Young kids require constant supervision. So just how do you work a job and look after kids? In most cases, you can’t do both at the same time, which is why you need to find a way of reducing work or getting childcare help from someone else. This post offers a few tips on how to juggle work and young kids.
Explore childcare options
There are many different childcare solutions that you can look into. Some of the paid options include:
- Nannies
- Babysitters
- Daycare
- Preschool
Many of these options can be too expensive for a lot of parents, but in some states certain parents may be eligible for free childcare or funding. This is worth looking into and taking advantage of if you are eligible. It’s worth looking up reviews and talking to different childcare professionals to find a service you trust.
A lot of parents cannot pay for childcare and so have to rely on help from friends and family. It’s possible that you may be able to create a schedule in which grandparents or uncles/aunts help look after your kids on certain days at certain times. This could save you a lot of money and your children will be with someone you trust.
Rotate shifts with your partner
If you can’t afford paid childcare and have no friends/family to rely on, but have a partner to help, you could consider working out a system where you and your partner share childcare. This could involve looking after your kids in the morning while your partner works, and then working in the afternoon while your partner looks after the kids.
This system involves one or both of you having a flexible job where you can choose your hours. One or both of you may need to reduce or change hours to make it work. It could also mean that both you and your partner spend less time together – especially if you’re both working long hours. Try to make sure that you both have the same days off so that you can still enjoy time together.
Work from home
In some cases, it may be possible to work from home while looking after kids. However, this is not an ideal situation, as you’ll usually have to focus on one or the other.
There are some jobs that may be possible to do late in the evening or early in the morning at home when your child is asleep. However, without sacrificing your own sleep, you may find it difficult to work enough hours to make it worthwhile.
Take leave from work
A lot of parents find that the easiest solution is to take leave from work to focus on looking after their child full-time. This is easier to do if you have a partner who can work. If not, you will have to survive on federal and state income assistance, but it’s likely to be less stress-free than having to juggle a job.
There are dangers to doing this: while some employers will accept you back after an extended time of leave, others may not be so generous and you may have to be prepared to look for a new job after your leave. For those that love their career or like to earn their own money, it could be difficult to give up work. But you have to remember that it’s just temporary and that you’ll get to spend quality time with your child.
