Any tips?

[Jo9999]

Just wondered if anyone else works from home on the computer and has some advice for dealing with toddlers?

I have a part time job working from home about 15 hours per week doing compuer work - which doesn't sound like a lot... but I am finding it a real struggle. My DD is 18 months old and I am having huge problems with her not letting me work on the computer. She allows me to do housework but the second I am on the computer she just cries at my feet. And grabs anything she can reach (the mouse, the keyboard, work papers etc). I normally work in her nap time but its just not enough hours to get the work done, and I've been doing a few midnight stunts to meet the deadlines.

Any help appreciated!
Jo (32) and Kayla (18 months)

[xkwzit]

Can you get someone to look after her? Maybe out of the house / or could you work somewhere away from her?

I've always thought that even if you're working from home, you need some form of child care. I know if I'm at home with the kids, I get hardly anything done, even though I've got full access just like I was in the office. Even if my mum is looking after the toddler, I need to work downstairs, otherwise she won't leave me alone.

Even if it was only 4 - 6 hours/week, you'd get so much work done then that you might find it alot easier / less stressful getting the deadlines met.

Cheers

[InSaneOne]

you could use a playpen with heaps of toys in it. i have found that if i start on the computer while bubs is sleeping as long as she doesn't see me when she wakes she will play quite happily for a little while and then is happy to play in the playpen after i change her nappy and give her a snack and a drink.

but because your little one is older than my tiny one. you could try making it a game. you could give her an old keyboard to play with or get one of those leappad things or kiddies learning computer for her to play with. that might help.

[Spewiesmum]

we have a family friend who used to sit in the play pen with his computer - and let the kids run riot around him.:p

[Jo9999]

For your comments so far.
Playpens are a no go - any kind of barrier between me and her is a huge issue, not to mention that she can climb over them now (with the help of a few toys to stand on) so I'd constantly be having to stop working to attend to her.
She is at the age now that she continuously wants me to read to her or play games with her.
Sigh... probably finding some childcare for her is the only option (which almost defeats the purpose of why I found a job from home...)
I just found a place that offered a morning session 7am to midday, I might try putting her in that one day a week and that gets almost half my work done.
Any other tips welcome though!

[li'l mac]

i'm interested in any tips too. I have a 6mo and I am aiming to do about 10 hrs per week from home. At the moment i try to work while he's asleep but sometimes it just isn't enough (especially once I shower, eat, do washing etc!!). I might try and schedule a few hours on the weekend to chip away at the weekly amount of hours...

[li'l mac]

hmmm, i just had a thought. Do you have any friends in a similar position? A friend of mine has offered for me to go to her place with bub (she has a bub the same age) so I can work while she looks out for both bubs (I work from a laptop now so this is possible). I return the favour if she needs some time out or similarly needs to get some work done (she works in an office though).

[jessgray]

a little while ago i saw a thread that someone ahd posted family day care offers in home care. where a person will come to your home. that could be an option.
another suggestion is buy a old keyboard from a secondhand shop and let the munchkins play with it you be surprised how much free time you get when they have their own keyboard lol:thumbsup:

[Dan&2bubs]

I don't know if this is an option for you, but I actually have an old computer set up next to mine and my 2.9 year old plays on the painting program quite happily.