What does nanny do during baby naps?

[i123i]

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)?

Agree.

I've heard of a family who said they wouldn't pay childminder for the child's nap times...a relative maybe?

Exactly, this person is basically raising your child. You can always do it yourself if you want to. SAHM here and trust me, no time is spent sitting on my arse, there is always something that needs doing. Smh.

Knew you would get your arse handed to you after that.

Just to be clear OP, so an hour your nanny should get for downtime and a lunch break, and then there will always be things to do for baby such as laundry or tidying up. You can always leave a list of things, but it's very likely they won't be twiddling their thumbs. You look after your own baby for a couple of days and that should give you a good idea of the times and chores.

10 month needs food, which takes time and also dishes. I doubt she'll just be sitting around.

Did you actually discuss what you expected from her? My kids' nannies know exactly what I expect of them to do in that free time, maybe make sure your employee is fully briefed on their role.

@i123i

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

You weren't 'burned'. What an attitude! I feel sorry for anyone who you take on if you keep that up. And I'll be surprised if they stay longer than one day, and if they are supplied by an agency they may tell the agency you're a nightmare employer, and then what will you do? A nanny is a professional child carer, not a maid or a skivvy. She is being paid to be totally responsible for that child, asleep, awake, or anything in between. She does baby stuff, period. Not wash your husband's shorts or wash your dirty dishes. You are being totally unreasonable in wanting to wring what you deem 'work' out of every single minute. Your idea of making her do 'light housework' makes you seem like an entitled right piss taker.

Agree 💯. Hope these responses will make you think about your expectations.

So tell the nanny she is not needed for the time baby sleeps and that you or your Husband will come home from work at those times. You are being ridiculous, who the hell do you thing is looking after the most precious person in your life ? Are you happy for nanny to put the little one down to nap then go off shopping or to the gym, no of course not, she needs to be there if baby wakes, house catches fire etc etc etc . No Nanny will stay with you long with that attitude.

I think you incorrectly used the phrase 'free time'. Free time is when you're not at work.

Very very soon the nanny will need the time to prep activities for when they're awakes - a bit like a teacher needs time to prep for classes. Like planning crafts, getting the resources sorted, toy rotation, getting set up etc

Personally I'd say let her have a cup of tea and an hour to herself, Netflix phone etc.
Maybe wash baby bottles another small task.

When your baby turns two and doesn’t have any naps any more are you going to come home every day from 12-1 to take over and allow your Nanny to have a lunch break? And if she’s working a 10/11 hour day you prob might have to pop back to let her have a 10 min tea break in the afternoon. NO - oh ok, maybe just let her have a little extra break now because as soon as your child stops napping she will get no break all day.

One idea is to advertise a nanny/housekeeper and make these extra duties clear to potential applicants. However as PPs have said they will still need a break and the naps won’t last forever.

I wouldn't worry too much op, I expect no nanny will stick around for long.

I was a nanny for many years. My wonderful family expected me to do the following during nap times

• tidy away baby toys etc
• fold laundry
• meal prep for the children
• have a well deserved break

I stayed with them long term because they appreciated how hard I worked and treated me so well.....

You don't need to tell an experienced nanny to wash the baby bottles while the baby is sleeping. She knows what needs to be done and does it. As part of the role discussion, yes, you should make your expectations around child-related duties clear so you're both on the same page when the job begins, but no good nanny will put up with being micromanaged, told when to "take her break" or what tasks exactly she should be doing during naptime.

The way you get and keep a good nanny is to hire the right person and trust them to get on with it.

Unless the baby can stay alone, and therefore the nanny is off duty, then she's working. She's keeping an eye on the baby while he sleeps and that's what you are paying for!

Gosh, some people are quite happy to lay into you OP without even bothering to read the full thread!

Our children are now in junior school but we have had a total of 5 nannies since they were babies. All have unloaded the dishwasher and put away the weekly grocery delivery, and neither they nor the agencies we’ve hired them through have suggested these are inappropriate asks.

That said, I agree that it’s fair for your nanny to get a break during the nap time, as well as using it for your baby’s laundry (including bedding and towels) and baby’s meal prep. As others say, the nap times get shorter and at some point your baby will be a young child who has no naps so nanny gets very little in the way of a break. This is allowed (ie unlike other jobs nannies don’t have a statutory right to a break because they always have to be responsible for their charges) but it’s fair to give them a break where circumstances allow.

Send her up the chimney.

Excellent!

Oh, and they’ve also happily hung/folded the family laundry too! With the exception of a temp nanny who covered for a summer they’ve all been with us between 1-3+ years and were professionals who did not throw their proverbial toys out of the pram at the suggestion that unloading the dishwasher or folding family laundry were beneath them! Honestly, some of the snowflakes on here. 🙄

We treated them with courtesy and respect and they stayed with us for decent stints before moving on to other things (one had her own baby, another always moved families when the kids had all started school, a third moved away from the area) and we still exchange birthday cards and Christmas cards with 2 of them. So yes, they were happy with us despite us apparently treating them like modern slaves! 🤣

What a nerve! Good for your comeback retort

It’s not throwing your toys out the pram or being a snowflake to say you don’t want to do your employer’s personal tasks. I don’t do my employer’s laundry. I wouldn’t ask a gardener to clean my toilet. And I don’t think they’re being ‘a snowflake’ for not wanting to be my personal servant.

Your nanny is providing safe supervision while your baby sleeps. Why don't you tell her to go out and leave DC alone while they sleep if you don't want to pay her for that time...