Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

This is all foreign to me, but today one of her coworkers brought her 2-year old to the office for the entire day. He was running around screaming, and now she shut him into her office so now I feel the faint, muffled screams, along with the noises from the Baby Einstein toys they brought.

Is this ever OK? It's so rough being a working mom, but to be honest, I work best in the office when I don't have a screaming, crying young child, KWIM?

Just wondering if this is allowed in other offices. For the record, DS has visited for an hour or two max on my days off, or when DH has off and brings him in to show everyone. I think short times are fine, but an 8 hour work day seems a bit much.

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

I would say no. Especially if they are running around screaming.

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

I would never bring a toddler.

We have one co-worker who brings her son every so often but he's older, like 7. He just plays computer games or watches a dvd. I think it's a little strange but in this case he doesn't bother me......

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

Well, if she is really stuck I think it is ok. Maybe her nanny called in sick at the last minute.

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

I think it depends on what you do KWIM. If you worknin a daycare ok. If you work for some bigwig fortune 500 i would say no. DH is a software engineer. I bring DS to visit ifbwe bring him lunch. 10 mins max otherwise he is running around the office like a nutcase. No one gets work done because they are all goo goo ga ga over ds. So, i say no not ok.

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

I am able to bring DD if need be. BUT, now that she is getting around, its tough. I get no work done and I worry that she is bothering everyone else...so I only do it if in a pinch. If its a rare thing I say ok, regularly, no

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

I'm pretty sure it wouldn't fly in my office. Like pp said, I guess it all depends on what you do...and who are you are

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

No- it's too distracting to the other employees and not professional IMO

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

I wouldn't unless something happened very last minute with child care and I HAD to come into work for a little while (I do payroll so if something happened and nobody else could watch DD, I'd have to at least come in with her to do that). But I wouldn't stay the entire day...

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

I think it depends in part on the environment, in part on your position in the company, and on what your arrangement is with your boss and colleagues. I am an attorney at a big firm. If a partner wants to bring their kid--of course he/she can. That doesn't make it "right", but it's certainly allowed. I've never seen a kid act up and cause a disruption, though. If that was happening, I just assume the parent would leave with the kid. Secretaries have brought their older children when they need to, and those kids have sat quietly reading, doing school work, playing games quietly. At my old firm, there was a daycare downstairs, so kids and babies would often be brought around for short periods, but never for a whole day, simply because there was the daycare for them to go to. I couldn't bring my kids for a whole day and have them in my office because I wouldn't be able to get any work done. That said, one of the partners once told me of course I am welcome to bring my kid in anytime I need to.

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

I bring Tyler to work 2 days a week...and still will when he is a toddler.

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

Well, I work for family- so I am allowed to bring her to work- but she isn't mobile yet- I can just shut the door to my office. No one seems to be bothered by her.

However- I can never just get to the office and start working- everyone has to gush over her for a little while first- and have even woken her from a (helpful- so I can get work done) nap with their cooing.

In a few months, the tenant in another part of the building is leaving and my sister and I will be working there so we can bring the kids to work without distracting everyone else- there's plenty of room for them to play with toys, have a climber, run around a little and watch Nick Jr.

I realize how lucky I am to have this situation, but I can see that in most office environments this would be neither acceptable nor allowed.

A co-worker (who is not related) has brought her 2 year old in on occasion and she is really well behaved. She has her moments of boredom, but she is only distracting to her mother.

Message edited 9/3/2010 9:58:29 AM.

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

Not in my office! I work on a trading floor so it's loud enough but it would still be WAY too distracting. Like I'd really get any work done in the office with him there... I can hardly get anything done at home!

I brought DS in for a hour when he was an infant (he sat and played on a blanket) on a holiday Friday (like today) but any other time he's been in the office, it's been on my day off.

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

In my office, no. Do people do it - occasionally.

The only time it would be ok would be on a short day (Christmas Eve, day before Thanksgiving) or the week between Christmas and New Years when the office isn't that busy.

My coworker brought in her 9 year old triplets the other day and everyone was groaning by the end of the day - and they are 9 and fairly well behaved (but, still kids).

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

I agree that it depends on what you do.

For me, no-I think a toddler or infant in my office would undermine my position in meetings, conference calls, etc.

I've brought my kids in for a few minutes here and there and when I pop in on the weekends once in a blue moon to see how the team is doing-then yes. But not for a formal work day.

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

I think it depends. In a school if a teacher is setting up her classroom, yes.

In a business office,for a full day, no. I would say if it's only for a few hours, sure. Besides the fact that it is boring for them, it is not a place for a toddler who wants to be out and about. It would be too stressful for me constantly keeping them quiet trying not to distract my co-workers.

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

It is NEVER OK to bring a child at your work.

It's completely unprofessional!!!!

I think if you have an emergency you need to either take the day off, ask your boss to get the OK and never for a full day.

I can't tell you how unprofessional it sounds like when you have kid screaming in the background and you are talking to someone about their multi millions account discrepancy. BTDT!!!!

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

Totally unaccpetable and unprofessional - and I AM a working Mom so I know how difficult it can be -

You don't bring your children to the office - it's not school, it's not a daycare facility - it's your JOB, that you are paid for.

If you absolutely can not find child care in a pinch, you take a personal day.

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

in my office it would never be.

Maybe if it was a small business or something. But not in a professional office.

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

On days like today when it's EMPTY b/c of the holiday, I've seen people bring them in. If you are stuck, you are stuck!

I'm sure on a busy work day this would never fly but it happens often during holidays.

I couldn't do it. . .it would stress me out

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

Depends on the child, the parent's job, the office & the office policy.

I've had my son or daughter in on a very rare occasion. But it's a day when my boss is out, not a lot of people in the office, no clients.

I printed out some things for them to color, they went around cleaning everyone's keyboards & then took a nap in my office.

While today (the day before a holiday weekend) is really ideal for it, I'd never do it because of the crowds on the train.

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

like everyone else, depends who and what

I'm not brave enough to try (im mid to low level)

And in my office it would be a nightmare of biblical porportions! AJ is 2 and I know for a fact that she would NOT be still for 8hrs. No amount of putty, coloring or bubbles would keep her in one place. Heck not even TV would help.

I would be utterly distracted

I'd want to watch her or play with her and even if I didn't she would want me to watch or play with her. Just last night she had a fit because I had to make dinner instead of sitting on the floor playing with her and her toys.

No way no how.


Then again, my last office had a upper exec bring her kids in and she'd sorta dump them on her assistant to 'babysit' through the day while also managing her own work.

Re: Is it ever acceptable to bring a toddler to your office for an entire work day?

In my office it def wouldn't fly. At one of my previous jobs people would bring their kids in occasionally. One of our managers brought her 1 1/2yo in and stuck her in a pack and play in a conference room near reception and expected the receptionist to keep an eye on her.