Working From Home With A Baby, Toddler, Or Both? Hacks, Tips, And Tools From Dads

Parents say that one of the silver linings of the COVID-19 pandemic was that they got to spend more time with their families at home. During the lockdowns, most companies found that their employees can be productive and deliver the same results even when they are working from home. Some had to return to the office, while some adapted to the hybrid setup. Others closed their physical offices and shifted to total work-from-home indefinitely.

Working from home, though it sounds so easy and convenient, especially for parents, has its own set of struggles. We talked to dads in the Smart Parenting community and asked them what their common work-from-home challenges are and what tools they use to overcome them.

Struggles of work-from-home dads and tools that help them

1. Drawing the line between work and home

Kevin Aladin, a 34-year-old software engineer and *ehem* my husband, has been working from home since the pandemic started in 2020. He spends the whole day coding, attending meetings, and training, and sometimes my daughter and I would only see him during his lunch break and when he's finally done for the day.

Oftentimes, he eats his meals at his desk, so he makes sure to have his work essentials, an insulated tumbler and snacks, within reach.

The same goes for Daddy Jim Briones, 37, from Angeles City, Pampanga, a remote worker who has two kids aged 5 and 4.

Since he doesn't have a dedicated office, he is prone to disturbances and accidents, especially when the kids are playing. "Most of the time, I eat my meal while I work," he shared. Having a noise-cancelling headset helps him focus, especially during meetings. He recommends the brand Jabra.

Kleen Kanteen insulated tumbler, P2,795.00. Buy it on Lazada or on Shopee

Jabra USB headset with noise cancelling, P1,925.oo. Buy it on Lazada or on Shopee

2. Keeping focused

While others might think that working from home means comfort, why, you can nap anytime you like, it also comes with unlimited distractions. Work-from-home dads face challenges such as a crying baby, noisy neighbors, or an energetic toddler seeking attention every few minutes.

Writer and dad Don Gaoiran, 36, from Pasig City, shared that what helps him juggle being a parent and an employee is having a time management app like the Pomodoro timer app and a cheap erasable notepad.

"I start my day quietly, listing tasks while everyone's asleep. Anything that's not part of it, I just ignore. When it's time to drill down and put in the work, I use the timer. There's no motivation like a timer counting down. Now I know why it's so exciting to put ticking bombs in movies," he said.

Meanwhile, graphic designer and dad Reylan Gayas, 44, from Cebu City, shared how it's hard to work from home, especially when his two children, aged 9 and 6, are also home for summer vacation.

He mentioned that on top of his work, he has to deal with the day-to-day stress in their household. To help him, he installed security cameras at home to monitor his kids wherever they are. He recommends the Xiaomi brand.

Erasable write-board, P99.00. Buy it on Lazada or on Shopee

Xiaomi smart camera, P1,614.00. Buy it on Lazada or on Shopee

3. No more "me-time"

Business analyst and dad of two JJ Vega, 39, from Pasig, said, "It's really hard to work from home, especially if you have a newborn. I have to be very flexible in balancing my work and family time, trying to ensure I don't neglect either."

He added, "One of my initial challenges was having my 'me-time,' which I know I have to let go of eventually. I then realized that I can share my interests and hobbies with my wife and son. The 'me-time' got integrated into our family time. This change helped me and my psychological well-being."

Daddy JJ said that one of his priorities before his wife gave birth was to soundproof their bedroom, anticipating the endless cries of their newborn.

"I found this product [door seal] through an online shopping platform. It's really easy to install and changed our lives for the better. I can now do online meetings without the fear of people hearing my daughter's cry for milk or my son's boisterous laughter whenever he sees something funny."

Self-adhesive door and window seal, P245.00. Buy it on Lazada or on Shopee 

4. Creating a dedicated workspace

Although working from home saves employers from renting office spaces, it requires employees to set up a dedicated workspace at home. While those with multiple rooms have the privilege, those living in small spaces find it difficult to establish boundaries.

But dads are resourceful. Eldon Bite, a 37-year-old DevOps Engineer and dad from Pasig City, shared how he integrated his workspace into their home. He and his wife converted their bed into a playpen when their first child outgrew the crib. They installed a bed rail, and their child practiced standing, balancing, and walking there.

However, when they had two kids, it became more challenging. "So sometimes, when I have a meeting, both me and my youngest child are inside. Sometimes he joins the meeting and rides on my back, jumping up and down. Luckily, my manager and colleagues are very understanding and find it amusing."

Child-safety bed rail, starts at P999. Buy it on Lazada or on Shopee 

5. Engaging kids during work hours

Oneal Rosero, 50, an Agile Project Manager for software and website development from Parañaque City, shared with how he keeps his 6-year-old son entertained while he accomplishes his tasks.

"Our son has boundless energy; he needs to be constantly moving and doing something. One more thing is, he always needs an audience. He will ask me or his mom, 'Mommy, daddy watch me!' Sometimes he even says, 'Mommy, watch me read!' So we needed to find ways to keep him occupied while we have to work," he said.

Oneal said that during his son's summer break, one of the things that keeps him busy is doing his school workbooks, which were sent by his teacher. "This keeps him busy for an hour or so, but it also lets him exercise his brain even when there are no school activities," he explained.

He added, "I also bought him a bunch of Star Wars workbooks that cover math, reading, and writing from Pre-K up to 3rd grade. Since our family is a big fan of Star Wars, this helps encourage him to have fun while learning."

So when Oneal finally gets his coveted time to attend meetings or do focused work, he uses a smart plug to operate appliances like his trusty industrial stand fan without leaving his desk. "This gives you control over the power to the fan using your cellphone. It's an Internet of Things (IoT) device that allows you to turn an appliance on and off. This also works with other devices. I sometimes use a voice command to turn it on and off," he explained.

Star Wars activity book, P199. Buy it on Lazada or on Shopee

CrabTek Smart plug, P415.00. Buy it on Lazada or on Shopee

6. Putting family first

Despite the challenges of working from home, Gelo Palma, a 33-year-old Unix senior system administrator from Bulacan, shares how he ensures that his son remains his top priority. He jokingly describes himself as a single dad whenever he is working from home because his wife goes to the office three times a week, and they don't have a yaya.

"I can cook our food, play with my son, bathe him, and put him to bed during siesta. The only struggle I may experience is when there is an ongoing work issue where I also need to be on a call. This happens rarely, but when it does, I also start praying that my kid stays well-behaved throughout."

"When things get out of control, and you know what I mean, I just turn on the TV and scatter all of my son's toys to redirect his attention and buy me some time to resolve the issue," he said.

Gelo recommends investing in Montessori toys like colored shapes and blocks and magnetic tiles, which keep his son engaged.

Magnetic building blocks, starts at P699. Buy it on Lazada or on Shopee 

7. Taking over mom's role

Dad Chester Emnace, 32, from Quezon City, faces a unique struggle while working from home with his 15-month-old daughter. He works in TV post-production, while his wife goes to work onsite.

"My main struggle as a stay-at-home dad is that my baby doesn't want to drink her milk unless it is a direct latch from her mom," he shared.

After trying various means to feed his daughter, he now uses a syringe to feed her. "I've tried lahat ng klase ng feeding bottles from pinakamahal hanggang sa pinakamura na nabibili sa Mercury, mainit na breastmilk, malamig na breast milk, sinuot ko ang damit ng mommy niya, kinutsara ko ang breastmilk, ginawa kong ice popsicles ang breastmilk ng mommy niya, binilhan ng mamahalin na formula milk. Wala hahaha."

Meanwhile, Chester, who is a member of the Facebook group, Smart Parenting Village, shared that sometimes, his work space is his daughter's playpen. "Nasa loob po ako ng playpen kasama yung computer. Yung baby nasa labas ng playpen. Umiiyak kasi kapag nasa playpen siya. Tinry ko siya ang nasa labas, ako ang nasa loob. Boom! Tahimik ang buhay. Tumatawa tawa pa sa siya sa akin. Haha!"

We see you, dads! Thank you for doing what you do. You are good providers and amazing parenting partners. We love you, and we celebrate you every day.

This freelance photographer dad tells fathers, "Pwede magpahinga pero walang salitang pagod para sa pamilya." Read it here.