This chapter provides a reflective account of my experiences of conducting research with children residing at Child Care Institutions (CCIs), such as children’s homes in Goa. It outlines my experiences and highlights the challenges that were significantly caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The chapter discusses difficulties involved in gaining access to institutions, navigating the official procedures, and building rapport with children. To address these challenges, several mitigation strategies were adopted, including revising the research plan to align with post-pandemic protocols, simplifying communication, and remaining flexible with timelines. In certain cases, I adapted my approach by splitting longer tasks across sessions and using child-friendly engagement techniques, which helped maintain participation and rapport. The chapter also highlights the mismatch between academic training and the complex realities of fieldwork, and how I navigated these challenges using reflective journaling, supervisory support, and peer discussions to overcome emotional labour and researcher biases. Overall, this chapter highlights my experiences as a researcher working with children at CCIs, the lessons I learned, and the systemic and contextual barriers encountered during data collection. In conclusion, through this experiential narrative, I intend to make my fellow researchers aware of the procedures and challenges involved in working with this population as well as share insights from data collection process that could help them prepare more effectively for similar fieldwork.