I understand. Working from home is a blessing for balancing family life, but it’s not without its challenges. When my daughter was younger, having her home from daycare while I worked was impossible. I’d have to take the day off. She’s now 3 years old, and it’s easier to keep her home while working since she’s more independent. Still, it’s really boring for her; she can’t go out much and doesn’t always have someone to play with. Daycare is better for her, especially for socializing and getting all those activities.
I tried to work from home and it didn’t go well. With every coo, whimper, or cry, I felt the need to check on my baby. Even when I knew he was fine and being taken care of, it was hard to ignore that urge. I ended up back in the office full-time. I get the mom guilt; it’s tough. Some days I cry feeling like a terrible mom for working instead of being with him, but we need to provide for our families. It’s a tough situation, and I completely understand your feelings.
I felt the same way since I also work from home. My partner is home on Thursdays and Fridays, so our baby doesn’t go to daycare those days. At 11 months old, she wakes up at 7am, which is also my start time. I take care of her for the first part of the morning, and although it’s usually quiet at that time, my baby still needs my attention. She was on my lap while I read this because she didn’t want to play alone. It wouldn’t be possible for me to manage both all day, five days a week. I cried the night before she started daycare, but she loved it once she did. They offer so many fun activities during the day, keeping her engaged rather than splitting my attention.
I kept my baby home while working from home until he was nine months old, and even with both my partner and me around, it was super stressful. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you want to feel like you’re not succeeding at parenting or your career. It truly takes a village to raise a child, and daycare is a great part of that support.
I work from home and send my child to daycare next door. In the first few weeks, I would pick her up on my slower days, but it felt terrible. I felt like I was either neglecting her or my job. She wouldn’t nap when expected, or it took longer than usual to get her to sleep. So, I stopped picking her up early and feel better about it now. Since daycare is close, I sometimes let her nap at home before taking her to daycare—it’s only a short break from work.
I work from home 50% of the time. At first, I tried keeping my daughter home while I was working, but I quickly realized that didn’t work and she got bored. I found her a part-time daycare for the days I’m at home, and she loves it. My parents watched her full-time before, but she needs to be around kids her age for some social interaction. Enrolling her in daycare was the best decision ever. I’m able to focus on work, and she has a great time.
I work from home and will send my baby to daycare in December when she’s seven months old. I would have done it sooner, but I didn’t find a spot until then. I get the feelings you’re having, but I believe it’s better for everyone. Having my baby at home while working makes me feel like a bad mom and bad employee. I can’t give my all to either, and my baby seems bored all the time, while I’m always behind with work. It’s not good for my mental health either, leading to anxiety and stress. Daycare is necessary, as working from home is still work.
It’s tough to send your child to daycare while working from home. But handling a demanding baby and a job (which might not seem demanding) is still a lot. You mentioned that your job doesn’t consume all your time, but being available on-call is tough. I wish I could say it gets easier, but it doesn’t really. As your child grows, you’ll see the benefits more and more. I miss my child every day, but I cherish our time together, and I work hard to separate work from time with him. Plus, you can always take sick days.
These are two separate jobs. You can’t do both well at the same time. Don’t feel guilty about using daycare!
Your child will surely be bored at home with you. Trust me on this.
I had a similar experience. I kept my baby at home until almost 2. She started daycare a month before her birthday. I structured my work schedule so that my meetings coincided with her nap time. I cherished our time, and I saw benefits quickly. If you can manage it, keeping them at home is nice, but be warned that you might crave adult interactions, as they’ll be with you 24/7. As my child grew more mobile and vocal, she needed more attention than I could give while working. She was interrupting meetings sometimes, and I decided to enroll her in daycare. I was also ready for a break. Do what works for you; the guilt will always be there, just part of being a parent.
I feel the same way. I work three days a week while my baby is in daycare. Sometimes, when work is slow, I think I could do both. But on busy days, three hours pass quickly, and it’s hard to balance it all. It’s challenging, but it is for the best.
Caring for a baby is a full-time job. Chores like dishes and laundry are not. When you pay for daycare, they provide lesson plans, activities, parties, and crafts. You can’t manage a full-time job and give a child the attention and activities they need.
My husband works from home while I’m a stay-at-home mom. I leave him alone from 9 to 5, and sometimes even later. He gets irritated when I’m not well; our daughter tends to wander into his workspace, distracting him. We have talked about him going back to the office since he works in software. You really can’t do both jobs well. As kids grow, they require more attention and engagement. While every family makes different choices, it’s essential to do what’s best for you. You can be a great mom once work is done.
I work from home full-time, and I just can’t take care of my kid and do my job. Something will suffer. I now have a toddler and when he’s home due to illness or snow days, he ends up getting more screen time than usual. As they grow, they demand more attention. Honestly, sending my little one to daycare is a much-needed break at times—especially after a long weekend or when he’s in a bad mood. Plus, while he’s at daycare, I can catch up on chores without distraction. I’m preparing for my second child, and the daycare spot won’t be available for six months after they arrive. I’m anxious about arranging time off with my husband after my maternity leave ends. Many people think working from home doesn’t involve real jobs, so it should be easy to combine with being at home. But trying to manage two full-time jobs is incredibly difficult.
My wife works permanently from home while I’m on a hybrid schedule. We send our son to daycare every weekday because parenting is also a full-time job. We’ve found focusing on work nearly impossible when he’s at home. I felt guilty for a time, but now I see how much he enjoys daycare. It’s fun for kids; they play, socialize, and learn. Try to view it in that light. You’re doing great!
Daycare takes active care of your baby. When working, you can’t provide that quality time like storytime or tummy time. Let daycare do the hard job, you do your job, and when your child returns, you can just relax with him. He’ll only need your love and cuddles. This is the right call for your family.
I worked from home and started sending my daughter to daycare at three months. I cried every day the first week. The good part is it was harder on me than it was on her. I was worried since she had bottle refusal and struggled to nap in her crib. I thought she’d have a tough time. Now at six months, she’s thriving at daycare. I miss her while working, and I wish she was with me, but I have to focus on my job to provide for her.
The daycare shares pictures throughout the day, so I get to see her having fun. She’s learned to take bottles and nap in her crib without issue, all thanks to daycare. I also see her progress as she observes and plays with other little ones. A nice perk is that I can take a break and handle chores during my lunch, allowing me to be more present when she gets home. Your feelings and guilt are totally valid. I went through all that too, but it’s not as tough as you think it’ll be. Both of you will benefit from this arrangement.