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Last updated on April 3rd, 2024

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Kim West, MSW, Mom of 2, creator of The Sleep Lady Shuffle

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baby at workAs a mompreneur myself, I can attest to the difficulties of working from home with my own children. The doorbell is ringing, the dog is barking, you’re signing the FedEx package and making the kids lunch–all while still juggling that important incoming phone call. Working from home really translates to no one in the home understanding that you really are at work!  I know I’m not alone on this one, I’ve heard so many other mom’s talk about their difficult experiences with working from home. So what about bringing your baby to work?
I was intrigued with BBC’s documentary that premiered this week called, “Babies in the Office“. This special featured a company with a baby-friendly policy— and no, they don’t just mean providing daycare at work! The babies at this office are in their mother’s arms as their parents work at the computer (difficult to imagine as I’m having flashbacks of working from home with my own children).
This U.K. company takes emphasizing a family atmosphere to a new level, saying it boosts their employees morale and loyalty to the company.  Not only are the parents able to save money on childcare costs, but they are also able to be with their children all day. Well, that sounds pretty great.
Needless to say, of course the kids were kids. There was crying, hurling of books, kicking and chewing on telephone wires. What I found most amazing was that the mother employees were able to rely heavily on one another for maternal support when each other’s children were being fussy. For instance, during an important phone call they could just simply hand their child off to the neighbor at the next office until their phone call was finished.
Wow — I think having that type of community of work-at-home moms would be really nice to have! What if moms in the same neighborhood were able to come together and put this type of support system in place with one another?
I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts on this documentary if you happened to watch it.
Also, here’s the link to an article that talks about the movie if you’d like to read more: https://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/19/12822448-crib-note-babies-in-the-office-dream-come-true-or-worst-nightmare?lite
Photography by BenedictFrancis on Flickr

Author: Kim West, MSW, Mom of 2, creator of The Sleep Lady Shuffle

My name is Kim West, and I’m the mother of two beautiful girls, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been a practicing child and family therapist for more than 21 years, and the creator of the original gentle, proven method to get a good night’s sleep for you and your child. My sleep journey began when I started experimenting with gently shaping my daughter’s sleep by not following the conventional wisdom at the time. After having success (and then more success with my second daughter!), I began helping family and friends and my step-by-step method spread like wildfire, exactly like an excellent night of sleep for a tired parent should!