How to Manage Taking Your Kids to Work with You

Sandra started taking her daughter Abby to work with her when she was three months old and did it daily until she was 4 years old. She also added, Jackson, her son when Abby was three and half. She returned to work with both kids when Jackson was nine weeks old. Sandra worked at a major university in the student services department and met with students of all ages and co-workers throughout the day regularly. Sandra is like hundreds of mothers who are taking the children to work. Here are seven suggestions to help you be achieve the same success.

1.Don't be mom's afraid to nurse your baby in front of your clients. If your child needs to eat simply ask the person who you are speaking with if they minded if I fed the baby. Be discreet and kept your body covered with a blanket.

2. When bring baby to work be sure to have entertainment supplies to your office and continue to change them as your baby reaches new milestones. For example, at 3 months you might have a playmate with mobile type things above hanging for baby to swat at. When your child reached sitting stage, bring in the boppy pillow for them to sit with support and toys to play with sitting. Also have toys as they reach a year that is only office toys. This way the toys are special and will hold their attention. Also a DVD player and good movies are a must. One mom played Lion King during meeting and her two year old didn't move a muscle. Always have something entertaining.

3. Bring that portable bassinet and swap it out to a pak-n-play as baby gets bigger. Try to find a corner nearby to put the sleeping baby. If you have your own office, close the door when you are not with clients. This way you and your little ones can be as loud as you want and not bother your co-workers.

4. When you are bring the baby to work try to accomplish tasks that take your complete attention while the little ones are sleeping and save other jobs for when the babies are awake. Do task such as photocopying for when the kids are awake and as they got older let them "help." Reply to emails while they nursed or played on the floor. I would save the sleep time for the more detailed tasks. Try to find a nap schedule as your baby gets old enough and you can plan accordingly.

5. Don't be scared to let co-workers take your baby for a walk around the office or to a meeting that you are not attending within the office. Sandra's children used to visit with so many co-workers and they went to numerous meetings, both with and without her. When time was crucial to complete tasks that depended on co- worked for help. It was to difficult with the baby right there needing her.

6. Don't be scared of what others will think. Of course, you don't want to have a screaming baby on a daily basis, but people know that babies are babies and they do cry. Most co-workers love having children around. You may be surprised to find out when they do fuss, everyone who was nearby may want to offer a hand. Most will not run the other way.

7. the most important thing to remember when you are bring your baby work to nourish yourself. While being able to bring your baby to work is such a wonderful opportunity. You and your husband need to realize that you are not only a working parent, but you are also parenting while you are working. It is hard to balance them both. Take care of yourself and enjoy your little one and the precious opportunity you have to take your babies to work with you!

Bring your kids to work can be a wonderful experience. Your work place will become your second family. You office may be where your kids take their first steps. Sandra got a promotion while breastfeeding. Taking your kids to work can be an excellent experience for your family.