It's a trial & error process. You can try letting him stay loose when you go to work, but if he has accidents when you're gone, he's not quite housebroken yet. Don't feel bad for keeping him crated when you're gone. This way he learns to hold it for that amount of time and he'll sleep most of that time anyway. You could install a doggy door so he can go outside whenever he needs to. How old is your baby?