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Original poster

Normal for a night nanny to be heavily asleep (not hear baby being sick etc)?

83 replies

newmummy100 · 20/04/2010 07:59

I've just employed a night nanny, her first night was last night for my 3 day old baby.

I was awake and heard my baby start crying (only just started) so I popped into her to check how things were going and she was getting out of bed and looked at baby as I was approaching and said 'oh, your baby has been sick'. He had been sick in his moses basket and she hadn't heard as she had been asleep. [I think he had been sick as we had agreed that she give him one formula feed in the night and I would do breastfeed at other times and she had given him 100ml of forumla - double what he has had so far - is this a bit much for a 3 day old?].

She was due to leave at 7am this morning, it was 7:15 and she hadn't gone to get me and I went in and she was fast asleep and I called her name about 10 times (loudly) before she woke up.

My question - do all night nannies sleep when the baby sleeps? i.e. is this just part of the role... I sort of thought that they may stay awake/watch tv etc or just doze.. not sleep and out for the count.

Thanks for your help.

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Ewe · 20/04/2010 08:29

Woah! That is way too much formula for a newborn, not surprised the poor little one was sick.

Agree with other posters, do the nights yourself, have someone to do housework/cooking/look after baby while you have a nap the next day.

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 20/04/2010 08:27

That sounds an awful lot of formula for a newborn.

Whatever your reasons for employing her I think she is not acting well. She didn't wake when baby was sick and she gave her twice as much formula as you had agreed?

You are paying her to sleep!

Giving formula at this stage is not a great idea imho for many reasons but obviously your baby, your call.

I agree with fifitot. Just me, dh and baby awake in the night made me feel we were the only people awake in the world.

WorzselMummage · 20/04/2010 08:24

Why don't you do it yourself ?

I mean, your obviously more likely to hear your baby being sick than a stranger aren't you, your supposed to.

fifitot · 20/04/2010 08:23

Your choice but why bother? Babies eventually sleep more and more through the night, happens quicker than you think. Also at 3 days old as someone else says, giving a bottle of formula is not particularly helpful if you want to keep on breastfeeding. Babies will regulate their own milk intake so possibly was sick as had too much formula.

A 3 day old baby will wake and want to breastfeed in the night for a variety of reasons, not all of them about being hungry -maybe he/she just wanted a cuddle?

Bosoir suggests using the money to get your cleaning/shopping done. IMHO that is a much better use of money and gives you more time to bond with your baby. Sorry if that sounds judgemental but feel sad that a tiny 3 day old baby is crying for it's mother and getting a 'nanny' who is a bit half-arsed anyway!

I look back at the early sleepless nights now with affection and sadness. Yes it feels rotten at the time to be so tired but there is something nice about being awake in the middle of the night, just you and your baby and having baby snuggling down with you for a feed. This phase is soon gone. Maybe I'm just a silly romantic though.

hocuspontas · 20/04/2010 08:10

But if you thought that why give her a bed to sleep in? Maybe a comfy chair would be better. But then I don't know what a night nurse does exactly

Bonsoir · 20/04/2010 08:03

I don't know whether you have other domestic employees, but, TBH, money is always better spent on getting your chores done by others rather than getting your baby cared for by others at this stage post-birth.

rainbowinthesky · 20/04/2010 08:01

WHy a night nanny? JUst to warn you if you want to continue to breastfeed the bottle of formula at this stage will probably scupper your chances.

Bonsoir · 20/04/2010 08:00

No this is not normal and a complete waste of your money.

Why do you want a night nanny for your 3 day old baby anyway?