Katherine Williams

Working from home while parenting toddlers and babies is no easy feat. It can be overwhelming, stressful, and even lonely at times. But with a few simple tips and tricks, you can make this transition easier for both you and your family. Ebaby shares some of the best practices for remote-working parents of young children.   Set Up a Distraction-Free Workspace It is important to create a workspace that is free of distractions so that you can focus on your work without interruption. If possible, set up your workspace in an area separate from where your children play or sleep. This will help reduce noise levels as well as any potential distractions from toys or other items in their vicinity.   Keep Your Home Decluttered and Clean to Reduce Stress Having a clean and decluttered home can help reduce stress levels when working remotely with young children around. Make sure to designate specific areas for toys, books, and clothes so that everything has its place and nothing gets lost or misplaced. Additionally, try to do a quick cleanup before bedtime each night so that you start each day with a fresh slate which can help reduce stress levels throughout the day.   Reach Out to Friends and Family For Support It is important to reach out to friends and family for support. They can provide emotional support which can be hard to find when working from home with young children around all day long. Whether it’s through video chats or phone calls, having someone to talk to who understands what you are going through can make all the difference in how you manage this transition period in your life.   Plan Activities That Don't Require Supervision When planning activities for your toddlers or babies while working remotely at home, it’s important to plan activities that don’t require supervision such as puzzles, and coloring books. This will allow you to focus on your work without having to constantly keep one eye on the kids. Additionally, planning activities such as crafts or science experiments can help stimulate their minds and keep them occupied for longer periods.   Spend Quality Time With Your Kids Working remotely while parenting toddlers/babies should not mean sacrificing quality time with them after work hours either. Make sure that there is designated time set aside for spending quality moments together such as reading stories together; playing board games; making arts and crafts projects; and watching movies together. Doing this ensures that both parties get their needs met throughout this transition period in life which makes it easier on everyone involved.   Consider Changing Jobs and Polish Up Your CV With a full-time job, a hectic childcare schedule, and a never-ending stream of chores and other tasks, it can be a struggle to decide when to start juggling a job search. If you think a change in employment may provide more reprieve in balancing work and parenting, then it may be worth exploring job listings.   A professional-looking CV and resume are essential to impress potential employers. You can use a CV template to quickly design a well-formatted document showcasing your qualifications and experience. Thereafter, all that’s left to do is send off your CV and resume and see what opportunities are available.   Working from home while parenting toddlers/babies is no easy feat, but following best practices outlined above should make transition smoother than expected. Just remember to take things one step at a time and reach out to friends and family members for support whenever feeling overwhelmed too. And if you need to find a more flexible job, update your CV and resume.

Are you expecting a baby? Congratulations! Becoming a first-time parent is one of the most exciting things that can happen to you. Of course, it can also be incredibly stressful. Preparing for a baby requires a number of important preparations, especially if you have a disability. Thankfully, parents with disabilities have access to all kinds of resources and assistive tools to help with child care and the endless demands of daily parenting life. Check out the following article for help preparing your home and life for your new child! Seek Help with Difficult Emotions Becoming a parent comes with a range of emotions. It’s not uncommon for expectant parents to feel overwhelmed by emotion as their delivery date draws near. If you’re struggling to cope with changes in your mental health and emotional well-being, don’t hesitate to contact a professional. Keep in mind that there are therapists online who can help you work through any difficult emotions you’re dealing with right now. Online therapy is a great option for people with disabilities! Virtual mental health services ensure maximum privacy and security while offering a variety of licensed professionals to choose from. Look for therapists offering free consultations so you can find the best match. Consider Upsizing Your Home When you have a disability, more space tends to make life easier. Even if you feel comfortable navigating your home right now, consider how your space needs might change once your baby is born. Adding new furniture and baby gear could make your home feel cramped and cluttered. Consider finding a larger home to accommodate your growing family and make space for the new things you need to buy for your baby. If you’re a first-time homebuyer, be sure to start the buying process as soon as possible. For example, you’ll need to check your credit score, organize the appropriate paperwork, determine your buying budget, and find a great real estate agent. You may also want to look into assistance programs that can help you fund your home purchase or pay for accessibility modifications. If you’re not ready to make a down payment on a home or would just prefer to rent, there are many suitable properties available in the LA area. Carefully consider which type of home you require and look for sites that allow you to filter by accessibility. Make Helpful Home Upgrades Accessible home modifications can make it easier for you to care for your new baby. For example, installing grab bars in areas like bathtubs and showers can help when bathing your child while using non-slip rugs and mats throughout your home can help you avoid falls when you’re trying to keep up with a crawling toddler. Installing a chairlift in your home can help you safely navigate staircases with a baby in your arms. Think about ways in which your home could better serve you as a parent, and invest in modifications to make your life easier! If you need to make room in your home for a nursery, you may want to place some items into storage if you’re unsure what to do with them. Storage units in LA can be on the pricey side, but with some research you can find a 5’x10’ unit for under $100. Look for Adaptable Baby Gear Today, parents can find all kinds of adaptable parenting products designed to give people with disabilities more control and confidence when caring for their kids. For example, The Mobility Resource lists several adaptable alternatives to traditional cribs, strollers, and car seats: Chest harness baby carriers and wraps. Side opening cribs. Baby carrier attachments for wheelchairs. Baby bibs that attach with velcro rather than snaps. Breastfeeding slings. Nursing pillows. Swivel-base car seats. Many other assistive tools exist, so be sure to do your research! And if you can’t find a solution to one of your childcare challenges, consider creating one yourself. Countless parents with disabilities have come up with creative solutions to daily obstacles, creating everything from braille-labeled baby bottles to wheelchair-accessible baby bathing stations. And be sure to visit Ebaby for the latest high-quality baby furniture, clothes, and products! Parenting with a disability is much easier today than it was in the past. These days, parents with disabilities have access to assistive technology and adaptive gear that reduce the need to rely on others for childcare help. Get set up with the right tools and resources so you feel confident about your role as a soon-to-be parent, and consider moving to a new home for expanded space. Photo via Pexels

Stay-at-home parents do the jobs of several people, but when it comes to re-entering the workforce, it can be challenging to figure out all the details that go along with it. Whether you’re thinking about looking for a job outside the home or starting your own business, it’s a good idea to consider continuing your education in order to boost your prospects and your confidence. The key to finding success lies within achieving work/life balance, as well as finding the right educational program for you. These days there are so many options available online that you can find an affordable course or degree plan that meets your needs in no time. Ready to get started with finding work/school/life balance? Check out the resources at Ebaby, which helps parents with everything from infant health questions to coupons. Here are a few tips on how to get started when you’re ready to continue your education and go back to work: Give yourself a great at-home setup Whether you’re going to be learning at home or starting your own business, it’s important that you have a spot in the house that allows you to get things done. Set up an office area, if possible, and make sure it will give you some privacy. Not only will this help you focus on your to-do list, it will help you reduce stress and guilt as you juggle everything on your plate. If you don’t have room to give yourself an office that’s separate from the rest of your house, get creative and set up a work area in a quiet corner. There are lots of resources available for creating small offices these days, especially since the pandemic caused so many changes to the way we work and learn. Consider taking a professional development course Once you have a setup at home to work and learn in, you can take a look at your educational options. There are many ways to start, including taking online courses toward a two or four-year degree or working on a professional development course, which is a great option if you already have experience in a particular field. For example, if you’re knowledgeable about project management, you can find a job helping professional teams collaborate and communicate. Look online to find the right Scrum Master course for you, then take an assessment to ensure your skill level is where you want it to be when you’re finished. Build a stellar resume Once you’ve completed your scrum course, it’s important to look over your resume and give it an update, especially if it’s been a while since you worked outside the home. You’ll want to highlight your skills and accomplishments, but you don’t have to worry about creating a great resume from scratch; with a free resume creator, you can utilize a template that allows you to customize a professional-looking format with your choice of colors, fonts, images, and copy. This will take the pressure off so you can focus on the content of your resume rather than making an eye-catching design. Start your own business Not ready to go back to work for someone else? Starting your own business may sound like an overwhelming project, but it can actually be pretty simple if you start small and use some of the small business resources that are available online. You can even plan out your business while going to school or taking a professional development course. Build a detailed business plan, secure a great name and register it, and figure out how you’ll fund everything. If you have a winning idea, there’s no time like the present to share it with the world. Whether you want to start a business, take a professional development course, or find a new job outside the home, it’s important to get your spaces organized and create routines that you and your family can easily follow. This will help you find work/life balance and keep stress at bay. Photo via Pexels