My advice is based on my own hard-learned experience. When I first started out, I did work with my son underfoot — with disasterous results.

One time, for example, a client from a Fortune 500 company called me about a potential job . . . and during the middle of the call, my infant son started screaming. The woman said, “Why don’t you call me back at a later time.” I didn’t get that project.

And I, too, tried working at night — which left me feeling exhausted. I had a hard time producing excellent results for my clients . . . and giving my son the best of me.

Of course there are all kinds of daycare alternatives — some people use mothers helpers, others use formal daycare situations. I used the in-home daycare version because I wanted the structure. I worked in the mornings and through my son’s naps and spent the afternoons with him. As I said, it was an ideal situation.

Daycare allowed me to focus on my work while I was working and allowed me to do all the fun things most SAHMs do. I have fond memories of long afternoons at the park, picking fruit at the local farm, swimming, and sledding in the winter.

Secondly, I don’t agree with the need for daycare. It’s useful but not necessary. I chose to work at home precisely so that I would not have to put my child in daycare. Nevertheless, I do rely a lot on my older children, as well as DH, to look after the toddler when they’re home. Other options include hiring a mother’s helper, usually a teenager who will look after a young child in your own home. There are other options, including working nights – not so good for the WAHM, for sure. My point is that a daycare is not ESSENTIAL for a WAHM to be successful.

Just my two-cents. Hope they’ve been helpful.