What does nanny do during baby naps?

[i123i]

We are looking to employ a nanny for our 10 month old. One of the things we are wondering about is - what does a nanny do while the baby naps (at home)? Our DC naps around 1-1.5 hours in the morning, and 1.5-2 hours in the early afternoon.

I understand nannies usually do baby laundry and ironing, and tidy away used baby items, but this wouldn't take up 3+ hours every single day... we don't want to pay a nanny to sit around while baby naps (this happened a while ago when we trialled a nanny).
Is it reasonable to expect her to do some light housework like emptying the dishwasher, and prepping some meals etc (we have a cleaner so wouldn't expect her to do a full on clean)?

I would say baby laundry, tidying up, laying out activities, and prepping food (for the children, not the general household). But given looking after a child is full on I’m not sure it’s unreasonable for her to take a break, have an uninterrupted wee, lunch etc?

She is allowed a break you know right?

Same thing as a SAHM? Hopefully a cup of tea, then on with all the housework. I don't know how, but it seems to be never-ending. If you're worried, write a list for her to work through

As others have said, she can take a break during the day and you are obliged to give her one, and she can take care of baby needs with the rest of the nap time. She is not your house cleaner. If you want your house cleaned, employ a cleaner separately. If you are not there to be in the home while your baby sleeps, yes, you have to pay someone to do it.

Your baby naps for three hours now. But not for long. In a few months they will sleep a lot less!

I’d expect a tea break, a lunch break and then some tidying toys or preparing baby meals or something else baby-related.

You can't ask a nanny to prep meals for you. Or empty the dishwasher. These activities are not part of her duties, and while baby sleeps, she could have a tea break, catch up with emails etc.

I would expect her to have some time as a break, so that will take at least an hour probably if not more, and then do child-related stuff (prep food for child, clean up toys, etc.) She's not a housekeeper or cleaner so I wouldn't expect her to clean up our stuff, do our dishes, any of that stuff, no. And I think if you're going to try and micromanage how they spent baby nap time then you're starting off on a bad foot with any potential nanny. You are employing them to care for your child - during nap time, that might just be being in a supervisory role. In fact, even if they have their lunch then they are still technically 'on duty' in case baby wakes up unexpectedly, etc.

Treat your nanny well and they will treat you well.

I had an employer like this once it was suffocating I felt like I couldn’t even have a coffee and was being pushed to do too much housekeeping during baby naps. I’m the end I started taking the baby to groups that would finish just before nap time , gave a bottle before leaving the groups and baby had her 1.5-2 her nap in the pushchair and I’d walk round the park, have my lunch, get a coffee etc then walk her back home in time to wake up

She’s a nanny, not a housekeeper. Nannies require breaks and don’t forget, that’s a three hour break today will rapidly drop down to nothing within in the next year or so.

You’d pay an evening baby sitter, surely? Even though they’d spend most of the time sitting around for hours after the dc have gone to bed, waiting for you to get home. You’d pay them just for being there, for security and for peace of mind.
I’d ask a nanny to use the baby’s naps to do what needs doing for the dc, but when that’s all done, just be within earshot, catching their breath, until the baby awakes.

By all means, go ahead with this plan if you want to ensure you have chronic trouble keeping a nanny and your nanny will never go above and beyond for you.

A nanny is a childcare professional, not an all-purpose skivvy. Show them the respect that deserves. If you're really going to resent them "not doing anything" while the baby naps and to attempt to keep their nose to the grindstone, you shouldn't employ one.

Oh dear. I will pray for your future nanny 😵‍💫

Sounds like what you want is a 'mother's help'. They won't be highly qualified like a nanny though.

Wow, that is a strong response. I did say we have a cleaner so I don't expect her to do a full on clean. We've just been burned by a nanny we trialled before who didn't do anything during baby naps (and this is when DC was much younger and therefore napping for 5-6 hours a day).

But she isnt doing 'nothing' while baby sleeps, is she - she is still responsible for keeping the child safe.
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You wouldn't expect a babysitter to do your non-baby-related household chores would you, so why should your nanny?

You won't be paying her to sit around. You'll be paying her to mind your child while they're asleep.

Unless they'll be able to clock off and leave the house when your child is asleep you'll have to pay.

I used to babysit in the evenings and most of the time there the kids were asleep.
I'd pick up the toys, clean up the plates then sit down with my book not crack on with their housework.

I didn't know or ask what mine did during naps and no it is not reasonable to ask them to do household duties. Focus on finding a person that you trust with your baby and that trusts you to be a respectful employer. A nanny who has that will stay long term (hopefully) which is priceless.

Would you expect to go and sit in a stranger's house without being paid for your time?

Nannies are entitled to breaks
I employed one and wouldn’t have expected her to work a 12 hour day without a rest - she could make herself lunch, coffee, watch telly etc
nannies can do nursery duties - so baby related laundry, cooking and tidying
my nanny would occasionally fold my laundry or unload a dishwasher but it wasn’t expected
please don’t treat your nanny like a skivvy - they aren’t

...What did you expect her to do?

If there were obvious baby-related tasks to do, like say washing up bottles, then yes a nanny should do those during nap periods. But if you're going to hire a nanny for a very young baby who sleeps a lot in the daytime, no shit they are going to have periods of doing nothing while a baby sleeps. So what? If you don't want that, look after your own young baby.

But she did do stuff
she was in your home with the baby whilst you weren’t
I think it’s your view of what a nanny should do which needs to change

@i123i the reason you got a strong response was your wording: we don't want to pay a nanny to sit around while baby naps (this happened a while ago when we trialled a nanny).

This is exactly what any sitter or Nanny does at night time so why would daytime naps be different? She will be there and available if the baby needs it, having a break ( which you didn't consider ) and doing a few light baby related chores. This is normal for a nanny.

She's looking after your child even while they sleep.

She's being paid for her knowledge, skills and experience. All of those things are still in existence while your baby sleeps.

But when baby is napping, the nanny is still at work by just being there, in your house, watching your child while you aren't able to. You can't employ someone to be a nanny and then want them to do cleaning and making meals for you because your baby sleeps five hours or whatever a day! You're employing them to care for your child - if that is just being present in the house and ready to respond when they wake then that's what the job is at that moment in time. I don't ask for a discount on nursery fees because DD2 is asleep for two hours of the day.

Worry less about getting your money's worth out of people and worry more about finding a nanny who is nurturing and a safe pair of hands for your child. Napping so long is a short-term thing anyway.