Going back to work - taking baby

[spitforspat]

I'm going back to work on August 1, and I'm taking dd with me. She'll be 12 weeks old and I'll get to take her for 3 months.

Has anybody else done this? I'm extremely happy to not have to leave her just yet, but also stressed at the idea of watching her and working at the same time. Like...how will I go to the bathroom? Strap her to me with the carrier? Make someone watch her for a bit?

I plan on just running outside with her if/when she starts to cry. Haha.

Any advice or stories of a similar set up are greatly appreciated!

[TR]

Wow, what kind of work do you do? I've never heard of this.

[hocus2]

Where do you work? I think how this will play out will depend a lot on your office culture. I think someone on the old board did this and she worked for a church. I never heard about her bathroom logistics but I'd say that if someone can watch your kid for 5 mins it will be easier. However folks would have to offer to do that and only you know if that is going work at your office.

[Deleted]

I don't have any real experience with this but I brought my kid into the office with me when he couldn't go to daycare and I just popped him in the stroller most of the time.

[cabbagecabbage]

Wow. Can I ask what type of work you do? I've literally never heard of anyone who was allowed to do this unless they were self-employed.

[followyourarrow]

While I don't have kids, my old office allowed parents to bring their kids to work until 6 months.  Each of our restrooms had a stall with a special seat that you could strap them into.  Some people put their infants in a stroller and just rolled them into the stall with them that way.  Also used the stroller for getting around the office.  There were also plenty of people happy to hold a baby for a bit.  It worked well in our office and I honestly thought I'd hate working in a place with infants.  

[suzubell]

I can't imagine because my work would never allow for this. Also interested in what you do that makes this possible.

[loira]

I work freelance from home and my DD is 6 months old. The only reason I have been able to get any work done is because my H is currently also home and can watch her. I don't want to discourage you, but I honestly can't imagine getting any work done with my baby around.

[Deleted]

Too many unknown facts. If you have a private office, I'd assume you'd set up a pack and play and ask your work friends or assistant to keep an eye on her when you need to use the restroom or go to meetings. If you work alone, maybe just strap her to you? And if you work in a cube farm, I have no idea how you're going to do this, but I'd start by handing out earplugs to your neighbors.

I have colleagues who bring their babies to work sometime, and I've brought my puppies, but that normally just means closing my office door and having my work BFF or assistant watch them when I have to leave for a meeting. I am honestly a little perplexed about how you'd work regularly with a baby there- I am DEFINITELY less productive with a puppy in the room, and that's obviously way less intrusive than having a little human who cries and has to be fed all the time - but it's hard to say without knowing what you do.

[jezebel]

That's so cool that they're letting you do that!

[bittybomb]

I have taken my children to work with me before. Never quite that young though, and probably the longest stretch was when my nanny was on her honeymoon, so two weeks. My youngest was 2 during that time, but he still napped and loved the stroller, so I would bring the stroller with me and do walks when he got cranky. My older two were in school so we would drop them off, come in for a bit, and then leave in time for pick up. I did not last my normal work day and probably got half days in. I can also work from home so I did that too to make sure I was billing what I needed to do. My firm is ridiculously family friendly.

[spitforspat]

I'm an assistant buyer for a local retail store. It's a very crunchy/hippy environment. No dress code (most people in yoga pants everyday), and people bring their dogs to work.

I have an office space, but it's only got a curtain for a door! It will be an interesting transition.

The stroller for the bathroom is a great idea- thanks!!

[wonderfezz]

I did this for almost a year. (I work for my father, I'm alone in the office.)
I had a PNP set up right by me and he basically lived in there, and as he got older I brought different contraptions for him to hang in.

I would leave him in the PNP and go to the bathroom 5ft away. After around the 4/5 month mark is when it got hard and I didn't get a lot done. 6 months was when I was miserable. I feel like my situation was a little different since I had/have no one here with me and I wasn't bothering anyone with a crying child, so I let him cry some times and didn't have to rush out or feel bad if he was fussing.

You'll be OK, it's just going to take some adjustments. Do you have your own office or are you with other people?

[Deleted]

Jul 22, 2016 11:55:47 GMT -5 spitforspat said:

I'm an assistant buyer for a local retail store. It's a very crunchy/hippy environment. No dress code (most people in yoga pants everyday), and people bring their dogs to work.

I have an office space, but it's only got a curtain for a door! It will be an interesting transition.

The stroller for the bathroom is a great idea- thanks!!

Would they consider adding a door for you, or is that not compatible with the environment? I honestly think a door would be incredibly helpful in this situation because you won't be so stressed if the baby cries.

[VillainV]

I'd probably bring a RNP or bouncer, play mat, and some toys.

A woman I went to school with (gras program) brought her 4-month-old to classes sometimes, and just had her in the Ergo and took her out to walk in the hall if she was fussy. We had very understanding professors.

[papie]

Can you get a standing desk? Because then you can work with the baby strapped on you, that would actually be quite productive. My kids hated being worn when I was sitting.

It seems like a great setup. I've tried working from home with the baby here but it was a disaster. I just wanted to nap and breastfeed and cry and watch crappy TV. But going into work will force you to get up and go, and the baby should sleep quite a bit if you wear him/her.

[spitforspat]

Jul 22, 2016 11:58:49 GMT -5 elle said:

Would they consider adding a door for you, or is that not compatible with the environment? I honestly think a door would be incredibly helpful in this situation because you won't be so stressed if the baby cries.

I don't think a door is feasible, as the curtain was added for the woman who had the space before me when she brought her baby to work 4 years ago. Ha!

[spitforspat]

Jul 22, 2016 12:02:28 GMT -5 papie said:

Can you get a standing desk? Because then you can work with the baby strapped on you, that would actually be quite productive. My kids hated being worn when I was sitting.

It seems like a great setup. I've tried working from home with the baby here but it was a disaster. I just wanted to nap and breastfeed and cry and watch crappy TV. But going into work will force you to get up and go, and the baby should sleep quite a bit if you wear him/her.

Yes! I do have a standing desk and a carrier I love. This is encouraging!

[Eagles]

Jul 22, 2016 11:57:25 GMT -5 wonderfezz said:

I did this for almost a year. (I work for my father, I'm alone in the office.)
I had a PNP set up right by me and he basically lived in there, and as he got older I brought different contraptions for him to hang in.

I would leave him in the PNP and go to the bathroom 5ft away. After around the 4/5 month mark is when it got hard and I didn't get a lot done. 6 months was when I was miserable. I feel like my situation was a little different since I had/have no one here with me and I wasn't bothering anyone with a crying child, so I let him cry some times and didn't have to rush out or feel bad if he was fussing.

You'll be OK, it's just going to take some adjustments. Do you have your own office or are you with other people?

Ughhhhhhhhhh, I remember when you had to do that!

Good luck, OP! No kids here so no advice.

[lemondrop34]

I did this with my 3rd child. He was only about 6-7 weeks old and I worked for a small company with about 25 people. I was receptionist/admin assistant and had a desk out in an open area. There were 2 older women that helped me when I had to walk away from my desk. We had an office that was vacant and I put him in there to nap (used the monitor to listen in). I brought a PNP, baby monitor and various things I would need. I had a mat beside my desk and held him frequently; even when I answered the phone. it worked out great for us and everyone hated when he finally went to daycare. He is still referred to as our "workplace" mascot.

It was a little weird the first few days and I had to get used to tending to my work and also a baby. The ladies I worked with were great. If he was fussy and the phone rang someone else would pick up for me. I really got lucky though cause he was a pretty laid back kid.

He only stayed with me for about 2 mos, so I have no experience with a mobile child. But it was very doable then. I think it really depends on the office culture/vibe.

[zaneyzoo]

My friends work for an agency that allowed that and thy loved it. There were many other women there who wanted to snuggle so mom got a break and could go to the bathroom.

It's so cool you also have a job that allows that. Enjoy!

[cuddlyevil]

I did it with DD until she was 5 months old. I had a pack n play set up in an empty office and a stroller for when she was awake. I also had plenty of baby holders at the ready.

It worked well for us.

[googled]

I interviewed at a company that does this for the first year of a baby's life and I think it's amazing. I would think that if you're comfortable with it and have someone you trust, you'll have plenty of coworkers who wouldn't mind cuddling a baby for a few minutes while you use the bathroom. At least I wouldn't! The rest of the time I'd use a sling.

Good luck!

[sleepyheads]

I did this with both my kids, but I own my business. I had bouncers and pack n plays set up. I am lucky though, because it's a family business so if I needed to use the restroom or work with patients my family could watch them. Once they hit about 8 moths I set up a doorway bouncer in our workroom, patients loved being able to see the kids.

I think if you had a containment device of some kind ( stroller, bouncer, pack play) you could put your baby down for a few minutes for a bathroom break.

[sunshineandpinot]

I had a similar situation to @wonderfezz. I brought my infant dd to work when she was really little. (family biz and I was back at work 7 days PP (DAYS. Not weeks.) She would always fall asleep in the car and take a solid three hour nap so I just left her in the carrier. If I needed to go to the bathroom, I just went. I don't take my kids to the restroom with me, like ever. I just leave them where they are. I was able to get a good solid 3 hours worth of very productive work in. After she woke... well, that was another story

GL!! So glad you have this option!