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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To tell nanny to correct child calling her “mama”

6 replies

Calmondeck · 22/05/2024 11:16

My DC’s nanny is wonderfully warm and kind, and I’m incredibly grateful for the dedicated care she’s shown my children (and to me!). However, since having a conversation about helping DC1 become more independant to help ease the transition to preschool, she’s strangely started becoming more attached to him.

examples:

  • starting to spoon feed him
  • taking trips to the shops twice a week to buy new toys
  • lying with him to fall asleep (for nap time)
  • letting him touch her breasts and lift her shirt to see her bellybutton

When my DC was first learning to talk every woman was a “mama” and every man a “dada”. For mums of close friends he often calls them “mama <name>”. For some time he was calling both me and the nannying mama, and sometimes even his dad mama.

The nanny confided in me, before my DC was verbal, that she has a child she had as a teen who she co-raised with her mum/the child’s grandmother, and she still finds it hard that her own child doesn’t call her mum.

Now the nanny gets very awkward when my child calls her mama in front of me. I’m a bit baffled because to me he always calls her by her name. She doesn’t correct him and ask her to call her by her name.

I feel like I need to have a conversation about boundaries but need advice how to do this in a non-confrontational way

OP posts:
ladykale · 22/05/2024 11:26

Sounds like she lacks boundaries!

BodenCardiganNot · 22/05/2024 11:27

How old is he? Why is she starting to spoon feed him? It sounds very odd.

Reugny · 22/05/2024 11:28

I would be finding a nursery place or childminder then giving the nanny notice as it is clear she has serious issues.

UntiltheGirl · 22/05/2024 11:31

So will she be leaving when your child starts preschool/school, or will she stay on for younger children?

TellMeWhoTheVillainsAre · 22/05/2024 11:39

Children learn who everyone is eventually. For now every woman/most women are mama. If you call the nanny by her name, your child will learn to call her by her name. I assume he is still very young so his speech is still just developing. When you are talking to him and referring to her be sure to use her name all the time.

Show x this.
Tell x what you did.

I wouldn't be too worried about lifting her top to see her belly button or allowing him to touch her breasts. I think most small children I've ever come in to contact with have done this. Babies and toddlers aren't "inappropriate" they're curious.

I think this is a phase like all the others that have been and gone. This one will also pass by fairly quickly and he'll be on to the next one.

Calmondeck · 22/05/2024 13:44

UntiltheGirl · 22/05/2024 11:31

So will she be leaving when your child starts preschool/school, or will she stay on for younger children?

She’ll stay on for younger children

OP posts:
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