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)?

Well this really, women supporting women unless it's "the staff"

Right, but absolutely nobody has suggested she lie around on the couch ‘doing nothing’ for the entire three hours. They’ve said that once she has taken her legal entitlement of an hour’s lunch break, she will then have about two hours to do all her actual tasks - this is nursery duties like baby laundry, sorting food for the baby, cleaning and organising toys, and planning and booking appropriate activities. Once this is done she will have completed all her tasks.

And it isn’t place to allocate her tasks outside her employment because she thinks the nanny should do these things. I don’t know why people think women who work in childcare should be servants or skivvies. They are doing the job they’re paid for, just like you wouldn’t tell your cleaner she needed to start cutting the grass for you.

Someone said on here the nanny only works 9 to 5. This is assuming a normal work day for an office worker, which nannying is not. The nanny has to be here before the 9 to 5 office worker leaves for their commute and stay all the way until that worker is home again. My jobs typically were 8 to 7, and my own commute in London was 45 mins each way so it was a long, tiring day.

I never had 5 to 6 hours break in the day. That sounds made up. The nanny at your trial might have been showing you she can look after your child and otherwise was politely keeping out of your way and feeling awkward. Why wasn't she given some other tasks? If it was a free trial you can't expect her to get on with housework, I think.

Trying to think what things I did when a child was asleep. Mostly look after the other children, nursery commute etc. For singletons sometimes their nap was on the way back from the museum, zoo, playgroup etc, so I was pushing them home, navigating changing trains etc. The only time when I ever really had sit down breaks, I think, was the last year I worked when I was pregnant with my first and the little boy I nannied started nursery. He was out of the house less than 3 hours. I would return home with his buggy, clean up anything we hadn't managed before his morning activities, see about his laundry including sheets, dishwasher if needed, and then nap as I needed one. I don't think I really sat down for a break prior to the pregnancy.

Also, what nannies do you know who work 9 to 5? Or do you think the baby just gets left on his / her own for a couple of hours a day while the parents commute to their 9 to 5 jobs?

Also, people I know who have nannies tend to be the higher earners who don’t work from 9 to 5 themselves.

Chances are the least hours worked will be 8 to 6 and more likely 7.30 to 6.30 or 7

This thread is a contrast to the other nanny thread! In that one, so many people thought the nanny shouldn't visit friends and family in her paid time. Personally I'd rather pay someone to do that, than sit on the couch and watch telly. To me anything more than 1- 1.5hrs is a decent break, like in any job. I was surprised to see one nanny on here gets a 6hr break, maybe I'm in the wrong job! 😄

I just let out nanny get on with her day as she pleased as long as the work I set her to do got done. So for example baby laundry and ironing etc if she did that and finished up really quickly I wouldn't have minded if she did nothing really.

@Phoebo I commented on that thread, although I let our nanny get on with her day that's because I trusted her as a complete professional in what she did.

I couldn't do that if nanny thought it appropriate to go to their families houses etc.

Surely if the OP genuinely believes the nanny is doing nothing, tell her not to bother. Lock up, clock off, go home and come back when baby wakes. Saves paying her for those hours. But actually they are supervising. I doubt the napping will last long either. But as I said before, once you start dictating terms the nanny will tell you to jog on anyway and you'll be left with the shitty ones. I'd much rather have a great nanny who I could trust.

You sound exhausting. Looking after a baby is a full time job, even when she is having a so called “break” she will still be multitasking eating and watching the baby. They are hardly breaks as she is unable to switch off fully.

This can’t be real? This is like saying you won’t pay a babysitter whilst your child’s asleep. You wouldn’t expect a babysitter to be on the go if your child was asleep

You are paying for their time and expertise. Take care of your child yourself then if a nanny is not suited to you.

Is it reasonable to expect her to do some light housework like emptying the dishwasher, and prepping some meals etc

No.

Well bearing in mind she’s still ‘ on duty ‘ during nap time and responsible for his welfare during said nap times then she should get paid wether it’s for 5 hours or 1 hour. She doesn’t ‘clock on or clock off’. She’s there the whole time so she gets paid for her time not by the nappy change.

That’s a greedy ridiculous way of thinking.
She is right there to make sure your child is safe and not choking on their sleep, I see what you mean but 1:30 hours - 3 hours a day being there for your child when you can’t is not much, she deserves a rest.
if you are one of those who count minutes and pennies, you won’t ever get someone who will settle with your family and be there for you whenever you need or that extra nights or weekends. Pick your battles !

By the way, doing other little things for the child is not a big thing to ask as well.
just ask for that in the interview.

It’s interesting how everyone who works in the office has a lunch brake but a nanny apparently isn’t allowed one. Why can’t she sit down while the baby sleeps and eat something without having to feel like she’s doing something wrong.
Also you are paying a nanny for her time. She is still there in your house minding your child, even though your child is asleep. What happens when they’re ill and need supervision while asleep… she still working. Honestly some ppl

Whilst your baby is asleep your paid help/nanny/au pair (whatever) is making sure your baby is safe and minded. And instead of trying to make sure every minute of her time is utilised to your satisfaction how about focusing on finding the right person who is kind and trustworthy and who is going to love yr little one unconditionally?

Personally I would want my nanny well rested and would want her to get a good enough break. As long as toys were tidied up, preparation for activitiy etc, then that would be all good.
Some parents now except a nanny to be a housekeeper too. Puts me off applying for jobs when they want all family meals prepped, dishwasher loaded, laundry etc. Nannies are there for the kids, not to clean and cook vor you.

My daughter used to work as a nanny looking after two children, one under one and one under 3. She had them from 8 in the morning until 7 at night and was responsible for making their food (from scratch), doing their washing and keeping their toys and rooms tidy. The two year old went to nursery for a couple of hours in the morning three or three times a week and she usually spent the afternoon out with them in the fresh air. There honestly wasn't much time left over after all this - I went to stay with her for a couple of days when the parents went away and we were really busy.

When I was a nannies there were always jobs to do, maybe other children to look after.
If I'd been up doing the night bottles I would hope I got a few minutes to catch my breath, just like when I had my own children. They do have a life!

As a former nanny myself, I definitely wouldn’t want to be working for you. Thankfully the families I worked for became family to me and treated me with the respect I deserved. In turn I helped turn their babies into wonderful children. Thirty years later I am still in contact with them all. I can confirm they became wonderful, successful adults too.

I must be a shit mom because all of that stuff plus a meal does take me the entire nap. I mean, I would expect baby-related cleaning. And that may cover wiping counters, cleaning bottles, sippy cups, etc. etc. It always amazes me how soon people forget how much time things take when they are no longer the ones doing said things.

Bloody hell… wealthy enough to afford cleaning staff and an actual nanny… but so wanting to make damn sure you get your money’s worth that you are quibbling over this!!

You do realise baby naps vary greatly in length and that the nanny will still be solely responsible for their well-being even while they sleep don’t you? And that regular napping is a temporary thing anyway….

I would instruct nanny to put their feet up, have a cuppa and a rest - for the full duration of each nap if needed! Do you know how exhausting it is to look after a baby of this age by yourself all day?! Surely you want your nanny to be well rested and full of energy while baby is awake?