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)?

I do hope most Nannies have, or belong to, a Union. I see that attitudes from the 19th century still stubbornly persist.

This. You may be paying her for simply being present for maybe an hour of the 3 hour sleep (lunch, tea break, time taken tidying up baby toys, doing baby laundry takes up the rest) but in due course, she’s be lucky to get the lunch she is entitled to.

You can try and find a nanny / housekeeper but you’ll have to look at the unqualified, inexperienced end of the market. No one with proper qualifications would touch that job with a barge pole.

You sound like some of the ghastly husbands SAHM post about on here who ‘don’t understand what their wives do all day’.

This by a million.

They do child related stuff such as prep the baby’s meals, wash and sort their clothes out and tidy the toys. They also need a break. You are paying someone to generally do a good job. Bear in mind, good nannies will move on to good employers, if they are not enjoying their job. They meet potential employers at baby groups and play dates and get poached.

Even if she sits in a chair while baby naps she's doing something very important 1 being there.

If she's doing nothing then you'd presumably be happy for her to take an unpaid break while baby sleeps - and pop out to get her shopping or meet a friend?

No? Then she's doing something very important.

Incredible how difficult it can be for us to see the value of caring professions. This is why they're paid so badly even though they do such important work.

you weren’t “burnt by a previous nanny” fucking hell. I have 18y experience as a nanny and now refuse to work for families like you

The nanny can do nursery duties then she can sit down. Shock horror but she is allowed to sit down. Or she can pop out and get her grocery shopping done whilst the baby sleeps as she has nothing else to do right?

Shes not your cleaner and she’s not your cook. Wind your damn neck in

Actually, it was probably better in the 19th century. Nannies had very strict roles and there were other servants to do the non-childcare jobs.

That’s like saying a babysitter does ‘nothing’ whilst kids sleep. Would you expect them to be doing your housework too?

She is responsible for your child she isn't your skivvy my god how dare she not scrub the steps and boil the nappies whilst your baby naps. Have a word with yourself !

Was just going to say this 😂 nannies back then were just nannies!

I would rather the nanny be close by while the baby is napping just in case she’s needed, instead of in the kitchen prepping the adults’ meals or unloading the dishwasher, that’s not her job at all. Her job is to care for the well being of the baby. So baby related things, yes, but far away in the kitchen for too long doing someone else’s job, no. Nipping to the kitchen to prepare bottles or laundry room to grab basket of baby clothes to fold is different than prepping your dinner and doing your dishes. She’s not your housekeeper and she’s not your cook. When I was at home with my baby, I kept him near me when he was that little if I was in the kitchen or doing housework or showering, in a bouncer or something secure. Actually he wouldn’t sleep in his crib or take naps, to this day he doesn’t sleep much 😀. I’m assuming you want the nanny to put the baby down in the crib in the nursery for naps though. In that case I wouldn’t want the nanny spending three hours doing housework and cooking and loading and unloading the dishwasher away from the baby. Makes no sense. You’re trying to wring every penny’s worth out of an employee but your baby’s wellbeing is more important than that. Give her a list of baby related things to do that won’t necessitate her being in the other end of the house for extended periods.

She should scrub your floors on her hands and knees with a tooth brush. And then you will wonder why you can't get "decent help".

Im a nanny. You are paying for her TIME. You need someone there to care for your child and supervise them during nap times, yes? Her time is worth that pay. You don’t need to dish out additional duties, she will know what needs to be done but her duties go as far as childcare that’s it. Not your housework.

My expectation would be

• wash up plates/bowls etc from baby’s breakfast/lunch
• wipe the high chair and any mess off the kitchen sides
• put away any toys not in use
• sweep under the high chair if baby made a mess eating
• REST and eat ahead of a fun afternoon!

If she sits quietly in the nursery having a cup of tea and some chocolate with a book while baby sleeps, keeping an eye on the baby just in case she’s needed, then she will be doing her job well.

I’m not sure you understand the point of having a nanny. It’s to keep the baby safe, fed, changed, needs taken care of kindly and responsibly, engaged with while awake and watched over while asleep.

She'll tidy up the baby's things, wash the bottles then have a cup of tea/sandwich and a break. You still want her to watch over your child, and not clock off, and go elsewhere for those periods do you? Even if she sits down, she's still actively watching your child, isn't she?

You might not be suited to using help until you understand treating them appropriately and that you are paying them for a specific role, not anything you decide you want to throw at them in the time they are in your paid service... 🤔

She is a professional with a multitude of skills. She is there when you're not.
If you don't want to pay for that.

One of you take care of your own damm baby

First of all she deserves a break, it’s a long and tiring day. Secondly your baby will grow quickly and won’t nap as much. One day they won’t nap at all and then the nanny won’t be able to have a proper break. By all means she can tidy the toys, do a load of the baby’s laundry and batch cook some meals for the baby - however please don’t make her feel she can’t take a break. As long as her duties are complete how she manages her time is down to her.

How you treat your nanny over issues like this is one of the biggest factors in retaining a good nanny and keeping a happy working relationship.

👏 brava

One hour lunch, two short breaks bit of child related work.

I would like them to tidy up any mess they created (not in a bad way just if they did craft, please put away)

Other wise I would expect them to do what I did when my child slept, watch TV and relax

Lots of people both working and sah come on these boards to complain how little they can get done regarding basic jobs while baby is awake. If you want your nanny to interact with baby when awake she will need baby's nap times to get the nanny practical work done. This includes preparing healthy food, children's laundry, keeping toys and child's bedroom/playroom clean and tidy. If she properly interacts with baby when awake, especially as soon will be a toddler, she will need the gradually reducing nap times for the practicalities. A good nanny spends hours on encouraging independent eating, toilet training, independent dressing. These things take time and patience. All this before getting the paint things out, 'cooking' together ext with all the messy play clearing up, taking out to playgroups ext and to the park for walks, teaching table manners. If your nanny gets a proper break from all this, lunch and a book, maybe even some adult conversation, she will be a better nanny in the afternoon and you will have the luxury of coming home to a child bathed, ready for bed, with the toys put away and the kitchen clear of all child meals. If you find such a treasure, hang onto her and don't sweat the small stuff , especially breaks while baby naps. After all a nanny on duty never gets a proper break, she is always on call if baby wakes after 10 minutes so when it goes well for her make sure she gets a proper break. There will be people eager to poach her. Of course this all depends on her being an excellent choice so take care when choosing and try to get recommendations from people you know and trust.

5 to 6 short naps no chance to get much done no proper lunch....did you experience much of this time yourself?