https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:47:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1210167 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 08:47:15 +0000 hilary 1210167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work PT split between home and the office. 7-noon every day - 3 days at the office and 2 at home. DH is home until 8 and LO sleeps from 10-11:30 normally. But really when she was smaller I just moved her from swing to play mat to bouncer and she did great. Now that she's almost 1 I just shift which toys are in my office every week so she doesn't get bored. Occassionally I make up time in the evening if LO is really distracting but not that often. It's hard to stay disciplined but I think it's helped my LO become good at independent play. (She goes to a small daycare on my office days, but otherwise is home with me.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1210069 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 08:02:39 +0000 mjane 1210069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work at home part-time. For me, naps were not solidified at 16 weeks. It is only recently (at almost 6 months) that I can plan to get work done during naps. Every baby is different, of course, and for some it may take longer and others it may never happen--and maybe with others it happens much sooner!</p> <p>I have a sitter eight hours a week (twice a week from 10 am - 2 pm) and my husband is also flexibly employed so if I need to do a phone call outside of those times or finish a project or something, he can come home early/leave late. Without the sitter and my husband's flexibility, it would be really hard. But probably not impossible--nothing is impossible and people make all kinds of things work that seem crazy to others. But I think you have to go into it with a pretty flexible attitude. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209986 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 06:59:13 +0000 lamariniere 1209986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The consensus is that WAHM is definitely difficult without some type of childcare. I started to WAH when DS was 6 weeks old. It was kind of a nightmare since he was not a regular napper at all, and I was so exhausted from sleepless days and nights that I'm pretty sure I turned in less than stellar project. As he got older and napped more regularly and for longer stretches, I was able to work better, but the days were still highly fractured and I worked a lot of late nights after my husband was home or DS had gone to bed. </p> <p>When we FINALLY had half day daycare for him starting at 2 years, I was suddenly way more productive and content with what I was doing. You really have to be very organized and diligent. I knew I had 4 hours per day of peace and quiet and I was able to really focus and churn things out. Now, DS goes to daycare full time and I still WAH. I am so grateful that we have daycare so I don't have to work late nights or weekends anymore. Also, his school closes at 4, which means I usually pick him up by 3:30 and we still have a lot of time to be together and do things in the afternoon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209819 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 22:37:17 +0000 fussygal 1209819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: That's good to hear! My work is also more about project completion than actual hours so I think I could condense mine into 3-3.5 days or work per week if I had a family member come watch LO and was really diligent about my schedule. Part of it is that I think I may have to ask for a slight change in my role at work (mostly to eliminate travel). It sounds like I'm asking for a lot but my bosses are pretty generous and flexible so we'll see! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209781 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 22:01:30 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1209781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@fussygal: I WAHM full time and blogged about my schedule. It's hard -- I had to teach myself to work diligently, be focused and adhere to a schedule. My daughters needs have evolved over the last two years; I try to work during nap time, but there is also a house to be taken care of ad laundry to be done. I used to work at night but now I choose not to- it's our family time.</p> <p>My 2yo is in preschool part time &amp; I have an in-home caregiver that comes during the spring and summer months. I wouldn't be able to work full time otherwise! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209758 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 21:48:20 +0000 Andrea 1209758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it totally depends on what you do and your work load.</p> <p>I used to WAH and I wouldn't have been able to do it without childcare. There were a few times when DD was sick and I still had to work and I was miserable. I worked during her naps and then after she slept until midnight or so, but that still wasn't enough. I remember getting some work done while she held and drank her bottle, but I definitely couldn't get much accomplished while she was awake. </p> <p>Not to mention the fact that there are lots of people to contact during the day, not after normal business hours at 10 pm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209744 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 21:37:40 +0000 immabeetoo 1209744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@fussygal: I worked on events and programming pre-baby and... yeah. There's no way. Even if your LO is an all-star napper, there is no way that they'll be an all-star napper every day, each day, at the same times to let you schedule calls or meetings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209742 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 21:35:37 +0000 Mae 1209742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel for you, I'm in a similar situation! I currently WAH full time and had no clue what to do post-baby. What I ended up agreeing to with my employer is that I will do daycare three days per week so that those days I can be totally focused on work, attend meetings/conference calls, etc. Then the other two days I will WAH with the baby. I don't work on an hourly basis but more of a tasks-completed basis-- so I hope to be uber productive on my 3 daycare days (less internet surfing and taking an hour for lunch), and then just doing stuff as-needed on the other two days. I'm not positive it will work yet, but I do feel like with my current work load I could probably fit it all into three solid days + the odd nap/evening otherwise. And my boss is willing to give it a go for a while and see if I can pull it off without losing much productivity. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209731 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 21:21:47 +0000 lawbee11 1209731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO takes 45-min naps...I can barely find time to eat lunch! So there's no way I could do it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209714 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 21:13:28 +0000 sarac 1209714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, I think the general consensus is that it isn't possible. I'm a SAHM, and I know that I could not get anything done in the very limited time that she naps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209550 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 19:25:19 +0000 fussygal 1209550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks, everyone! I figured it was a crazy long-shot so it's great to hear everyone's schedules to see if one of them could work for us!</p> <p> @HabesBabe: Sounds like we have similar situations! I'm an event producer too so lots of calls with clients and deadlines. I may have my mom come help out during the day. She's currently looking for a job and while I hope she finds something, part of me wants her to be free and let her bond with LO for a few days a week :)</p> <p>@blackbird: Yeah the night thing would be terrible b/c that is my only time with DH since he works such long hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209520 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 19:13:38 +0000 yoursilverlining 1209520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I WAHed FT for several months before going back to WOH, and if you need to put in any sort of real hours - I don't think its really possible to do and create a decent work product, or be available to a boss/co-workers (which is why my LO was in daycare 3 days a week and worked those days and at night 2 days a week). Babies don't sleep all day; so even if you say "part time" around naps, what does that mean compared to a real part time position?</p> <p>My old employer allowed working from home, but if you had very young children they required proof of daycare enrollment outside the home; because most people can't get much work done with an infant or toddler at home. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209485 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 18:49:46 +0000 mlm2934 1209485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I WAH, but not yet WAHM - FX this one sticks I'll be switching to that status next year!</p> <p>I personal don't think it's good practice to try to juggle work around caring for child if you work for an employer as W-2 employee and normally work set WAH hours. Most employers would frown on that, but hey, some are super flexible!!! I plan to try to reduce my schedule to 4 days, and split between daycare and grandma keeping LO </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209460 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 18:40:10 +0000 HabesBabe 1209460@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh man, good luck-- I think you will def need some form of childcare during the week-- hopefully a family member or even care.com 2-3 days?</p> <p>I'm a WAHM and I work normal hours, M-F, 8a-5p. My mom comes over every day to watch LO while I work. I put her down for naps. give her kisses, help a bit if she's fussy, and do meals... but otherwise, it's all my mom. It's really hard to get anything done when she's not here (when she has dr's appts or is sick, etc.). I tip my hat to the moms who can pull it off!</p> <p>ETA: I work for a "traditional" company, and I'm an events manager and a people manager, so I have to be available all the time and hop on video conference calls. I also have normal deadlines, so that makes it hard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209458 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 18:39:38 +0000 birdofafeather 1209458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I WAH and am able to get done what I need to without child care, but that's only been since DD was about 6 months and taking consistent naps. I run my own business though so I'm not accountable to anyone but me and my timelines that I set with clients take my workable hours into account. Realistically I can work about 4 hours a day. I refuse to work late nights and set hours for myself to separate work and home life. It's tough, but doable. I would second getting a PT helper though if you're on deadlines or need to talk to clients throughout the day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209452 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 18:35:42 +0000 blackbird 1209452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When will you sleep?!</p> <p>I can't focus on anything if I work from home. I hate it </p> <p>Maybe you can manage part time over 5 days, though, if you work a lot of evenings. But then it sucks because you won't see your husband much </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209416 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 18:13:06 +0000 erinpye 1209416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I WAH and honestly, it's nearly impossible to get work done without childcare. Or, I sacrifice my own sleep working until 2/3 AM. Not all babies are good nappers, and even when they are, it's really hard to get into your work groove and then so quickly get pulled out of it when baby wakes up. I get a nanny off care.com to be here while I work, any time I'm working on a big project. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209412 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 18:09:59 +0000 mrskc 1209412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There's no way I would be able to work from home with my LO unless there was someone there that could watch him while I worked. Good luck to you. I hope you can work something out with your work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209406 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 18:07:35 +0000 oliviaoblivia 1209406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I WAHM for a few weeks when DD was a newborn and my boss was in a pinch. It was soooooo hard and she wasn't even mobile at that point. In three weeks I worked 16 hours. I thought I'd be able to get three hours a day during naps and maybe a couple hours after bedtime, but it just didn't happen.<br /> Good luck to you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209399 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 18:02:38 +0000 skipra 1209399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am SAHM but I know that I would not be able to work from home with a LO. Naps and schedules can be unpredictable and I'm so exhausted after he goes to bed that I could probably manage to do just like a half hour or hour of work. I'm sure if that's your only option you can make it work, but I know that I would never be able to do it.<br /> Maybe rather than daycare you could get a mother's helper for a few hours a day? Like a high school student that comes after school? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209386 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 17:50:33 +0000 autumnlove 1209386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't be able to get anything done with a LO at home. I work FT at home and I need to have childcare because I can't have a LO crying in the background when I talk to clients. </p> <p>I worked 3x from home and commuted 2x after LO. I recently switched to FT from home after I returned to work after my maternity leave for my second baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahm-schedule-is-this-realistic#post-1209370 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 17:38:54 +0000 fussygal 1209370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When LO gets here in March I plan to take off 16 weeks for maternity leave and then I'll likely go back to work PT. I currently work from home FT during normal business hours and I have yet to have the talk about cutting hours after my leave. I'm curious if he will even let me go down to PT, and if so, how flexible they will allow my schedule to be. </p> <p>Hoping that he says, "Yes, do whatever you have to do!"....I'd love to hear of some sample schedules from both FT and PT WAHMs. Daycare would be likely be too expensive and we have family nearby that could help out, but not regularly. That means I'm going to try and work during naps and at night. Has anyone done this successfully? Am I crazy?? </p> <p>Thanks in advance to anyone that can help me out. I'm going to talk to my boss in the next month or so and want to have a solid plan laid out and anticipate any issues/questions they might have. :) </p>