AIBU to not want the nanny having her phone with her?

[ClipsAre]

I don't mean not physically on her, but her not using it when she is meant to be looking after my child. I often notice her on her phone and DC nudging her and her saying one minute, etc. I work from home, so I tend to see what's going on and if I'm going past I do occasionally mention it but she claims that my DC is happy doing x, y and z so she thought she'd quickly reply to an email/text, etc.

AIBU to think this isn't okay?

Does she get breaks? As she doesn't get breaks, I wouldn't complain about her using her iPhone occasionally if your child's busy. However she needs to give immediate attention to child and non of this 'one minute' waiting. She needs to be fully present mentally when needed.

Not unreasonable. I've seen childminders / nannies as well as parents on their phone whilst children are playing st the park - with very little children 2-3 years old - who IMO need proper supervision but they're on their phones essentially ignoring children - if she does it in front of you, imagine she does this too at the park etc ... I'd pull her up on it and make it clear it's unacceptable particularly outside of the home

On the plus side your dd might grow up to not want to be permanently glued to his "phone".
A phone isn't a phone any more it's an in information source....diary watch quick Google check note pad happy photos check shoping list....my electronic organiser....it's also a massive distraction. If she's not doing her job and you are noticing then talk to her. ..maybe she's not aware.

Your employee, you tell them what they can and can't do.

As a nanny I am guilty of using my phone a lot more now than I was 10 years ago. You can do more with phones now though but they are also a big distraction - a quick look on Mumsnet can end up taking 5 mins due to seeing an interesting thread and posting a in depth reply.
The children I care for are now all school age, independent and have phone/tablet themselves. I feel it would be different if they were babies/toddlers.

Talk to your nanny. Unless they know it is a problem they can't stop doing it.

What is she meant to be doing when the child is fully occupied?

I wouldn't be happy about that at all. I'm a SAHM and have made a rule for myself that I don't go on my phone when dc are awake, unless someone calls me for a reason (as opposed to a general chat). It drives me round the bend when someone is on their phone and ignoring their surroundings - I'm looking at you dh - so no way am I going to do that to my child.

Gosh some hardline responses here, I agree being on your phone constantly is ignorant and rude but I certainly don't sit and stare and engage with my dd ALL day, I cook, I clean, sometimes she has to wait a minute for something while I dare to go to the loo. And yes sometimes I'll go on my phone to check a message, buy something, check my bank account etc: It's just life! Why so much focus on the phone?

Peardropz for me at least it's because when I was using my phone around my dc, it felt like I was on it for 2 mins, no problem. But it wasn't, it was always longer, I would get engrossed in something and then when dc wanted my attention I would find it annoying. Which isn't fair.

I don't think saying no phone use around dc is the same as saying they need your undivided attention at all times. I just think there's something really insidious about phone use - it sucks you in. Or did for me, anyway.

Only one example, but my dear friend is a nanny, and she never returns messages or calls until child's nap time of after work.
That's not good!

It does depend how often and what for. If she's checking weather, traffic, opening times of something she's taking your children to then of course that's acceptable.

If she checks her mails/ texts a few times a day, surely that's okay too. Necessary if she's making arrangements re meeting someone in fact

Hours playing Crush Candy obviously in a different league.

If you're generally happy with her care and your children like her, then cut her some slack. Unless the other adults in the house model ' no phones except for emergencies' behaviour, in which case it isn't appropriate for her to be on her phone.

Teachers/nursery workers get breaks...

We had a clause that phone use must be kept to an absolute minimum in all our nannies contracts. I used to see lots of other people's nannies constantly on their phone ignoring their charges and didn't want our nanny doing the same.

You need to be more firm about her not using it when looking after your children (or get a new nanny).

I used to be a TA and we were not allowed to use our phones in class or around the children. In schools / nurseries it is a safeguarding issue as well as being bad practise.
However, we had breaks, time to check,our phones reply to emails etc.
Does she have this ?

YANBU

I wouldn't accept that at all. As said above, in many jobs you are not allowed your phone during working hours. I would ok if my kid was playing, my nanny sitting down with a cup of tea, supervising of course, but checking her phone. It's fine to say to a child that you are busy now, and he has to entertain himself for a couple of minutes. How would you cook for him otherwise?

I, the mother, might be more on my phone, to arrange appointments, check bank etc. but the nanny IS AT WORK! She is not being paid to arrange her social and private life. The problem is that some nannies have very high standards and are excellent, but others just use the term when they are barely baby sitters.

Replace nanny by another job title, and see how you would feel if said person was on the phone all day. Breaks are ok, but if you behave like a teen who is around but not concentrating fully on the children, you might as well get an au pair.

It does depend on how often she's doing it, if she's "glued" to it then YANBU. If she's using it occasionally then I think that's ok.

I'm a ta and I don't even take my phone into work I leave it in my handbag in the boot of the car. I think if you are working it's not acceptable to be on your phone I wouldn't be happy paying someone who is more interested in their phone than in interacting with my child. It's a little different if she's using the phone to look up child related information opening hours of soft play etc, but that doesn't sound like the case here.

I think she shouldn't use it at work.

I told au pairs that phone usage was for emergency situations only while she was in charge of the children. Phones are addictive and I think you're within reason to remind her that she shouldn't use her phone while she has sole charge of your child/ren.

Jmh - as a ta you'd get paid breaks to use your phone in your own time. This nanny clearly doesn't.

Of course she gets breaks? I'm working from home, so when I take a break, I let her have one after me, so I can have DC

I wouldn't be happy in most jobs being told I couldn't use my phone. I am able to manage my time to make sure I get everything done and I am a sensible adult so I can make decisions about when it is appropriate. I think it would be far more reasonable to explain that you have noticed that she uses it more than you are happy with and you would like her to be responsive to your child first.

Of course the nanny shouldn't be browsing on her phone and answering emails when she's in charge of the children!

She should do what the rest of us with responsible jobs do - reply to texts/emails/browse/shop/facebook when we are free to do so and not working.

I'm amazed anyone would give you a different answer but I agree that those who don't think its any sort of biggie probably ignore their own kids for hours on end whilst looking at their devices too.

Have a phone policy, just like you would in any other working environment. Fine to have it on silent but non emergency use and internet restricted to breaks.