Nannies, breastfeeding and working from home

[SuiGeneris]

What views do nannies have of a breastfeeding mother who works from home some of the time?

As some of you may know from a previous thread, we are looking to emply our first nanny for DS, who will probably be around 10-11 months when the nanny starts. DH and I are very keen for breastfeeding to continue until at least after DS is one, so I guess that in the beginning DS would still be having 1 or possibly two feeds during the nanny's day. My intention is to go back to work for three days a week, either 2 in the office and 1 at home or 2 at home and 1 in the office. Current thinking is that on the days I am at home of course I would pop downstairs to feed DS and then hand him back and go back to work. On the days I am in the office I could either express beforehand (though I have concerns about maintaining supply) or possibly (just a thought, don't brand me a nutter just for thinking about it) have nanny bring DS to my place of work for feeding. I guess this arrangement would last 2/3 months and then DS would move to just morning and evening BF, which of course would make things easier. It may also be that initially I work in the office one day and 2 at home and then switch arrangements when DS no longer needs daytime milk from me.

What experience and thoughts do people have of/on this? Some of you have suggested in a previous threads that many nannys abhor parents who work from home (which is, in my case, non-negotiable), so I am wondering whether breastfeeding makes it even worse, in that not only would I be in the house (albeit in a fairly secluded office working v intensively) but I would also go downstairs for (my) lunch and for breastfeeding...

I have a nanny and breastfeed

Plus i work from home but not all the time

My DD is a year old now, but since I went back to work when she was 8 months she only has 2 feeds before I go to work and when I come back

If I am not there, she doesn't ask for the breast and you may find the same with Your LO

Ultimately you have to maybe try a few options and see what works for you all

Personally, when I work from home, I try to stay away from the kids and nanny and leave them to get on with things

If I were you, I would keep working at home days to a minimum

My first DC was in nursery FT, so when i WFH it was totally different ....

You're not a nutter at all to expect your nanny to facilitate your breastfeeding.

And if you are choosing the nanny - just make sure you choose a good one who understands that bf is important to you and DS and will support it. You pay her, right?! Surely she has to do what you reasonably ask?

ps by the time my (breastfed)DTs were 10 months they were only having feeds first thing in the morning and last thing at night. When I went back to work when they were 9 months they also had a feed at 4.30pm. It might be easier than you think, especuially if DS takes to weaning.

Good luck with finding your nanny

Thing is, I don't particularly want him to take to weaning and let the 3pm and 5.30pm feeds go too soon... èsmile+

My slight concern is that the nanny will feel housebound by the nap and breastfeeding schedule (DS naps 1-3pm, BF at 3 and 5/5.30pm and then goes for a further 45min nap) and sabotage it by feeding DS too many solids at lunchtime...

A nanny worth her salt won't sabotage your bf schedule if she knows it is important to you. Make it clear at interview that it's the way it needs to be. ANd it isn't forever. It will be a really nice way to reconnect with DS through the working day.

And I know what you mean about the weaning. I had to stop bf my boys at 10 months as I had to go on incompatible meds and I miss it sooooo much. Stick to your guns and make sure you get a nanny who is willing to do what you ask.

Hi, we had a nanny share from when DS was 7 months until 10 months (he's in my work nursery now at 12 months). I worked outside the home 5 days a week from 9-3, and was expressing once a day so he got a bottle mid morning, then his afternoon feed from me. the nanny was a bit by the bottles of EBM and he rarely drank a whole one, but he's still thriving and still feeding!

He's currently only having 3 daytime feeds (first thing in the morning before we get up, mid-afternoon when I get home, and before bed) when he's not in nursery, but has an additional early afternoon feed on nursery days. I've had no supply problems. (he does still feed all bloody night though some nights, so that may be why!)

Hope you work something out that suits you both, and good luck :)

I can't see a problem with finding a nanny who understands how important the breast feeding is, nor who feels 'trapped' by afternoons at home - they can go out in the morning I'm assuming? Plus it won't be forever - 8 months down the line I'd be surprised if he was taking the second nap.

I am a little taken aback by the 'sabotage' comment - assuming you didn't mean she would do it deliberately? Naturally I'm also assuming that you would want her to feed him if he was hungry? It's quite difficult to predict how children will eat - but I would think he would want a snack about 3ish anyhow ( I tend to give LO's a snack upon waking) and if I recall correctly you would prefer he eats with you later in the evening - so another feed at 5:30 should work too.

Just be aware that when you employ someone they will bring their own opinions - so just take anything said as a gesture to help, and explain why you do it your way.

How old is your ds now?

It's hard to imagine, but they do start taking less milk as they get older. And they only want milk when you are around, so he won't even be bothered by not having it if you're not there. I know it's hard to imagine, but it does happen by around 9/10 months if you're away and he is with a nanny/sitter/cm.

Their day sleep schedule also changes by then, too. My ds (2 tomorrow!) 2.5-3.5 hours every afternoon, but his sleep patterns changed for naps at 9/10 months then again at 12 months, again at 15 months...

I don't think the nanny would sabatoge your bf plans (if she did, that would be horrendous), but your ds might take more solids on his own accord if he's hungry. It's ok for them to have solids with their breastmilk at that age. It doesn't decrease the amount he'll want later on.

OP - I have had my baby in nursery 3 FT days - I only BF - I do not express anything.

I BF the others days fine - and BF before and after the nursery days. Baby has water and solids when I am not around.

Baby has done this since 9.5 months and is fine. My nursery has really supported my BFing.

I am a nanny and I would be more than happy to start with all intentions of what you have described, as long as everyone understood that it may or may not work out. I wouldn't feel housebound, as there is still plenty of time to be out and about in the morning, and even time for a quick park visit or rain walk (ie splashing in puddles) or something between feeds in the afternoon!I am pretty pro-breastfeeding if at all possible though

I would just be honest in your ad and with the people you interview - it should be pretty easy to see at interview when you talk about it whether it will work for them or not! And if they sound at all hesitant or judgmental, then they aren't the nanny for you.

TBH though, I nannied for twins a couple of years ago who still had 2 breastfeeds a day (first thing in the morning and last thing at night) who were 14mths when I started. Within a month of my starting, mum decided to drop the morning feed and they were perfectly happy with a beaker of cows milk (never had bottles, only ever breast and then cows milk in beakers). About a month after that, she did the same with their evening feed to the same reaction. So you may find that your son is happy to drop his daytime feeds for cows milk from 1!

I went back to work when my ds was 1 (3 days a week) and am still bfing 14 months later! At first I was worried about expressing during the day to keep the supply up and we gave him bottles of ebm during the day, but soon I gave up expressing and he just had cows milk when I wasn't there. He still breastfeeds morning and immediately after I come back from work, and when I'm with him during the day often a couple more times at variable times...he is not a routine bound child! Basically it was much less hard to continue bfing that I had thought - in fact it's stopping that's more difficult.

That's really encouraging, especially the fact that one might be able to keep going without the faff of having to express at work (work affecting breastfeeding is one of my major concerns about going back). Thanks a lot everyone- feel much happier now.
nesomja: how lovely to hear you are breastfeeding at 26 months (if my maths is correct). I would very much like to keep going well after DS is one, but on the other hand I will be 36 next year and we would like a second, so may need to give up at some stage next year

There are quite a few bf and pg on here - they had a thread a while back on the bf/bf topic so it is possible to carry on if you want to.
That said, if you get sore breasts when pg, it may be that you decide to stop anyway!

SuiGeneris, he is indeed 26 months and still going strong with the bfing. I am also recently pg so it doesn't seem to have stopped that from happening - my periods came back at about 1 year. I do still breastfeed during the night though if he wakes up and that probably helps keep my supply up.

I am a nanny and would have no problem with you breastfeeding your baby the nice thing about having a nanny as that they can fit in with your child.

I breastfed my own child untill she was three I did not want to feed her that long she just did not want to stop.

My charge is 4 months old and takes a bottle no problem,she is then breastfed in the evenings and early mornings ( plus overnight if she wakes)

This works well for all of us ( after the first week when Mums boobs were a bit leaky lol! but the body is am amazing thing and adapts !)

At 11 months your son will be dropping milk feeds anyway,and if you did want him to have milk in the day you could express and the nanny could give it to him in a cup
or he could have cows milk as he will be coming up to 12 months?

Our nanny has worked with us since our baby was 5 months old...I am just weaning him now at 15 months. I also work from home. It worked fine - it helps to have a relaxed attitude about it all - basically, if I popped into the room and DS was obviously wanting a feed then I fed him and chatted to our nanny. I tried to avoid popping in too often as if I was out of range then he would happily take a bottle which initially I expressed - then formula after six months.... I never had a feeding schedule as such....good luck! Our nanny doesn't seem to mind me working from home at all and we have a great gossip every morning -- gives us both some company!