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)?

Ultimately it’s up to you what she’ll be responsible for then, but be prepared to pay for what you want.

I nannied for two families. At one I was only asked to wash bottles at nap. At the other house I was expected to wash bottles, fold his laundry, and make homemade baby food (I elected to take that task on after a conversation on that topic; the task dropped as he dropped his second nap). At each house I would occasionally choose to use nap time to tackle another project - cleaning their fridge, organizing a closet, etc. They were grateful, but they never expected it.

They paid me a living wage. It was the lower end of appropriate for a well educated/experienced nanny here and I was fine with that as I had plenty of time to study (was refreshing courses so I could pursue graduate school), rest, etc since they also expected fewer chores than most.

Children are demanding. Housekeeping is demanding. You can expect someone to do both, but they will expect to be paid as such.

It's like asking what a babysitter does when you and your partner are out in the evening after she put your child down for the night. She sits there when your child is asleep, that's what you pay for - so you don't have to do that and can get on with something else. It's pretty simple really. AFAIC she can read a book, paint her nails or do whatever she wants 🤷🏼‍♀️

Maybe a good compromise would be for you to not pay her while you baby naps, and she pops out to do her own errands?

No, thought not.

The OP is clearly being unreasonable but do we really need to resort to working mothers don't raise their children?

This. Sorry OP, i'm not a nanny but if I was one you sound like the kind of employer I'd hate to work for. You sound as if you're gearing up towards filling up all of a nanny's time with tasks so you can squeeze as much productivity out of your pound. I've heard mothers being subjected to this questioning by men who don't appreciate how tiring looking after a baby can be.

As others have pointed out, she's minding your child whilst the child is asleep. As long as the nanny is aware of the baby, present and attentive if the baby needs anything, that's the main thing.

Send her away while the baby sleeps then you don’t have to pay her. Then you just keep your fingers crossed the baby is ok, doesn’t wake, get unwell etc for the 1.5 hours the nanny is away on her break. I mean it’s such a waste of time paying a nanny to do nothing while your child sleeps OP. I hear you. You can’t be getting burnt by selfish nannies expecting paid for an hour when the child is actually asleep. 🤦‍♀️

Not long after my son turned 1 he dropped a nap. By 14 months and still to this day that nap can vary between 20 mins to 3 hours. Today was 35 mins and we are all suffering for it. I got the kitchen cleaned, I normally get the kitchen, playroom and some laundry done and some TV watched if I feel like it. It will be the same for your nanny but possibly slightly more stressful as you'll expect it to be done as you're paying her where for me I think fuck it I'll do it later!

This is a kin to saying:

We are going out for a date night, we'll be out from 8pm till 1am, my kids bedtime bedtime is 7.30pm... I'm not PAYING someone to just sit there babysitting them while they sleep they should do my taxes as well.

Of course you have to pay her to sit there while your child sleeps, thats LITERALLY her job to fulfill the law that someone has to be there (and you are not)... do you not relax when your kids are in bed?

Your cleaners job is to clean, your nannies job is to nannie... you can't assign someone another whole new job because you have decided theres is 'too easy' (even though you STILL completely require what they are doing by sitting there while your child sleeps).

It's surely the same as nursery? They have a well deserved break. Maybe set-up some activities. Do some prep for meals etc. But really, who cares? You don't want to stay at home. You have the means to employ someone else to sit about whilst your baby sleeps. As long as your baby is happy, does it matter?

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

You won’t get a good nanny if this is indicative of how you treat them; good, experienced nannies can smell difficult families a mile off and will instead go work for families that treat them with respect.

We have always worked with our nanny on the basis that whilst our then baby / now toddler was asleep she could take a well earned break - have lunch, watch some TV etc. But when our DS was awake we wanted her to be really present with him, fun classes, games, park, playtime. Our nanny is not just an employee, she’s an extension of our family. And she has gone above and beyond for us many, many times.

You don’t want to pay a nanny whilst the baby naps?!?!?

bloody hell. When she meant to have lunch? Or a drink? She’ll need a break every 6 hours to by law surely?

You’re paying someone for their expertise. Their training. I mean that’s what you get paid to do?

a nanny is exactly the same and you wouldn’t like it if you were at work not being paid surely?

I don’t often gasp as posts but this one is really shocking.

This is exactly what I was going to suggest. If OP doesnt want to pay a nanny do "do nothing" while the baby sleeps, then surely she can go out, as she clearly isnt "doing anything".

OP the point is that the nanny is there to watch your baby, even if said baby is asleep. it doesnt matter.

just like you would pay a babysitter, fo you to go out, even if your child was already asleep by the time the babysitter arrived.

Ha if she's doing the stuff you've said she'll do (ie baby laundry) then I can't imagine expecting her to fill every minute of her day, she's allowed a break. What if you have an evening babysitter , would you expect them to be getting on with things whilst they are there 😆 also great if your baby sleeps for 3 hours a day now, but that will change!

Advertise for a nanny & housekeeper (sack your cleaner) and up the salary to whatever is commensurate for that level of responsibility. This company sounds good: https://littleoneslondon.co.uk/amp/nannies/nanny-housekeeper
Sounds like a nightmare job tbh, but I’m sure worth the money for everything to be properly done for you. Hope you find someone great!

She can do nursery duties- tidying baby stuff etc. Otherwise, she can have a break. Looking after a young baby is fairly hard work so resting while the baby sleeps is a good thing. You need to change your mindset about this.

You don't want to pay a nanny to "sit around" she's in the house to make sure your baby is safe - whether the baby be sleeping or awake.

I work in childcare. Been a nanny and a childminder.

You need a clear job description. If you want housework doing you need to look for a nanny housekeeper.

I used to use naps to get washing and child related housework done. Batch cooking. Set up activities and plan learning. Write up the diary. Research local groups. Then if there was time I would do the dishwasher. And I would sit and chill and eat my lunch for about half an hour. But this was for families who respected my expertise and me as a human not a servant. If I felt taken advantage of I would not do more than my childcare duties

I've worked for families that you turn up and yesterday dinner pans etc all over the kitchen that I have to clear all that up before I can do my job. Parents who get home late from 'work' with the full weeks food shop in the car. They were the families that expected an account of everything I did while baby slept. I didn't work for these families for long.

If you want a good nanny you need to have good communication and feel comfortable with them as a skilled person. You trust them to fill their time appropriately and they will. Micro manage and treat with minimal respect they will do the minimum required and look for a job where they are respected

Would you expect to go and sit in a stranger's house without being paid for your time?
this sums it up. But my first response was what others have already said, she is responsible for the baby while it is sleeping.

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

JFC 🙄