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How to Keep Your Baby Occupied When Working from Home

mom Working from Home

Working from home while caring for an infant can be challenging. For many people, the coronavirus outbreak has forced the situation upon them, resulting in a desperate search for a balance between virtual work and at-home childcare. Although the lifestyle takes some getting used to, working from home (and actually getting high-quality work done) with a baby is completely possible without sacrificing your child’s care.

One of the biggest adjustments is going to involve finding healthy, educational, and enjoyable occupations for your child while you’re working. The goal is to keep your little ones occupied safely for a period of time long enough for you to get some work done, that also does not require your undivided attention. Of course, you should always keep some of your attention on your child when you are home with them.

Work In Your Child’s Space

You may be used to working at a desk in an adult-oriented office environment, but making the move with your laptop to the baby’s room or a play area can do wonders for your productivity and the length of time your child can stay focused on their play. Even if you’re not playing with them, your proximity to them is calming and allows them to explore and play without worry, often resulting in longer periods of play without the need for adult intervention. Yes, you might need to ignore this tip when it comes time for that zoom meeting, but while you’re working out of sight from your coworkers and employers, there’s no rule that says you can’t be working in your child’s playroom.

Work Outside If Possible

This one isn’t going to work for everyone, but if you are able to sit outside with your laptop and your child, you may find an improvement in your child’s ability to play longer and more independently. If your child has a wanderer’s soul or is too young to be let loose outside, bringing out a high chair, bouncer, or the best baby playpen you can find can result in hours of quiet children. Many infants are happy to just look around when outside.

In addition to keeping your child occupied with new sights and sounds, studies show that children who play outside sleep better at nighttime and during naptime and are happier and less anxious. That’s a triple win.

Foster Independent Play

You can also use this working from home time to support independent play. Independent play has many benefits for your child’s development and is relatively simple to encourage. You first need to set up a safe place. In short, a safe space is an area of an appropriate size that is contained and offers access to age-appropriate toys and objects.

Many people think of independent play when it comes to older children, but this can be just as important for infants. Everything in the world is new and interesting to babies, independent play could consist of some tummy time or lying on his or her back on a blanket. You can set this up somewhere in your home that is visually engaging (and close enough to your workspace that you can hear what is going on) or you can add things to your child’s typical space to make it more visually appealing.

Consider An Activity Scarf

Some children need to be held a little more than others. That’s completely okay, but when it’s time for work this can pose a bit of a problem. Combined with a sling to keep your hands free for work, an activity scarf is exactly what it sounds like. It is an item parents can wear with interesting images and textures and items hanging from it so your child has something to focus his or her attention on while you’re focused on your work.

Think About The Number Of Toys Available

This one might sound counterintuitive, but it is backed by research. Children who have fewer toys available to them, tend to play with each toy longer and more creatively. Not only will hiding a few of your baby’s toys help create scenarios where your child plays for a longer time with more focus, but it will also help boost their creative development.

In addition to the tips mentioned above, there are a few other things to keep in mind when you’re working from home with a little one around. Foremost, infants adopt the stress felt by their parents. Study after study has shown that when children and babies observe their parents in states of stress or anxiety, they are more likely to exhibit anxious or stressed behaviors. This is because the child internalizes that the environment or scenario their parent is currently in is not safe. This can wreak particular havoc on you and your child if you are experiencing work-related stress in your home.

Secondly, children who are experiencing stress and anxiety are more likely to act out. This could involve the presentation of oppositional and aggressive behaviors or a refusal to “stay occupied.” If none of the above tips are keeping the baby focused while you’re working from home, it is possible that your mental state may be part of what is going on. Of course, this is easier to speak about than address, but it is important to consider. If you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed balancing work and childcare, always reach out to a trusted friend or family member. You are not alone in this experience and you should never be ashamed of asking for help when your wellbeing or your child’s wellbeing is at risk.

With the above tips in mind, you are well on your way to keeping your infant occupied while you work from home. Beyond keeping your child quiet so you can get work done, many of the above tricks have long-term positive benefits for your child. Of course, every child is different and no one knows your baby better than you do. Always listen to your own intuition and use your understanding of your child when making decisions regarding your little one.