. help, re: Going back to work with baby...

If it's only 3 months, I think you guys can get through it. It's up to your boss if he wants a 40 hour week, but I would say keep with the 4 days if you can - for your sake!


My son would be fine if I had him in the bjorn all day, so maybe that would work for you? there are so many things that might work, like Michele said, a swing, etc

Re: pls. help, re: Going back to work with baby...

In the beg. I think it could work out (depending on your baby of course...)

But I wanna say that by 5 months... its gonna get alot more difficult..

Ryan gets dropped off to me 2 days a week one half an hour before I leave.... and all I can say is its soooo difficult...

He refuses to go in the excersaucer I have in my office... and either demands to be held, or be allowed to explore on the floor...

He is constantly pounding on my keyboard, and I cant keep a pen in my hand or a piece of paper on mydesk that he dosent grab, crumble, or throw....

Luckily for me.... Someone always wants to hold him... and thats whats made that one half an hour 2 days a week possible...

Truthfully... I would shoot for 3 days a week from home, and maybe 2 in the office....

If it works you can always add more in office days... and if it dosent than you may only have to look into childcare for 2x's a week

Re: pls. help, re: Going back to work with baby...

Where do you people work that allows babies? Not only would that NEVERe have worked for my old job, I don't think I've ever gone into an office where they allow babies. Good for you all !
That being said, I thought my baby would be super mellow b/c both my husband and I are... but she wasn't/isn't. But I have heard of people having extremely portable/adaptable babies, so lets hope that s what you get!

Re: pls. help, re: Going back to work with baby...

I want to thank you all for your responses --- let me answer some questions - it would be from 3 - 6 months old only, than I would do a daycare for sure, I just don't think I could do it at 3 months, anyway, my job is an office manager for a family owned co - not my family though - I have been there 13 years and they KNOW how dedicated I am, we never get walk ins or anything like that - it is a heating and A/C company and I do paperwork and answer phones that is it, so I was thinking 3x a week was good, and 2 days from home, I don't know if they would go for that, we'll see. Thank you A LL, I am taking all your posts into consideration ~~

Re: pls. help, re: Going back to work with baby...

Posted by KittyCat

I want to thank you all for your responses --- let me answer some questions - it would be from 3 - 6 months old only, than I would do a daycare for sure, I just don't think I could do it at 3 months, anyway, my job is an office manager for a family owned co - not my family though - I have been there 13 years and they KNOW how dedicated I am, we never get walk ins or anything like that - it is a heating and A/C company and I do paperwork and answer phones that is it, so I was thinking 3x a week was good, and 2 days from home, I don't know if they would go for that, we'll see. Thank you A LL, I am taking all your posts into consideration ~~

Re: pls. help, re: Going back to work with baby...

Re: pls. help, re: Going back to work with baby...

I thought about doing this too, but to be honest, I don't think its fair to a child to bring them to work with you, if you actually have work to do. Babies need stimulation. Jordana does have some quiet time, but I like to stimulate her when she is awake.

I tried working frmo home wiht her a few days and I felt so guilty just putting her in the swing. I definitely think putting her in a pack and play would be unfair. At least with a swing or a bouncy they are moving and there is music.

As Rachel posted, when Jordana was about 12 weeks she could not wait to be fed. When she was hungry- you had to feed her THEN. Even the time to heat up the bottle when DH would feed her, she would be screaming.