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)?

So IYO, while your baby is asleep, it needs no supervision, nobody to be 'on hand' in case it wakes up, is unwell, nobody in your house where there is a young child present? Jesus wept.

I know what you mean, OP. I caught my gardener taking a sip of water and mopping his brow this week. CF.

We've just been burned by a nanny we trialled before who didn't do anything during baby naps

But she's not doing nothing while the baby sleeps. She's being responsible for the baby. She has to be alert for if the child wakes and deal with any situation
that arises. She can't be anywhere else, so she's being paid to be there.

I hope you thrashed him. That way communism lies. 😏

We always got ours to empty the dishwasher. Our first wouldn’t and it was bloody annoying.
I don’t think it’s a big ask.

I wouldn't expect either extreme - e.g. I wouldn't expect her to sit and do nothing for the whole time but equally I wouldn't expect her to be working the whole time, preparing your meals etc.
I'd expect her to take breaks during both naps, have a cup of tea and a lunch/snack. I'd also expect her to do some light tidying of the baby's things, prepare snacks and activities, perhaps do baby's laundry. That kind of thing.
I remember how exhausting it was to look after a baby and I think breaks are more than necessary!

When I was nannying I would take about 40 minutes lunch break to have something to eat and read for 20 minutes (as I’m sure you do at your job) and then would do some baby based jobs. Cleaning toys, sorting the kitchen after our lunch, baby’s laundry, tidying the play room, planning and booking any trips or groups we were planning to do. I did not and would not cook meals for the parents or do their housework. If a parent told me that meant they weren’t getting their money’s worth I would think they weren’t the right family for me.

Do you know at nursery children nap? Do you think that the nursery staff should run round to your house and do the gardening otherwise you ‘aren’t getting your money’s worth?’ You are paying for someone to care for your child. You’re getting your money’s worth as they are there watching your child.

I think, as others have said, you can expect food prep (snack baking, prepping for dinner) sorting and folding baby’s laundry and tidying and organising toys, but that’s it. Nanny can also have her lunch and coffee break during those nap times. I think that would fill those hours, tbh.

Mine is in nursery 3 days per week and with me 4. He has 2 naps for no more than an hour. When he does take a nap I need a break as will your nanny. It is exhausting keeping up with a 10 month old. I find my work days (like today) easier!!

I would maybe ask nicely about doing the dishwasher. Only because I don't think I would mind being asked that. Then baby food/ clothes. A small break to eat without being pulled at. 10 mins to scroll her phone then boom baby is awake again!

If you were at home all day with the baby, what would you do during her naps? My guess is that you would take advantage of the time to have a bit of a rest. Think about it.... on the days you look after the baby without the nanny, are you still looking after her when she is asleep? Your nanny is still doing that even if she's watching TV. I was a nanny and I definitely would not have taken a job with someone who tried to micro manage my time.

Let her have a break. Then when your baby wake she'd be refreshed. Babies are exhausting!

Nannies do long hours and deserve breaks. By the time they've tidied up and have done jobs that can't be done while baby is awake, they'll only get 30-40 mins rest out of the full nap time.
If the nanny has breaks and time to catch up on emails etc, they'll have more energy to give your baby.

How is a nanny doing “nothing” while your baby naps? Surely she or he is still taking responsibility for your child while you aren’t there, which is their job?

I suspect I can see why your first nanny isnt with you anymore. We all like to feel we get our moneys worth but you are 100% massively coming across as a bit of a knob.

Some ridiculous answers here- OP speak with a nanny agency for some actual answers.

Of course your nanny is entitled to a break- but your baby is sleeping for over three hours a day- she doesn't need 3+ hours of downtime each shift.

It's usual for a professional nanny to do child related tasks such as prepping meals, folding the child's laundry, tidying the child's toys, washing bottles etc, clean up where the child eats etc. some Nannies are also willing to do some light housework. That would involve emptying the dishwasher, folding a basket of laundry and maybe sweeping the areas where the baby plays.

Nothing excessive and it should be with the understanding that she may not get to those tasks each day if the baby wakes up early. You have to be ready to adjust this as the baby sleeps less during the day. Communication is key.

We've had two nannies for years. One is a career nanny and she likes to be busy and keep things just so. it is soooo good to come home to an empty dishwasher, the laundry folded and the dinner prepped. Our other nanny is a uni student and does no chores (not even tidying up after herself) as she uses nap time to study- that's fine too. Our children love both and we are happy with both. We pay our career nanny significantly higher than market rates however.

When you are recruiting just be clear about your expectations and be willing to pay accordingly. The individual will decide if she wants that job or not.

Posts about nannies always seem to bring out angry mobs who have no idea what they are talking about. Speak to an agency or friends who employ Nannies- it's completely reasonable to ask them to use some of the nap time productively.

@JeandeServiette

oh & honestly that's nowhere near the worst of it!

-parents that want you to feed 2 month old babies purée to 'fatten them up' FIRM NO

• parents that want you to stop babies sleeping in the day FIRM NO

parents that say you'll have to wear a Drs style 'gown' and white gloves FIRM NO (while trying to keep a straight face)

parents that over use/or forbid calpol

a Dad that insured it was fine to stand tge 13 month old on a 6 ft platform & leave him there, that he'll just go down the slide when he was ready (3 sides completely open) but then insist he needed his hand held to go up the step into the patio doors. Hated hated hated him 'wfh'

many many other things. These were all on temp jobs or at interviews. Thankfully I picked my long term families well.

She's still minding the baby whilst they're sleeping? She's having to sit in somebody else's house it's not exactly free time ? I'd expect her to be having a cup of tea and relax before the baby wakes up. Maybe preparing babys lunch and an activity.

I had one family who said it was fine to go and collect the bigger girl from preschool while the baby napped. Oh good, no stress over when the baby naps, I thought, and asked if I should just put the baby to sleep in the buggy so I could be sure we were ready to go. Nonplussed mum said no, put the baby to sleep in the cot. Preschool is only 10 minutes walk away and the baby sleeps for at least 1.5 hours. We went round in circles with me not quite believing it until I eventually said at no time while I am in sole charge of the children will I leave either of them alone in the house. Madness. Ended up reporting them to my agency for a host of reasons, not sure what happened though! Nice enough people but absolutely batshit.

She was doing something though, she was reponsible for your child home you were out at work, and ready to react if there was any kind of emergency. You’re paying her for the huge responsibility of taking care of your child.

If you really didn’t think nannies did anything when babies were sleeping, you would leave your baby napping and go out which obviously you would never do.

I would suggest that an hour of it is her break, and an hour is to do laundry, tidy up, prep baby's food etc. naps will be reducing pretty soon too.

If you want more you would need to hire them as a nanny/housekeeper which isn't impossible but generally they will be working for families whose children are in nursery p/t or even school, so duties during those hours

Light tidying up from what she’s been doing earlier, having a break so she’s ready to look after your child when they wake, preparing for the afternoon, light meal Prep for the child only. And even if she’s resting she’s not just sitting on her arse she is responsible for your child’s safety eg in case of fire checking on welfare whilst asleep so you are paying for that too remember
your child will change very quickly and so will the nap schedule so it’s give and take

Errrm do the baby’s laundry / tidy up toys, then you know, have a break? As you have probably discovered, looking after a baby is hard work. I imagine you enjoy a sit down in the day during nap time too. Good nannies are worth their weight in gold - once you find one, don’t be ridiculous about expecting every single second of time to be filled. The baby will eventually stop napping anyway.

Child related tasks only. I prepped meals, did laundry, cleaned toys for the children but didn't do anything for the rest of the family. A nanny is only there to look after your child don't ask or expect them to look after you as well.

Urgh, I'm a nanny who is highly experienced (17 years) with qualifications. I had a family like this gave me a bad review saying that I was 'happy to perch myself on a chair whilst the baby slept'. I was baffled, I had done all nursery duties, laundry was on the go. I'd emptied and refilled the dishwasher plus swept the floor from their mess the night before. What else was I supposed to do?
Nannies generally work 10+ hour days so we are entitled to breaks! I couldn't stand this family and didn't stay long.
Families I've stayed with long term, one being 5 years were the ones who said I could do whatever I wanted during nap time.