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Writer's pictureWellTree Mama

How to Master Working from Home with a Toddler


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When I received the email with this guest post, I was thrilled! I needed help with this subject matter. Finding time to create engaging content for all of you and complete design work while homeschooling AND nurturing my littlest ones has been a tough balance. I imagine many of you are feeling the same challenges as we move beyond a year since Coronavirus crashed the party, here, in the US.

So, without further ado, here is some great advice from Janice Russel of ParentingDisasters.com on

“How to Master Working from Home with a Toddler!”

Photo via Pexels


Staying focused while working from home is hard enough as it is, but add a baby into the mix, and it can feel impossible to get anything done. Beyond caring for your little one, there’s just always something to do around the house. How are you supposed to turn your back on that growing pile of laundry? Mastering remote work as a busy parent is all about time-management and self-control. To help you get the hang of things, we’ve put together the following guide.

Create a Comfortable Work Environment

When you’re working from home, comfort is key. Whether you’re too cold or too hot, your clothes are too restrictive, your chair is too hard, or your hair is constantly falling in your face, you’re going to have a tough time concentrating on the task at hand. Keep your work environment comfortable to maximize your productivity.

Being comfortable is not an excuse to work in your pajamas. Getting dressed for the day will put you in the right state of mind to work. Consider investing in a few new wardrobe essentials so you can feel both comfortable and put-together during your long workdays at home. All you need are leggings, T-shirts, crewneck sweatshirts, maxi dresses, and a supportive racer-back bra. If you have to hop on a video call, throw on a polished blouse or elevate a T-shirt by wrapping yourself in a cardigan.


Become an Early Riser

It’s easy to fall into a late schedule when you don’t have to be anywhere at any particular time. But hitting snooze and sleeping in will leave less time for you to work while your toddler is asleep. You want to maximize the amount of work time you have while your little one is snoozing, so set your alarm really early and get up before the sunrise. Just make sure you start going to bed earlier to get the full night’s sleep you need for good mental and physical health.

Encourage Your Child to Play Alone

As Verywell Family explains, independent play is incredibly important for toddlers. When children play on their own, they learn all kinds of valuable lessons, including how to have fun on their own, how to develop social independence, how to self-soothe and calm themselves, and how to feel comfortable with being alone. Plus, independent play is great for encouraging their creativity! Try creating a busy bag full of fun activities to keep your toddler engaged while you work — at least for a little while.




Keep Your Cool

When distractions are mounting and you just can’t get a moment of peace to plug away at work, it’s easy to lose control of your emotions. It’s important to be prepared for these moments so you can reign in your emotions and stay in control. First and foremost, make sure you’re taking care of yourself. If you’re hungry, dehydrated, tired, or overworked, take some time to meet your own needs before you try to take care of anyone else. When your cup is full, you’ll be much better prepared to take on your work and family demands.



Be Flexible

As a remote working parent, you have to be flexible. Trying to follow a strict schedule just doesn’t make sense when your day is full of unknowns. Learn to be okay with taking an unscheduled break from your work so you can play with your toddler or tidy up a mess in the kitchen. That said, it’s a good idea to establish a general schedule around bedtimes, mealtimes, and the hours when you’re most productive.

The ability to work remotely can be a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you get to be home to raise your children exactly how you want. But on the other hand, getting work done can be a major struggle. Keep yourself sane by employing some of these tips! For more advice on juggling the demands of parenthood, check out the resources from WellTree Mama!



Janice Russel - Parenting Disasters

"Janice Russell believes the only way to survive parenthood is to find the humor in it. She wants every frazzled parent out there to remember that for every kid stuck in a toilet, there’s another one out there somewhere who’s just graced their parents’ walls with some Sharpie artwork! She created Parenting Disasters so that parents would have a go-to resource whenever they needed a laugh, but also to show parents they aren’t alone.”


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