Remote work with a newborn - is it actually possible?

3w ago1 min read

My company is letting me work from home 3 days a week while my wife works 2 days a week so someone is always with the baby. Sounds good in theory but has anyone actually managed this? I'm worried I'll be in video calls and the baby will start screaming. Or I'll be trying to concentrate on important work and can't because I'm thinking about feeding schedules and naps. Realistic expectations here?

7 comments227 views

Comments(7)

JJosh M.Regular2w ago

It's possible but barely. Our arrangement is similar and I'm not gonna sugarcoat it - there were weeks I felt like I was failing at both jobs. The key is being realistic about what 'remote work' actually means in those early months. Some days you're just keeping a baby alive, not being productive.

RRobertRegular2w ago

We tried this and it worked better than I expected once our newborn hit about 8 weeks. Before that? Forget about it. Just tell your boss now that productivity might dip the first couple months. Most managers get it if you're upfront.

CChris M.Regular2w ago

We're doing something similar and it's been rough some days not gonna lie. The key thing I found is having realistic expectations about productivity. I get maybe 70% of normal work done on baby days and I've made peace with that. Your company sounds pretty cool for being flexible though.

RRobertRegular3w ago

This works better when you're honest with your team about capacity. I tell my boss upfront that Tuesday-Thursday I'm at full capacity but Monday and Friday I'm handling stuff at home too. They appreciate the transparency and it sets everyone up for success.

CChristopherRegular3w ago

We did this setup when our third was born. Honestly the first month or two is almost impossible to focus, but it gets easier around month 3-4 when the baby's on more of a schedule. Those 3 days vs 2 is a great split though. Pro tip: use your work-from-home days for actual focused work and save admin stuff for when you're back in office.

TTom M.Regular2w ago

Honestly the fact that you and your wife are coordinating the schedule so someone is always home is smart. That's going to make a huge difference. We tried the full remote thing for a bit and it's doable but don't expect to crush deadlines on the days you're home with the newborn.

JJustinRegular2w ago

It is possible but it's like juggling chainsaws some days. I work from home now and my newborn doesn't really understand that daddy working means daddy can't hold him. We basically had to adjust our setup and lower expectations for those work from home days with the baby.