How to Work at Home With Your Child and Nanny

Working at home is a great solution for parents who want to be available for their kids while maintaining their careers. The challenge is finding the balance, which requires self-discipline, organization and flexibility.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Baby Toys
• Infant/toddler Toys

1. Find quality child care - easier said than done. Working at home will be virtually impossible without responsive child care you can trust.

2. Set up a separate space for the home office. Ideally, this entails a space with a door that can be closed so that junior cannot interrupt you when you are working.

3. Say goodbye in the morning - as if you are leaving the house.

4. Talk to your children about your work schedule. Explain that you will be working while the nanny spends time with them.

5. Set up a structured schedule. It will be much easier for children to adapt to a babysitter if they have a structured, predictable routine.

6. Encourage the nanny to take your children to the park or out on walks. You will appreciate the peace and quiet.

7. No matter how much a project means to you, kids have a hard time understanding why you cannot spend time with them - it's your responsibility to set the rules.

8. Respect the challenging job of a nanny who is caring for children who want to be with their parent in the next room. Work with the babysitter to find interesting activities for your children while you are working.

9. Reach out to other parents who are working from home for validation on the challenges of working at home, and for strategy swapping.

Tips & Warnings

• Expect and understand that your children will want to be with you. Your productivity might not be at the same level as it was before having kids.
• Sometimes working at home translates into working at night or on the weekends. It is important to discuss this with your partner in advance in case it cuts into your relationship time.

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[rigs007]

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[momsrule]

on 4/6/2009 Great article...but it does leave me wondering or wishing? for the challenge of kids and a nanny. I wish I had a nanny. But, I know people who do/you're right it is still a challenge. Maybe even more than without the nanny...unless the nanny has been around caring for the kids since birth.

[workathomecommu]

on 1/21/2009 you can make money working from home if you focus on something you are actually good at! http://www.workathomecommunity.com

[nannygirl1208]

on 12/23/2008 (cont. from previous post)
re! Having a nanny should be a wonderful experience for everyone involved, especially the children. A happy environment benefits everyone! :)

[nannygirl1208]

on 12/23/2008 (cont. from previous post)
utside the home who trust me, allow me to do my job and don't cause any undue stress for themselves, their child(ren) or for myself. I am posting this comment because I want parents to know what we nannies go through when working in the same house as a work-at-home parent. Work with the nanny, not against her, for the benefit of your child(ren). I'm hoping that what I have posted here will help parents evaluate their own pros and cons of working with a nanny and to do some serious thinking before hiring a nanny. We nannies would just like to be extended the same courtesy, kindness, politeness, professionalism and respect that anyone else would expect from their own employer in any profession. Treat a nanny as you would like to be treated and think before you act or speak. Good luck to those who choose to hire a nanny, as there are many great ones out the