by Jodie the Mom | Apr 29, 2024 | Pregnancy and Babies

How To Work From Home With A Newborn

Is it possible to work from home with a newborn? I know the first thought is no way. But this is actually one of the easiest stages to work from home with.

Mom, you may feel like you can’t work from home with a newborn because you are so sleep deprived, and dealing with the fourth trimester and all the postpartum stuff. But you can do it. I’ve done it twice now, and I can confirm that it is the easiest age to work from home with kids.

The main reason is they don’t move. Yes, they will wake you up at all hours of the night. But you don’t need to worry about them getting into something they shouldn’t.

You only need a few things to make this stage super easy—the right baby gear to work from home with a baby, morning routine, a limited to do list, and a lot of grace for yourself.

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The Best Baby Gear to Work from Home with a Newborn

You don’t need to buy out the whole store. There are so many cute baby clothes and gadgets, but I promise you don’t need to get everything.

Here are a few things that really helped at the newborn stage: a portable crib by my desk, a swing, and a baby wrap. These were lifesavers. I don’t think I could have worked without them.

As the babies got older, I added a bouncy seat and an exersaucer. But when you baby is a newborn, you don’t need these things just yet.

1. Portable Crib

This was a multi-purpose item. I used it to put baby down when I needed to go to the bathroom. I used as my changing station in the office. It was a play area. Tummy time space. And a place to through all the random stuff, when it wasn’t in use by the baby.

There are many times when you just need to put the baby down in a safe place because you need to use the bathroom, help the other kids, take care of something in another part of the house. The portable crib becomes that place for baby to be so your hands are free. It is possible to work from home with a newborn.

2. A Swing

For both babies that I worked from home with, I was so glad to have a swing. It was a life-saver. Really, it was. It was a great place for naps, a play area, and a soothing space for baby.

3. Baby Wrap or Carrier

I would get both. I love my baby wrap when the babies are tiny. And the Ergo baby carrier when they get older. These are truly hands-free devices, and baby loves the snuggles. If you can only get one thing to work from home with a newborn, then get a wrap.

Create a Morning Routine to Work from Home with a Newborn

Hopefully you were able to take maternity leave as a freelancer. So you’ve given yourself some time to recover and connect with your baby. Now it is time for figure out your morning routine with a baby. This is not the time to figure out how you are going to get projects done. You are just figuring out how to the get the minimal amount done.

Creating a morning routine at any season is a great way to tame the chaos of your day, but it especially helpful when you are working from home with a baby.

Here is a sample morning routine. Wake up at 5:30 and feed baby. Put baby in swing and start working. Feed baby at 8:00am. Take a break and get kids up. Get breakfast. 9:00am Baby is napping in swing or wrapped on you. Start working again. Kids start on schoolwork. 11:00am Baby wakes up. Feed again. Take a break and get lunch.

There isn’t a lot packed in to this routine and it is centered around the baby. Obviously, these times are flexible and depend on baby’s needs. That’s ok. This is the season you are in. One thing we know about seasons is they always change.

Limit Your To Do List

Yes, my fellow overachiever, this is the season to limit your to do list. Or to fire it all together. You will eventually bring it back out, but now is the time for it to remain empty.

This is your permission to take a break and put everything on hold. I know we sometimes need someone else to say this to us. So I am that mom friend.

Yes, there will be things that need to get done. You need to feed your people. Dishes will still pile up. The point is to not over extend yourself or try to take on the world right now. You will get to conquer the world again, but wait until baby is a little bigger and you are getting more sleep.

Sleep is the elusive friend right now, and that will have a direct impact on your energy levels.

Give Yourself Grace This is Only a Season

Yes, it can feel like a never-ending season. Especially, since you are tired all the time. If you have a high needs baby that adds another layer to it. But it is just a season. Give yourself grace in this season.

Working from home with a newborns means that things won’t get done. You will work at a slower pace. There will be a lot of interruptions. Just take a little bit at a time and remind yourself that this is just a season.