What does nanny do during baby naps?

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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)?

We employed our nanny when DD was 12 months and was having 2 long naps. We only expect her to do things related to DD- prepare her meals and tidy up after them, do her washing and put it away. We have always emphasised however that as soon as DD goes to sleep first and foremost she should sit, rest and have a break! These naps won’t last forever and there will come a time that it will be very hard for her to have a break at all. So I don’t expect anything extra during nap time. Im now off on mat leave with DS and we often sit and have a catch up while DD naps over lunch

Hahaha, will you refuse to pay a babysitter because the kids are asleep?? Do you expect a refund from the childminder for naptimes? Your poor nanny 😄.

It’s reasonable to expect a nanny to do chores related to the child/children, like washing bottles, cleaning up mess they’ve made, and potentially the laundry for the child’s clothes and bedding… but prepping your meals? Nope. Not unless it is expressly documented in their contract.

My comment was lighthearted but it is astounding how people want their pound of flesh. A nanny is a nanny not a cleaner, cook, housekeeper etc. If you can't afford staff give up work and do it yourself. Honestly it astonishes me how people expect to employ people to do everything. Au pairs get the worst abuse!! I say this as someone who does employ people and treats them well and with respect and keeps within their job description.

She’s not free to do as she pleases though is she? Try to think from her point of view not yours. Sitting around your house is probably not what she would choose to do and she is providing a sitter service during those times. She should be having an hour to herself a day and she will need a bit of time to tidy up etc from any baby stuff lying around. I’d be seriously pissed off if you asked me to do jobs like the ones you proposed . At a push - a few light things related to baby perhaps but no to emptying your dishwasher and definitely not preparing your bloody meals!!!

If home during nap time, our nanny sometimes used to tidy up the toys and make the children’s tea. We’d sit and have lunch together or a tea if I was working from home, she’d do her cross stitch, read a book. Nap herself.

We had a housekeeper so no laundry etc. For the five years she was with us, our nanny was an angel sent from heaven who kept us all healthy, happy and sane (and my marriage and career intact). I still remember the air of calm that wafted through the door on her arrival. As such, we made damn sure to treat her (and pay her) royally. I strongly advise this course of action to anyone who finds a good nanny.

"we don't want to pay a nanny to sit around while baby naps (this happened a while ago when we trialled a nanny). "

FFS

I would say the nanny needs a lunch break each day like any other job, so an hour for lunch while the baby sleeps early pm. She wont be able to have that break to herself entirely because she will be still completely responsible for the child in her care, so she can't go out for her lunch and she would need to check the baby during the nap, so she really is still working during her break. She can do baby laundry, baby meals, activities and any other preparations for the baby with the rest of the time when baby sleeps.

That’s because you’re trying to micro manage every hour the nanny works. Her job is nanny, not nanny and house cleaner.

Indeed! That baby is still in the sole care of that nanny, so the nanny is still on full duty!

What do you do when your baby naps? Do you manage to do everything for the baby, prep the next meal, clean the house, load the dishwasher, and have a lunch break (to which your nanny is perfectly entitled). If you can’t do it then she certainly can’t!

When my kids were that old I basically had a sandwich and a drink and some light tidying- that was all I could manage. And my kids watched TV which I imagine you wouldn’t like either!

JFC you sound stingy. We hire babysitters who mostly watch tv when my DD goes to bed. Guess what, that’s the job.

Er , her legal breaks? Jeez she'll be run off her feet the rest of the time with baby, cut her some slack.

We never expected our nanny to do anything during naps. She's entitled to a break and really she's not even getting a complete break as she's on call in case baby wakes at any time! At the most she might tidy up toys. I honestly don't think many nannies would put up with being micro managed to that degree, and the most important thing for us was how she cared for our child rather than getting our money's worth! If you're happy with the care then I really wouldn't get hung up on this.

48oz is about £25ph so a very good rate for a career nanny

Your minimum wage is £15

And other was £18

As PPs have said the nanny is entitled to a break! Not that it is really like a break from work, as she can't leave DC and do what she pleases. I believe sleeping children in nursery need to be checked every ten minutes or so, I would imagine a nanny would have similar rules? So not really putting her feet up and leaving them to it. Also around here decent nannies are like gold dust, they set their terms and would tell you to jog on if you tried to dictate they should be doing other non related work.

I worked as a sort of part time au pair child care when I was 16 and no way would the DM have expected me to do things whilst the baby and toddler slept. I can’t even recall if she had a cleaner or not.

If as a nanny you feel you have to do things then yes as others say general tidying, washing of clothes, sorting toys etc. empty dishwasher or prep parents meals big no. Any other cleaning besides babies room no way and even then cleaner should hoover babies room. I think if the nanny prefers to sit near baby whilst baby sleeps and watch tv, be on phone etc then I’d rather she did this than go off round the house doing other things with her mind and eyes and ears off baby. But communication is key here and what works for one won’t work for another.

Definitely allow her a lunch and tea break - in theory two tea breaks a day morning and afternoon. and don’t micromanage her.

That’s what most babysitters do! Watch tv whilst kids or babies sleep.

Sounds like you want 3 for 1, you expect her to look after your child, clean your house and make your dinner. She's still supervising your child even if they are asleep, seems like you are focusing on getting your moneys worth rather than finding someone who will care for your child.

To be fair I've never worked a job with a 3 hour break 😁

On another note my nana (DM’s DM) used to have au pairs when my DM was about 11-17. They apparently did nothing at all, so not really a mother’s help as such but they were around for my DM at that age to look after her, ensure she went to bed etc and she also practised her French with them. My nana had cleaners anyway and hated cooking (nana had her own business).

In the school holidays if DM wasn’t away with her parents the au pairs would take her to Montpelier and somewhere else in south of France for most of the summer.

Oh well if you've got a cleaner too maybe she can help her clean the coal scuttle

Course she did, gonnaget

😂

Keep anything you ask her to do baby related and accept that those things don’t happen if baby is awake. You seem to worry about being ripped off. She’s definitely a nanny, not a servant. If you add general housekeeping you may not get a specialist in child care.

The nanny needs a break. While our DC were napping the nanny would have her coffee, lunch, watch TV, catch up on her emails and texts. She’d food prep with DC when they were up or when they napped, I didn’t really mind when as long as the food was prepped. We had a twin bed in the nursery and I encouraged her to nap while the baby slept if she wanted. I didn’t expect her to clean or do any housework - that was not her job. I expected and trusted her to manage her time and unless it was affecting the baby I didn’t feel it was my business to manage what she was during naps. A rested and relaxed nanny will be a much better caregiver for your DC and as pp have pointed out, soon she will have much less downtime when your baby drops naps.