Woman Brought Her Toddler to Work, Leaving Her Colleague Irritated. Now the Office Feels Awkward

A woman took to Reddit for advice after asking her coworker to stop bringing her toddler over to her side of their shared workspace — and she’s not sure if she crossed a line.

In her post, the original poster (OP) explained that she works at a small graphic design studio with an open floor plan. She shares a desk with another designer named Tara, who sometimes brings her 2-year-old daughter to work when daycare arrangements fall through.

Usually, the little girl plays quietly near her mother’s desk. But recently, Tara asked OP if she could leave her daughter with her for about ten minutes while she ran out to her car. OP agreed — and immediately regretted it.

While Tara was gone, the toddler began crying, scribbling on OP’s papers, and pressing keys on her keyboard. When Tara returned, OP asked her not to bring the child to her side again. Tara, however, became upset, calling OP “inflexible” and saying it was only for a few minutes.

OP defended her stance, writing that she values clear boundaries in the workplace and doesn’t want her work interrupted or damaged. She asked fellow Reddit users if she was wrong for setting that limit.

Many commenters sided with OP, saying her request was entirely reasonable.

“NTA. A toddler has no business being in a workspace like that,” one person wrote. “If Tara can’t find reliable care, she should stay home. It’s hard to juggle parenting and work, but it shouldn’t impact your job.”

Another user, who identified as a parent, said they understood Tara’s struggles but agreed OP did the right thing.

“Having toddlers isn’t easy, but you were right to set boundaries,” they wrote. “If you start saying yes, it could turn into more time — today it’s ten minutes, next time it’s a coffee run.”

A third commenter noted that while it’s acceptable for Tara to ask occasionally, she shouldn’t expect OP to take responsibility for her child.

“It’s okay to ask, not okay to assume,” they said. “You have every right to say you’re not comfortable watching someone else’s kid or having them in your workspace.”

Others suggested OP approach the issue with compassion, acknowledging the stress Tara might be under.

“She’s probably exhausted and anxious about keeping her job,” one person advised. “Have a calm chat during a break — show empathy, but make your boundaries clear so both of you can work peacefully when her child has to be there.”