What does nanny do during baby naps?

Er , her legal breaks? Jeez she'll be run off her feet the rest of the time with baby, cut her some slack.

JFC you sound stingy. We hire babysitters who mostly watch tv when my DD goes to bed. Guess what, that’s the job.

What do you do when your baby naps? Do you manage to do everything for the baby, prep the next meal, clean the house, load the dishwasher, and have a lunch break (to which your nanny is perfectly entitled). If you can’t do it then she certainly can’t!

When my kids were that old I basically had a sandwich and a drink and some light tidying- that was all I could manage. And my kids watched TV which I imagine you wouldn’t like either!

Indeed! That baby is still in the sole care of that nanny, so the nanny is still on full duty!

That’s because you’re trying to micro manage every hour the nanny works. Her job is nanny, not nanny and house cleaner.

I would say the nanny needs a lunch break each day like any other job, so an hour for lunch while the baby sleeps early pm. She wont be able to have that break to herself entirely because she will be still completely responsible for the child in her care, so she can't go out for her lunch and she would need to check the baby during the nap, so she really is still working during her break. She can do baby laundry, baby meals, activities and any other preparations for the baby with the rest of the time when baby sleeps.

"we don't want to pay a nanny to sit around while baby naps (this happened a while ago when we trialled a nanny). "

FFS

If home during nap time, our nanny sometimes used to tidy up the toys and make the children’s tea. We’d sit and have lunch together or a tea if I was working from home, she’d do her cross stitch, read a book. Nap herself.

We had a housekeeper so no laundry etc. For the five years she was with us, our nanny was an angel sent from heaven who kept us all healthy, happy and sane (and my marriage and career intact). I still remember the air of calm that wafted through the door on her arrival. As such, we made damn sure to treat her (and pay her) royally. I strongly advise this course of action to anyone who finds a good nanny.

She’s not free to do as she pleases though is she? Try to think from her point of view not yours. Sitting around your house is probably not what she would choose to do and she is providing a sitter service during those times. She should be having an hour to herself a day and she will need a bit of time to tidy up etc from any baby stuff lying around. I’d be seriously pissed off if you asked me to do jobs like the ones you proposed . At a push - a few light things related to baby perhaps but no to emptying your dishwasher and definitely not preparing your bloody meals!!!

My comment was lighthearted but it is astounding how people want their pound of flesh. A nanny is a nanny not a cleaner, cook, housekeeper etc. If you can't afford staff give up work and do it yourself. Honestly it astonishes me how people expect to employ people to do everything. Au pairs get the worst abuse!! I say this as someone who does employ people and treats them well and with respect and keeps within their job description.

It’s reasonable to expect a nanny to do chores related to the child/children, like washing bottles, cleaning up mess they’ve made, and potentially the laundry for the child’s clothes and bedding… but prepping your meals? Nope. Not unless it is expressly documented in their contract.

Hahaha, will you refuse to pay a babysitter because the kids are asleep?? Do you expect a refund from the childminder for naptimes? Your poor nanny 😄.

We employed our nanny when DD was 12 months and was having 2 long naps. We only expect her to do things related to DD- prepare her meals and tidy up after them, do her washing and put it away. We have always emphasised however that as soon as DD goes to sleep first and foremost she should sit, rest and have a break! These naps won’t last forever and there will come a time that it will be very hard for her to have a break at all. So I don’t expect anything extra during nap time. Im now off on mat leave with DS and we often sit and have a catch up while DD naps over lunch

"we don't want to pay a nanny to sit around while baby naps (this happened a while ago when we trialled a nanny"

JFC 🙄

Would you expect to go and sit in a stranger's house without being paid for your time?
this sums it up. But my first response was what others have already said, she is responsible for the baby while it is sleeping.

I work in childcare. Been a nanny and a childminder.

You need a clear job description. If you want housework doing you need to look for a nanny housekeeper.

I used to use naps to get washing and child related housework done. Batch cooking. Set up activities and plan learning. Write up the diary. Research local groups. Then if there was time I would do the dishwasher. And I would sit and chill and eat my lunch for about half an hour. But this was for families who respected my expertise and me as a human not a servant. If I felt taken advantage of I would not do more than my childcare duties

I've worked for families that you turn up and yesterday dinner pans etc all over the kitchen that I have to clear all that up before I can do my job. Parents who get home late from 'work' with the full weeks food shop in the car. They were the families that expected an account of everything I did while baby slept. I didn't work for these families for long.

If you want a good nanny you need to have good communication and feel comfortable with them as a skilled person. You trust them to fill their time appropriately and they will. Micro manage and treat with minimal respect they will do the minimum required and look for a job where they are respected

You don't want to pay a nanny to "sit around" she's in the house to make sure your baby is safe - whether the baby be sleeping or awake.

She can do nursery duties- tidying baby stuff etc. Otherwise, she can have a break. Looking after a young baby is fairly hard work so resting while the baby sleeps is a good thing. You need to change your mindset about this.

Advertise for a nanny & housekeeper (sack your cleaner) and up the salary to whatever is commensurate for that level of responsibility. This company sounds good: https://littleoneslondon.co.uk/amp/nannies/nanny-housekeeper
Sounds like a nightmare job tbh, but I’m sure worth the money for everything to be properly done for you. Hope you find someone great!

Ha if she's doing the stuff you've said she'll do (ie baby laundry) then I can't imagine expecting her to fill every minute of her day, she's allowed a break. What if you have an evening babysitter , would you expect them to be getting on with things whilst they are there 😆 also great if your baby sleeps for 3 hours a day now, but that will change!

This is exactly what I was going to suggest. If OP doesnt want to pay a nanny do "do nothing" while the baby sleeps, then surely she can go out, as she clearly isnt "doing anything".

OP the point is that the nanny is there to watch your baby, even if said baby is asleep. it doesnt matter.

just like you would pay a babysitter, fo you to go out, even if your child was already asleep by the time the babysitter arrived.

You’re paying someone for their expertise. Their training. I mean that’s what you get paid to do?

a nanny is exactly the same and you wouldn’t like it if you were at work not being paid surely?

I don’t often gasp as posts but this one is really shocking.

You don’t want to pay a nanny whilst the baby naps?!?!?

bloody hell. When she meant to have lunch? Or a drink? She’ll need a break every 6 hours to by law surely?