To expect my nanny to eat with my son?

[Milkandmarmite]

I live alone with my 2.5yr old DS. I have a nanny who looks after him the days I'm working.

I leave very early (before breakfast) and get home after his tea time.

Aibu to expect/hope that the nanny will eat her meals with him? I can understand not breakfast as she'll probably want that at home
And maybe tea is too early, but surely lunch? At the moment I think she's eating hers when he's down for a nap.

I think it's so important to eat together whenever possible.

Thoughts?

I too eat with my own children, as we have always done, at mealtimes and even for snacks. However, I would not demand an employee did so, if it was a chance for her to get some precious time off in a long and busy day.

It is quite normal for the nanny to eat with the child / children. .. those who are shocked by the suggestion that it's unreasonable have obviously never had nannies.

You are well within your rights to ask her to do this.

Lol at nanny care being gold standard care. You obviously haven't met some of the nannies I have!

springtimemama... my children's nannies pretty much always ate lunch with my children (on the whole).. I think many people who aren't experienced with nannies don't understand that it's a bit of a different type of job; part of the role is to model skills / encourage good habits etc. It's not like being a parent, who has to perhaps get on and do something else, and/or wants a break from the 24/7.

That's one of the reasons why nannies don't get paid for / don't get a lunch break like an office or 9-5 job, but do get 'free' food on duty (from employers kitchen / paid meals if taking charges out to eat etc.).

I appreciate that nannies won't eat every single meal with the children - and of course, lots of nannies won't eat their evening meal at 5:00pm! but I think that asking your nanny to regularly eat lunch with your child is a perfectly reasonable request.

sorry - post should have said that nannies get paid for every hour they are with their charge.. not like those jobs where you don't get paid for the lunch break whilst at work.