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)?

She’s still on duty whilst the baby is napping. You are not paying her to “sit around”, you are paying for her to be there so your child is not left alone.

She is a Nanny not your cleaner/chef:skivvy 🙄

I'd allow for an hour for lunch for a start. Then as previously suggested by pp's. I wouldn't go in hard now on her downtime - in 18 months time she theoretically won't get any breaks so keep on her good side now.

Cleaning?

I don't have a nanny for my kids but I had a series of nannies as a child, two of whom I'm still close to now. My nannies were expected to do light cleaning and tidying up, so perhaps cleaninf kitchen surfaces or hoovering the living room but never deep cleaning a bathroom.

Yes, it's their time to have their break, and if nap long enough also to do child related stuff (clearing up the morning's detritus, washing toys and kit that need it, maybe laundry (depends on whether there's a full enough load - at least sorting it and putting it ready to wash, plus folding and putting away newly laundered clothes)

The only "light housework" I asked for (and got) was a request that if she was washing up in the sink to do anything that was there (never more than the morning coffee cups, and then only sometimes, when we both just dumped them down in a hurry) or put them in the machine; plus if emptying the machine to empty it completely and put everything away.

I do know someone who worked insane hours and who kept their nanny on when DC were a bit older, and so had the school day without the DC, between morning school run and after-school care. But they negotiated the housekeeper role (and employed a cleaner as well, so it really was light duties - mainly all the household laundry, dropping and picking up dry cleaning, receiving supermarket delivery and putting it away etc and general tidying as by that time she knew where things were meant to live - and IIRC that part wasn't every day and wasn't done at all during the school holidays). But that evolved over a time and worked because it grew from a different nannying pattern when the DC were preschool and the nanny was v happy with the family as employers. Unusual I think, but possible.

You are paying them to look after the baby. That's it.

You want them focused on the baby and ready to look after them at a moment's notice, not random arbitrary chores to make you feel like they have value or are logging enough time on a time sheet.

Come on OP, don't be silly.

It never occurred to me to think our nanny should have been doing chores etc during DC nap time. It's a full on role when they are awake and as long as all the baby related duties were done, I had absolutely no problem with her sitting and having a cuppa, if that's what she had chosen to do. I never asked her what she did do. Do you or your DH take a lunch break at work?

Jesus. Who would want to be your nanny?

When baby naps she should take her break! That she is entitled to!

When I was Childminding, I had one parent who used to 'jokingly' say that she would knock 2 hours fees off when I let her know that the baby had slept for that long that day. She soon stopped when I 'jokingly' said that in that case, I would nip out and do my shopping while her baby slept.

You can hire a nanny-housekeeper instead - that role basically covers everything a SAHM would do, so then there would be an expectation they get on with stuff while baby naps. But it’s a different role, and generally you would find it harder to get applicants and have to pay slightly more.

What would you be doing?
probably preparing bottles, folding baby clothes, having a tea break and keeping a watchful eye on your precious baby before it wakes and when it wakes it will want a nice kiss and a cuddle to feel safe and nurtured by it’s hired mum help.
your baby won’t be napping for long though OP 3 hours is a long time for a 10 month old to be napping anyway.

I'm a nanny.

when I've had little ones I'd use their nap time to potter around doing things like ironing the kids clothes, hoovering, sorting out the other kids rooms/wardrobes, toy boxes, empty bins to outside bins and sometimes I'd just watch TV, read a book in the garden, whatever.

when the babies/toddlers were awake I'd sort out the dishwasher, laundry, prep their next meal, change their & siblings beds etc. All things they could watch me do &/or 'help' with.

I'm very much a nanny who is like a SAHM, I take each day as it comes and do what I'd do if they were my kids, in my house.

Except, I don't cook 'family meals' or for the adults at all (I hate the pressure), I make this clear up front. But I do leave the kitchen immaculate & the dishwasher empty. I batch cook for the kids & I'm happy if they use those meals at the weekend.

I'm more than happy to help out picking stuff up from the post office/dry cleaners or running a grandparent (living locally) to the Drs or friends etc. I've even collected visitors from the airport, that kind of thing and I can be very flexible re hours etc

I'm very up front about the way I work, if they don't like it, they can feel free to employ someone else. No way will I be micro managed.

The key is employing an actual adult and having some respect!

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

Why not? What's the alternative? Do you want her to forcibly keep the baby awake? Climb into a cupboard and power down when the baby sleeps? Nip out and do an hour on a checkout at Sainsbury's?

Or are you employing her to be responsible for your child all day and give him one to one supervision whether he's awake or asleep?

@CushionMountain

Exactly!!!

Love that 😂

You weren't "burned" by your trial nanny. You wanted someone to watch your baby and that's what they did, even while your baby was sleeping.

Who would be a nanny when you have batshittery like this amongst employers?

Previous posts like these tend to be written by people who can't really afford a nanny and it usually goes that they either think nanny should not be paid when the child sleeps or they should wring every last bit of work out of the nanny like they of robot who doesn't need a break so the employer feels like they are getting value for money.

Lunch break

She should poke the baby awake to continue her duties.

Brilliant 👏

@Maddy70 exactly why I was thinking.

Would you be happy for her to clock off and leave the house while the baby was asleep?