When I worked during my maternity leave without childcare (when I wasn't expected to make meetings or conference calls), I got in around 4 hours during naps and at night. I was exhausted. When I worked from home one day a week with childcare, I got about 75% of my normal work done because I was distracted by the baby and nursed instead of pumping, etc.

I had an ad-hoc telework arrangement after my child was born, between the time she was 5 and 12 weeks old. I just put in as much or as little time as I could and charged my hours accordingly. My husband is a full-time SAHD who was around to help with the baby and our older child. So, even with two parents at home the whole time, I logged about 20 hours a week.

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking to make the switch from full time working outside the home to part time working from home. I don't want to over-promise the time I can put in, though. Anyone telecommute/work from home with an infant (under 1)? How much real work can you legitimately put in during the week? What kind of work do you do? How do you make it work without neglecting baby or falling behind job obligations? Is it even possible? Thanks for sharing your experience.

I think it depends on the work. If you have conference calls/client calls or whatever all day and have to lead them, then no. If you're working on top-secret national security related documents, no. If you have a few calls you can put yourself on mute for, if you're building a webpage, or the biggest task of your day is putting together a spreadsheet, then sure, maybe.

What if your baby doesn't nap?
Really, OP, be smart. Follow the rules. Get child care.

If you are willing to work naps and evenings, 4 hrs a day is fine. Do not try to work with an awake baby bc you will go insane.

What amount of time could you patch together between naps, after your partner (if you have one) gets home, and after baby's bedtime? And would you have a plan for getting all the other stuff done- cooking, housework, errands, etc?

You're also doing a disservice to other employees at your company who get care while WFH. The fact that you are not and trying to cheat the system could penalize others. Really.

Anonymous wrote:Wait, you're getting childcare, right? Without it, none. With it - the same as I would get done in an office, but with no commute time.

+1 none while they are awake. A few hours at night. My employer required proof of childcare when I asked to work from home. Not having the commute after is wonderful because I get a solid 2-3 hours every day with DCs.

Please don't try to do this without childcare. You will make yourself insane right before you get yourself fired.

I would never approve an employee to work from home if they were also taking care of any child under 12. Are you kidding me? I can't believe you are actually asking this.

Anonymous wrote:Wait, you're getting childcare, right? Without it, none. With it - the same as I would get done in an office, but with no commute time.

+1. I work 3 days a week from home. I have a nanny 3 days a week. Try it without childcare and you'll be doing a crappy job on your work or a crappy job as a mom but probably both.

I have worked from home part-time since DS was born. My hours have varied between 5-25 hours a week, and realistically 10-15 is doable for me during naps and in the evenings/weekends when DH is home.

Neither DH nor I really like it -- I'm always working on the weekend and we don't see each other as much as we'd like. If we didn't need the money, I wouldn't do it.

This next year, we're looking into a 3 or 5 day preschool and I would work during that time. We'll see how that works.

I have not done this other than a few days here and there where I had my laptop home with me with my son. I don't see how you could get much done other than checking email with a child home with you. Even if they take two 1.5 hr naps you are still only looking at a max of 3 hours of work and that is a good day assuming you get straight to work and work the entire nap time. Not to mention the fact that they always seem to not nap as long on the days you really need them to.

For people in this situation i think the best bet is to put your child in part time daycare or hire a sitter to watch the baby in your home while you work. It is just to hard to give both things your attention at the same time.

Wait, you're getting childcare, right? Without it, none. With it - the same as I would get done in an office, but with no commute time.

I'm looking to make the switch from full time working outside the home to part time working from home. I don't want to over-promise the time I can put in, though. Anyone telecommute/work from home with an infant (under 1)? How much real work can you legitimately put in during the week? What kind of work do you do? How do you make it work without neglecting baby or falling behind job obligations? Is it even possible? Thanks for sharing your experience.