Working from home with a toddler in tow can be a seriously challenging combination.

But I’m here to say that there ARE ways to make this balance doable for both of you so you can actually get a few things done while keeping an eye on your little one at the same time!

Here are four of my favorite ideas and things to keep in mind when it comes to working from home with a toddler at your side.

01. Set them up to “work like mommy / daddy”

One thing I find so precious about being a toddler mama is that they LOVE to do what you’re doing.

Whether I’m folding laundry, wrapping gifts, or knocking out a few emails on my computer — little mini me is often right there next to me either trying to “help” or setting up her own laundry / gift wrapping / workstation to do the same.

I love it so much.

The next time you need to plan for a little time at your computer or desk to get a few things done, you don’t have to leave your little high and dry; anticipate that they may want to do the same, and set them up for success with a little table, toy laptop, and notebook with crayons, for instance.

As an added bonus, this approach allows them to feel more included in your work and be a part of your world in a new way.

Tip:
Don’t overcomplicate it. They may not sit and mimic you for long before they decide to do another activity, and that’s perfectly ok! The idea is to make them feel included and like a “big kid” so they feel seen and empowered while you do a few adult-y tasks.

02. Dedicate one drawer or bin to toddler-friendly supplies

If you find yourself needing to be in your office on and off throughout the day, this is a great way to give your toddler some ownership in this space:

Dedicate a drawer, storage bin, or cabinet to supplies and small toys just for your toddler.

The idea is to keep it accessible to them so they can easily access their drawer as they wish — so think low to the ground, etc. — and ONLY keep items in there you feel comfortable with them exploring and using.

Aside from small toys, here’s a list of ideas for what you can store in there for them: construction paper, crayons, notebooks, books to read, stickers, painter’s tape, an LED drawing board, learning toys, pom pom balls, etc.

Tip:
Think about what you use in your office space, and stock their drawer with similar toddler-friendly items! My little one loves to pretend she’s “packaging” things (I’ve done a lot of package prep in front of her for planner orders) and loves wearing her pretend headphones like she sees me do now and then.

03. Be mindful of literally anything in reach

This one might be totally obvious to you — or maybe not.

Sometimes little ones can be great at listening and knowing when something is off-limits, even when it’s within reach.

But other times, they’ll forget or get swept up in curiosity and just can’t help themselves.

Personally, we don’t restrict everything and anything, but we are super mindful of potential safety hazards in every room of the house, including the office.

This means we still keep unused outlets protected, keep any dangerous or expensive equipment and tools out of reach, etc.

Don’t get me wrong: she’ll still get into an accessible bin or press shiny buttons occasionally, but nothing is truly unsafe or worrisome. I’m happy to let her explore the environment because I know she can’t hurt herself or important work supplies in the process!

However you choose to handle the safety and limitations issue, just remember that anything they CAN access might be accessed by those little toddler hands.

04. Plan for breaks focused solely on your little one

Depending on the amount of work you’re trying to do in a stretch, it can be helpful to plan ahead for distractions by frequently dedicating small blocks of time to focusing solely on your little one.

This can look like fifteen minutes of emails and work time, followed by five minutes of sitting with your little one and engaging with them and their activity at the moment.

Or if you can do a longer stretch of thirty minutes before breaking to have some toddler time, great! Time blocks and needs will depend on your individual child.

Start small with this strategy. Even five minutes of work, five minutes of toddler time is a great starting point.

The idea is to help your child feel seen and included while fostering small stretches of independent play so you can focus on getting a few work tasks done in set blocks of time.

Tip:
Younger children, especially, don’t fully understand the concept of time when you ask for two minutes or ten. Try using a visual timer like this one so they can clearly see “how much red” is left until it’s mommy time again, for instance.

And I’ll just end this list with a reminder that’ll save your sanity every time: everything is for a season.

This period of “doing it all” will shift eventually, so focus on finding solutions that work for you in the meantime.

The beauty of working from home is having the ability to design your day and work environment in a way that supports your lifestyle in that season, so if that means adding a toddler desk and structured snack breaks, you go, mama.

You’ve got this.