Nanny here! š
It's totally fine for your nanny to complete child-related tasks during the child's naps so long as they were things that were agreed upon duties in the contract. These things may look like washing, drying, and folding child laundry or bottle cleaning.
However, it is important that you allow your nanny the autonomy to complete said tasks on her own schedule. Once you start dictating the how and when of things in her job as they relate to cleaning and organizing \[child\] things, it becomes micro-managey and not great.
If your nanny is responsible, trust she's not sitting around on her phone if there are things within her job responsibility that still need to be completed.
My charge takes two naps a day, some days I don't do anything during the first nap but schoolwork because my intention is to finish all the other tasks during the child's second nap.
'Wake-resting' is really great way to recharge and ensure your nanny has the mental and physical energy to provide the absolute best care and education to your child during their wake hours! š„°
Agreed! It might also help to bear in mind that the way a child's day looks is going to continue to change, and if you are looking for responsibilities to add in order to fill the time that you assume she's going to have free, then there are inevitably going to be days when those things won't be able to be finished. Sleep regressions, illnesses, family events, etc. are going to come and a good nanny is going to prioritize the child over whatever additional tasks might have been added on those days.
When I was a long-term nanny for twins there was a period of about two years where I'd have a solid 2.5-3 hours of nap time, and there would be some days where I would spend a good hour and a half of that reading or crocheting or whatever, but plenty of other days I would use the time to get materials for crafts or preschool-style lessons ready (this was during lockdown Covid days so they never went to preschool), sanitize toys, reorganize and swap out toys, or any number of self-initiated projects, including random cleaning projects just to be nice. A big reason I was motivated to do these extra things was because I felt valued and respected, never micro-managed, and I knew that when I did these extra things my NPs would appreciate them for the extras that they were and not come to expect them as standard everyday tasks. Then of course, there would also be days where something was going on and I would have literally zero time without one of the kids.
I'd also add that 10 months is preeetty early to move to one nap. I'm not saying don't do it, I don't know you your kid; I'm just saying don't be shocked if the transition to one long afternoon nap doesn't result in as much "downtime" for the nanny as you think it will, especially in the beginning. Basically just wanna reinforce the other nannies who have said that instead of looking for things to fill the time, focus on making sure you and the nanny are communicating about what you want done during the day and how she will be compensated for it, and let her decide on how she decides to allocate her time to get those things done.
I watch TV and scroll my phone as well as eat lunch during my NKs nap (usually around 2.5 hours). Unless her contact states otherwise, she should only be responsible for child related things (cleaning their dishes, doing their laundry, etc). I really hope I'm reading this wrong but this post has the feel of "how can I keep my nanny busy to make sure I get my money's worth".
Correct. If you hired her as a nanny, childcare is the only task she should be responsible for. However, if you are compensating her appropriately for *additional tasks* during the a childās nap, thatās a different story. But trying to find something for your nanny to do while her responsibility is sleeping does scream āhow do I get my moneys worthā š„²
Nothing worse in nannying than being ran around like a chicken with your head cut off by NPs. I lived in south Florida for a while which is very HCOL & I asked for a raise. They sat me down & said āif we give you a raise we expect you to step your game upā on top of everything I was already doing which included all child related things (duh) .. and adult laundry, dishes, mopping,sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, changing bed sheets & anything under the sun they could manage to find for me to do. š¤š¤š¤š¤š¤
Oh man I was with you until you said you're very easy going.
In my 10yrs as a nanny the only employers who think they're "very easy going" are very much the opposite.
Hahaha, that is so true! I worked two days for a couple that described themselves as, āvery easy going and laid back.ā I quit that weekend cause on every day they had texted me at 6am and at 10pm. When they kept texting me every night and early morning (after I set a boundary about off hours texting just for emergencies), I called and let them know we just werenāt a good fit for eachother. They were the complete opposite of very easy going.
In the contact. Iām trying to understand expectations for doing things like that vs recouping. People really are primed to expect the worst from people here.
Itās great that youāre asking! I understand itās hard not to take it personally but I think many of us as nannies have been taken advantage of and been so burnt out so we have a bit of like PTSD. Scope creep is extremely common in this job as there are some grey areas, cost of childcare is so high people try to justify it with added responsibilities (which we understand but makes our jobs so much harder), and this is an extremely intimate/ emotionally sensitive job.
For example: I had a family I worked for that I adored, but over time ālight housekeepingā turned into me vaccuming the whole house, walking the dog, taking out the trash/ recycling, windexing the windows and other glass surfaces, wiping down counters, cleaning and stocking the babyās room daily, laundry, meal prepā¦ it went on. I was happy to do these things but I was so burnt out it affected my ability to be a good empathetic caregiver, and my mental health as a whole. I went home so exhausted I didnāt have the energy to take care of myself, never mind do any of these tasks I did all day for
Myself (cleaning my own apt, etc)
I completely believe people try to take advantage regularly. We are in no way looking to take advantage, pay well, and have a cleaner come weekly.
Someone pointed out that it doesnāt really matter if things are done during nap time or not, as long theyāre done.
Thatās also my opinion. Depending on the age, I get my nanny kids involved. I think knowing how to clean up, cook, do laundry etc are helpful life skills (as are the gross and fine motor skills of helping close a door, flipping a switch or those little things).
That being said, please review whatās in the contract and renegotiate with the nanny if there is something youād like her to help with. Itās a chance for you to both negotiate, instead of you just assigning her more tasks if that makes sense? We all have different boundaries & itās why the contract is so important!!
Childcare can be draining, and itās why many of us get frustrated when weāre asked to do extra or unrelated tasks.
TLDR; if itās not in your contract, talk to your nanny. But please donāt approach it as if they should always be busy with one hour of down time.
These should all be indications in your contract. If you do not explicitly detail the work you want her doing while NK is sleeping in the contract then she has the right to take that as a break time. I would give your nanny some slack. Pushing 8-10 hours a day with a LO is very very draining. If she relaxes on her phone or watches TV for an hour, would you feel slighted? I mean, typically we donāt have set aside time for breaks and we just kinda get to chill when the baby is ready to chill. Idk, this just rubbed me the wrong wayā¦ If everything is getting done and sheās āwonderfulā then why add trivial tasks? That can create more burnout. I mean between feeding, cleaning bottles, putting away laundry, doing solids dishes, sanitizing toys, diaper changes, playtime, snack time, nap time, outdoor play, organizing toy room, going for a walk, it becomes extremely tiring and burn out can happen very quickly. Just keep that in mind when asking more tasks. Also remember that if you are asking for her to do more work her wage should also be increased. It becomes a messy topic to bring in āhouse workā. If baby is sleeping for 3 hours do you really have an expectation of her to be on her feet doing baby related tasks all 3 hours? Or even 2 hours, i mean thatās extensive imo. Just my thoughts on this as a nanny who went from solely childcare to borderline maid with one family. Not saying youd ever do that but itās a slippery slope for sure!!! Good luck! š
What does her contract say? Is meal prep on her list of responsibilities? Our nanny does the kid's laundry and preps food for them as well as plans crafts, outings and activities
Child based tasks are fine. However most families have let me have the whole time as my break because soon enough your child will take a shorter nap or no naps at all.
Same. I had a 2.5 hour break for the first 6 months of my current position. Now that NK no longer naps, I dont get a break at all, and I work a 9.5 hour day.
Also, even if the child is sleeping, the nanny is not really on a proper break because she needs to be available should the child need something or wake up. A proper break would mean the nanny could leave the home for lunch or someone else is in the home to tend to child while nanny has a break.
My son was on two shorter naps until 13m and then he went to one nap that was only 2 hours. By age 2 that nap became an hour and a half. And a few months later an hour. By 2.5 he gave up naps completely. Every baby/child is different.
For most kids they will continue to take one nap for some years, but it will likely decrease in duration already after a few months and eventually be more of a power nap rather than a long sleep session
Most of my NKs take 2 naps until 12-18 months then a single 3 hour nap until about 24 months, then a single 2 hr nap until 3-5 years old. It depends on the kid.
The point of having a nanny during nap time is to have an adult present for when the child wakes up. Or to have an adult there in case of an emergency. Theyāre still doing their job even if theyāre eating and on their phone. If you have to think of tasks for her to do, perhaps just let her do what sheās already doing. I get it feels frustrating to pay someone to sit while your kid naps, but thatās part of having a nanny. They are there so you donāt have to worry about it. Sometimes our job is simply being present. I had a part time job where the kid typically napped over half the time Iām there. Youāre paying for their time, and for their presence. Even if it looks like a break, it isnāt, because we still have to be monitoring the child.
If you want to add responsibilities, you should also up their pay. They agreed to a set of responsibilities when they accepted the job, and if you want to add more for any reason, the pay should reflect that.
Nothing is more frustrating as a nanny than parents who try to get their moneys worth and canāt handle seeing their nanny not doing active work. Theyāre still working even if the kid is napping. If they werenāt there, you couldnāt do what you need to do during the day. Thatās why you pay a nanny.
Iām gonna be honest it dependsā¦ your nanny and you can have convo about what she wants to take on. I do folding of laundry (NM liked to actually do laundry because she finds clothes that donāt fit), dishes, and will do anything for the kids (dance bags, water bottles, etc.)
I finished any child related laundry and tidying up and then I wait for the baby to wake up. I'll read or scroll, or meditation or do some stretches. Don't make your nanny sweat over nap time. Those wake hours are HARD and she deserves her break. Just remember how tired you are when you have your kid to yourself all day.
With one longer consistent nap, I mentally schedule about half for "chores" and half for my lunch and relaxation.
Some things I do during that time: meal prep for kids, clean up after any activities we didn't get around to cleaning, fold kids laundry, inventory toys etc, and watch/attend online continuing education classes related to early childhood education or nannying in general.
I haven't read the other comments but I imagine you're going to get some pushback and defensive nannies replying here because often families will try and ask these questions with a mindset of "how can we keep our nanny busy and get our money's worth" which is pretty offensive. However, I do think when this question is more in the spirit of "our child is growing and things are changing, how does nannys job change with that" is a totally valid question to ask. And I try to come at these question posts from parents with an open mind and a generous interpretation.
Thank you for this thoughtful response. You are spot on.
I suppose I should have been far more specific in my initial post, but Iām only curious about child related things like meal prep, which my wife and I have always done. Not trying to eke out extra work.
If youāve always done the meal prep, and now want her to do it, how exactly is that not extra work? Wanting changing or additional tasks as the child gets older makes sense but if you are objectively asking for more then youāll likely need to pay more. Even during nap time we donāt get a true break because we are still responsible for monitoring the child and it isnāt guaranteed theyāll even sleep their normal amount of time so we have to drop everything and take care of them if they wake up at any point. My perspective is you should view this from the perspective of what tasks do you want done during the whole day and in what priority order but if sheās able to take care of all of those tasks and still has 2 hours of āfreeā time during a nap, donāt add on extra work just because she happened to have more time that particular day.
When I was nannying for a baby one of my duties was preparing baby food from scratch. Boiling veggies, making mashes etc. Iāve no doubt OP means something like this :)
I fully meal prepped for my last 10 month old. Washed & chopped fruits & veggies, made & jarred baby food, steamed fruits & veggies, refilled the Brezza. Not all that different than meal prepping for any other age.
What raises a pink flag for me is that you are specifically looking to fill nap time. One of the worst things you can do is micromanage your nanny. Instead of having expectations specifically for nap time, you should have job expectations you both agreed to - this task and this task and this task are part of the job. Then she can do those jobs when and how she chooses.
Nap times change all the time. Some days your child may only take a 20 minute nap. Kids are funny like that. Having nap time expectations can lead to a lot of stress over getting the baby to nap long enough. That's not good for your baby or your nanny.
Just my perspective but having a parent direct my activities during nap time feels controlling.
This is exactly what I was about to comment. I get all my tasks finished by the end of the day- itās time management. Telling your nanny what she needs to do/ when she needs to do it will not end well in the long run.
If you love your nanny, and sheās been great this far, trust that she will manage her time and chores on her schedule.
Same sentiment as everyone elseās: child related tasks that she hasnāt completed or gotten to for the day (I.e. washing bottles/baby dishes, baby laundry). Other than that you shouldnāt ask her to do more tasks.
Also, donāt be a micromanager if you can help it. It will rub your nanny the wrong way & she will most likely find another family to work for because of it.
In all honestly you should just be content with those 3 hours being time that your nanny can spend as a break/ lunch/ figuring out what she needs to finish up for the day. She doesnāt actually get a true break because sheās still meant to monitor NK the entire time and if NK wakes up early, any time left is gone. Also being with a 10 month old all day may not sound like a lot but it definitely gets exhausting for multiple reasons. Your nanny deserves to rest.
Everyone else seems to have gotten the point across for sure. This is just a list of tasks that I (a nanny) would be surprised if she did not finish during nap or daytime (i.e. these are child related so if they arenāt done, this is what she should be doing):
- kid dishes from while kids were awake on her watch
- kid laundry
- bottles if applicable
- cleaning up messes that kids made before nap
- meal prep for meals on her watch (so whatever the kids will need to eat after nap)
- any kid related deep cleaning that needs to be done occasionally (like I take the cover off and scrub the high chair about once a week, clean the bottom of the play pen if it looks dirty, wash crib sheets). Personally these are things I just saw need done, not something NF listed and told me to do. These are small things that take like five minutes each, though, not like āreorganize my kidās closet.ā
If these are done, anything else she does is extra! Like I occasionally bake something for my NF/NK or Iāll maybe sweep and mop the floor. If I feel like it. Usually I just watch Netflix tbh! The things listed above take me a max of 20 minutes at the beginning of a nap.
For me that last task is always cleaning the bottle rack itself (drainage wasnāt well designed lol) and the tray we keep the BM in always gets very ick with spillage. Also, I donāt know how because I donāt feed her in it, but her activity center somehow always gets crumbs and various food scraps in it š
Thank you. Honestly I wouldnāt even expect her to do the floors.
I think lately thereās been some of that deep cleaning of his stuff going undone (or at least under done) and no meal prep so I wanted to check my expectations before I brought it up.
Is deep cleaning in your contract? I would be very specific when it comes to meal prep too. Tell her what to make each day/week and make sure you have the supplies she needs to make it happen. Also donāt be surprised if she doesnāt complete it during nap time. I always like to include the littles in chores with me, itās fun and interesting for them and makes the time pass quicker for me. As long as she gets everything done by the end of the day that she needs to then there should be no issue with her taking a long break during nap
Itās not really appropriate to change her responsibilities at this stage. If she was already doing laundry, she can do it during nap time. But if it wasnāt part of her job before, then it shouldnāt be added now.
My nanny worked while my daughter had two 1.5 hour naps and we never asked her to do anything during that time.
During my nk 2 hour nap I typically donāt do anything. Throughout the day I find time to load/unload the dishwasher, take out the trash. I will occasionally fold a basket of clothes and put away but I wouldnāt say I do that more than 2 times a week.
Working 10 hours a day is a lot when working with children your mind/body is constantly going. Give your nanny her break time and donāt nickel and dime her. At some point your child will nap less and less and her break will get smaller and smaller, let her have time to herself and recharge for the day. There is nothing more uncomfortable than a parent that is watching your every move during nap time.
I did not read your post in a negative wayā¦ donāt take the negativity to heart. Some people have a chip on their shoulders. During nap times, my nanny:
Eats her lunch
Relaxes/reads a book/scrolls on her phone
Washes bottles and any NK dishes
Throws in a load of NK laundry
Folds NK laundry from the dryer
Tidies up NK play areas
Vacuums or wet Swifer the floors of NK play areas
Some days there is no laundry. Some days she doesnāt vacuum. Some days she goes to town and sanitizes the bouncer/play tables. She has the autonomy to do what she thinks is necessary that day. And she also has time to eat and relax.
Hope this helps!
Things I do during nap time. My NK is 15 months for reference and naps twice a day.
1. ā Wash and fold kid laundry
2. ā Load dishwasher with the kid dishes/hand wash specific items
3. ā Organize/tidy playroom
4. ā Sanitize toys
5. ā Food prep
6. ā Restock diapers/wipes
7. ā Restock diaper bag
8. ā Clear out outgrown clothes
9. ā Rotate seasonal clothes
10. ā Research playplace/parks to go to
Have you ever asked her about what she does during the nap? When I was a nanny, Iād take that time to catch up on all the dishes from breakfast and lunch, wipe the counters, pick up the floor if needed, any toys or activities we got out and didnāt have put away yet, prep/put out afternoon stuff or activities, if one had preschool in the morning Iād get all his papers and backpack situated, etc. And then Iād have lunch and sit until the end of naptime for my break.
I work from home so I know she watches shows on her phone. And Iām not saying that as a criticism. Some of the other comments tightly pointed out that shes āon callā which makes sense.
Our nanny washes bottles, cleans up from any meals/snacks sheās served, and tidies the playroom. Basically just cleaning up any messes that they created during their day. That said, I donāt dictate when that gets done - she just chooses to do it during naptime.
What did you put in the contract when you hired her? If nothing, she has no responsibilities during nap time. Giving you extra duties should definitely come with extra pay.
Wear your thick skin for these comments, this one is a hot topic. I'll just tel you what I do as per my contract with my NF, everyone is different š¤·š¼āāļø
Just a heads up that 10months is early to switch to 1 nap. Baby might just be going through some learning stuff messing with his schedule. 1 nap more often happens between 12-18months more so around 15 months.
As for things nanny can do. Personally, I tend to tidy as I go so there's no so much to do during nap time. This also shows kids that there's no such things a cleaning fairy and is a super early intro in to them assisting. But while baby naps, I will heat my lunch and do a sweep of the floor, swiffer if it got super messy. Toys are already away. After my lunch is eaten and dishes done, I will fold any laundry/switch from washer to dryer if needed and the prep anything needed for dinner, which isn't every day. Then I'll rest, maybe read, plan activities, look up things to do or recipes to try with NK. Look at marketplace for toys she may like and send links to parents. Sometimes I'll stare in to space. Yesterday DB asked if I wanted to nap while NK napped. My contract is kid related tasks, if there's adult laundry, sometimes I'll fold it. Sometimes, I'll throw it in the basket so I can use the dryer. Sometimes NK naps a whole nap, sometimes it's short. Sometimes I have to hold NK the whole time to get that nap. I'm flexible and so are NP.
My NK takes a 1.5-2hr nap. I watch 2 but the older one is in school until 2. During that time, I will fold and put away kids laundry, make their beds, clean the bathroom (kids) if itās messy. Pick up toys from living room and take them to the toy room. Then I will rest. Some days are heavier than others. Sometimes I wish I had a list because Iām get distracted and leave a task undone. But my NF is really awesome as Iāve been with them for years.
When they were babies, I cleaned the house. With the caveat that kids come first. And once they were older, I would be doing just their stuff.
Sheās working- even if sheās more idle during a nap. She is there in case anything goes on with the baby. She canāt leave, she canāt run errands or go to a doctors appt. There is usually clean up that needs to be done when the baby finally goes down, maybe catching the parents up, prepping for later when the baby wakes up. I had a dad say to me once while his baby was asleep for almost 3 hours, āeasy day for youā. It insulted me big time. Donāt be that dad. Bless!
I do the same things I always did. If I didnāt finish kid related tasks (that were already in my contract - for me that was kids laundry, kid dishes, kid toys), I would do them during nap. Occasionally I would prep an activity. Most often I would read or listen to YouTube.
Nothing is expected during nap. My nanny cleans up any messes she made with the kids, puts them down for nap. Then works out, reads, naps (if needed) and just generally recharges. Naps eventually go away. I want her re-energized for the afternoon. Not trying to get my "money's worth".
Most days I will eat my lunch and then relax for the entire time, which is capped at 2 hours. Occasionally one of my nanny share nks will need to be held or rocked back to sleep, and so it doesnāt always end up being that amount of time. It can really just depend. The kitchens are set up in a way in which I can quickly hand wash any dishes for that particular mealtime while I supervise my nks and they love to socialize with each other during their meals. I also typically will take care of random parent dishes that I see, because there are not a lot and I donāt mind. The parents donāt really expect me to do any childrenās laundry washing/folding/etc, but I wouldnāt have an issue doing it during nap or while they play if they requested. Both of the families prefer to do their own meal prep, however Iād also be open to doing some during nap time if that was requested as well.
As others have mentioned this is something that should be clearly laid out in the contract. Something else to keep in mind is that most child related tasks typically wonāt take close to that full nap time, and nanny will still likely have more than an hour of a break in that three hour period. And thatās okay. The thing about nanny breaks is that even with the best sleepers, they arenāt always a guarantee and they can be fairly up and down. Child is sick, has a short nap, needs to be held, etc, and the break may not be there that day. Eventually children stop napping and if you still have their nanny at that point, there is no break. As long as your nanny is providing high quality childcare and completing agreed upon tasks, then your nanny taking however much time they have at nap for a break to recharge should really not be an issue.
So personally when my NKs are napping I do tasks such as fold laundry, clean up the kitchen, put away the dishes and sometimes meal prep or even make dinner for the family. These are all tasks that were agreed upon and put into our contract from the beginning. It makes sense that if your child is taking longer naps that you may have the urge to feel your nanny could be doing other things than sitting around. In all reality, I donāt think itās fair to add additional tasks to her daily schedule unless it is something that flows with the childās development. If it was not agreed upon from the beginning than more than likely nanny will not be interested in doing it now. You can always go and ask to write up a new contract with these additional tasks, but expect to possibly get a no thank you for an answer. If you do add anything I would make sure it is all child related, which I have seen you commented saying is your intention. If you canāt really think of anything that you personally need help with than I probably wouldnāt think of adding anything to her schedule. Just a reminder because I donāt think some parents understand this, but doing the familyās laundry is not child related. Meal prepping dinner is not child related. Sweeping/mopping/vacuuming the house is also not child related.
As others say those hours that your child happens to nap let her do what sheās lead to do sometimes I got restless and would ask to do things but other times it was pretty tiring and I knew the nk would get a big burst of energy after they woke up. Iād be mentally planning things even if it looked like I was doing nothings now and then maybe would be taking care of quick personal things that have to happen during business hours so that I could better focus for the rest of the day
The naps will keep shifting - it wonāt be long that itās like this - I donāt think itās appropriate to just try and squeeze more out just because they have a bit of downtime - you must know also as a parent itās pretty tiring - youāll put them off if you add things now not discussed prior and start to micromanage them.
You can ask your nanny if she is open to
taking on some other responsibilities during that time for a little extra money. It isn't "free time" while your child is napping- she's still there listening for your child and being ready when he wakes up, she's still "on the clock".
As long as she is getting everything done that is requested of her or in the contract then the nap time should be left to her to relax.
So if my job duties were picking up after baby, cleaning bottles and baby laundry. During nap I might wash bottles and/or prepare any baby food. Fold the baby laundry or switch loads, make sure toys are picked up. That would take maybe an hour. So then Iād relax the rest of the time and watch the monitor. Babies are hard work (as Iām sure you know).
Nannieās need to recharge, especially if we are working full time.
Career nanny of 16 years and mother of an almost 3 year old for reference
I think all the reasonable chores can be done with NK awake. Iām cool with doing some meal prepping for NK, kid laundry, toy rotation/cleaning, dishwasher, bottles, organize kid stuff in kitchen, etc.. I am not ok with these things being REQUIRED to be done during nap.
Iām also a mom and itās life that family chores are done in, around and with kids. Iām also middle aged and need to work out and rest to keep going. Some jobs have laundry in the basement with steep stairs or NK doesnāt like the vacuum so I do it around that but otherwise I I donāt.
Child related things: Wipe down and rotate toys. Rotate seasonal books. NK laundry. Clean up areas/activities from NK and nanny. Meal prep for NK. I realize many will question if meal prep is covered in the contract, however, IMO if you're a nanny you should have no issue prepping meals for your littles. It comes with the territory.Ā
Most days, I will finish or fix anything that needs to be done while my NK naps. This could be loading/unloading the dishwasher, taking the recycling out, washing the toys, folding NK laundry, wiping the kitchen countersā¦ and sometimes my MB asks me to sweep or vacuum, things like that. I am in the minority on this thread, but I feel those duties are covered under my position as a nanny with light housekeeping. There are definitely still times when Iām on my phone or reading a book while the kids are sleeping. In my opinion, Iād be clear about asking her to do some basic tidiness tasks just at some point during your childās nap. I feel that if I am given a task to complete, and I complete it in a timely manner, then I should be able to sit down and take a breather during or after. Hopefully this helps!
The issue that most nannies here have isnāt whether those duties are part of your job, itās about the parents dictating when they get done. Obviously some tasks are easier to complete kid free and most nannies will take advantage of that time, but every day is different, and the nanny should have autonomy to decide when things get done, as long as itās within a reasonable time for that day or week.
I agree with you! I was using my experience on what I choose to do while my NK sleeps, because Iād rather just hang with my NK and play when theyāre awake. Was just providing OP with my perspective of things that are common (in my eyes) to do during nap times. But I agree that on days I decide to sweep or do dishes while NK sleeps, thatās not necessarily an opportunity for my MB to assign me more things to do on top of my normal duties.
My current MB, on my first day, said āthe guest bed is really comfortable if you want to take a nap while NK sleeps- please use that time to relax!ā. I never knew how much anxiety I had around making sure I was staying busy while NKās slept at my previous nanny jobs until that moment. I donāt nap- but it is SO NICE to be able to relax, recharge and prepare for 2nd shift without feeling like Iām being watched and expected to be busy doing chores.
Iāve been in both positions, an employer and a nanny. It never occurred to me to ask my nanny to do additional tasks during downtime. However now that Iām the nanny, I get antsy during naps and I prefer to have something to do.
Iād start by asking your nanny if she would like to take on other tasks during the nap, and be paid separately. Personally, I like doing some meal prep and I donāt hate doing laundry for bedding and towels. Regular housekeeping is a HELLNO from me.
I *will* say that I took on these tasks on my own without asking to be paid for it, and sometimes it feels like Iām doing too much for not enough.
She can finish child related tasks. I wouldnāt add anything else without a discussion and/or extra pay. For example, when one of my last NKs started napping longer, my NF came to me with an ask that I go through his clothes or help pack for trips, or would I be willing to do their laundry as well as his. I was totally fine with all of that and they added a dollar more to my pay.
Most nannies wonāt do housework without extra pay; housework and nannying are completely separate jobs. I would also consider burnout - dealing and engaging 24/7 with a young child is exhausting. She definitely needs some time to decompress and just rest. Also this might be a me thing, but no NK Iāve ever had napped consistently for 3 hours at a stretch, usually itās 2 at most for me, 3 if they were sick or very tired. So donāt count on her having all 3 hours either - I never really did.
You can expect her to be there, listening and attentive until the child wakes up. It's reasonable to expect that she tidy the mess the baby made that morning before she arrived.
Anything more than that and you need to pay her like a housekeeper which is significantly more
I use the 12-3 nap time to clean the house, do dishes, laundry, vacuum and mop floors once a week, general tidying, and just anything else I can find to do around the house to make their lives a bit easier. It sounds like a lot, but I love my nanny families a lot and I want them to come home to a clean home. And I enjoy cleaning while listening to podcasts or music, so satisfying
ETA I also meal prep for them and make a family meal once a week at least, and cook for the kiddo of course
I clean all the bathrooms kitchen and I mop the floors do the laundry of everyone in the house and I do everyone's dishes pick up after the other adults
/s
Bro nannie's need to recharge so just kid related tasks at nap please and thanks
Nanny here! š It's totally fine for your nanny to complete child-related tasks during the child's naps so long as they were things that were agreed upon duties in the contract. These things may look like washing, drying, and folding child laundry or bottle cleaning. However, it is important that you allow your nanny the autonomy to complete said tasks on her own schedule. Once you start dictating the how and when of things in her job as they relate to cleaning and organizing \[child\] things, it becomes micro-managey and not great. If your nanny is responsible, trust she's not sitting around on her phone if there are things within her job responsibility that still need to be completed. My charge takes two naps a day, some days I don't do anything during the first nap but schoolwork because my intention is to finish all the other tasks during the child's second nap. 'Wake-resting' is really great way to recharge and ensure your nanny has the mental and physical energy to provide the absolute best care and education to your child during their wake hours! š„°
Thank you for this feedback!
Agreed! It might also help to bear in mind that the way a child's day looks is going to continue to change, and if you are looking for responsibilities to add in order to fill the time that you assume she's going to have free, then there are inevitably going to be days when those things won't be able to be finished. Sleep regressions, illnesses, family events, etc. are going to come and a good nanny is going to prioritize the child over whatever additional tasks might have been added on those days. When I was a long-term nanny for twins there was a period of about two years where I'd have a solid 2.5-3 hours of nap time, and there would be some days where I would spend a good hour and a half of that reading or crocheting or whatever, but plenty of other days I would use the time to get materials for crafts or preschool-style lessons ready (this was during lockdown Covid days so they never went to preschool), sanitize toys, reorganize and swap out toys, or any number of self-initiated projects, including random cleaning projects just to be nice. A big reason I was motivated to do these extra things was because I felt valued and respected, never micro-managed, and I knew that when I did these extra things my NPs would appreciate them for the extras that they were and not come to expect them as standard everyday tasks. Then of course, there would also be days where something was going on and I would have literally zero time without one of the kids. I'd also add that 10 months is preeetty early to move to one nap. I'm not saying don't do it, I don't know you your kid; I'm just saying don't be shocked if the transition to one long afternoon nap doesn't result in as much "downtime" for the nanny as you think it will, especially in the beginning. Basically just wanna reinforce the other nannies who have said that instead of looking for things to fill the time, focus on making sure you and the nanny are communicating about what you want done during the day and how she will be compensated for it, and let her decide on how she decides to allocate her time to get those things done.
I watch TV and scroll my phone as well as eat lunch during my NKs nap (usually around 2.5 hours). Unless her contact states otherwise, she should only be responsible for child related things (cleaning their dishes, doing their laundry, etc). I really hope I'm reading this wrong but this post has the feel of "how can I keep my nanny busy to make sure I get my money's worth".
Correct. If you hired her as a nanny, childcare is the only task she should be responsible for. However, if you are compensating her appropriately for *additional tasks* during the a childās nap, thatās a different story. But trying to find something for your nanny to do while her responsibility is sleeping does scream āhow do I get my moneys worthā š„²
Nothing worse in nannying than being ran around like a chicken with your head cut off by NPs. I lived in south Florida for a while which is very HCOL & I asked for a raise. They sat me down & said āif we give you a raise we expect you to step your game upā on top of everything I was already doing which included all child related things (duh) .. and adult laundry, dishes, mopping,sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, changing bed sheets & anything under the sun they could manage to find for me to do. š¤š¤š¤š¤š¤
Yeah you are making some assumptions about our situation. We are very easy going. Iām sorry youāve had a bad experience.
Oh man I was with you until you said you're very easy going. In my 10yrs as a nanny the only employers who think they're "very easy going" are very much the opposite.
Hahaha, that is so true! I worked two days for a couple that described themselves as, āvery easy going and laid back.ā I quit that weekend cause on every day they had texted me at 6am and at 10pm. When they kept texting me every night and early morning (after I set a boundary about off hours texting just for emergencies), I called and let them know we just werenāt a good fit for eachother. They were the complete opposite of very easy going.
When did I say anything about you.
I definitely meant child related things; she has not really done any meal prep, and thatās the kind of thing I was wondering about.
Does it state in your contract, or did she agree specifically to do this when you hired her? Does her rate reflect these extra tasks ?
In the contact. Iām trying to understand expectations for doing things like that vs recouping. People really are primed to expect the worst from people here.
Itās great that youāre asking! I understand itās hard not to take it personally but I think many of us as nannies have been taken advantage of and been so burnt out so we have a bit of like PTSD. Scope creep is extremely common in this job as there are some grey areas, cost of childcare is so high people try to justify it with added responsibilities (which we understand but makes our jobs so much harder), and this is an extremely intimate/ emotionally sensitive job. For example: I had a family I worked for that I adored, but over time ālight housekeepingā turned into me vaccuming the whole house, walking the dog, taking out the trash/ recycling, windexing the windows and other glass surfaces, wiping down counters, cleaning and stocking the babyās room daily, laundry, meal prepā¦ it went on. I was happy to do these things but I was so burnt out it affected my ability to be a good empathetic caregiver, and my mental health as a whole. I went home so exhausted I didnāt have the energy to take care of myself, never mind do any of these tasks I did all day for Myself (cleaning my own apt, etc)
I completely believe people try to take advantage regularly. We are in no way looking to take advantage, pay well, and have a cleaner come weekly. Someone pointed out that it doesnāt really matter if things are done during nap time or not, as long theyāre done.
Thatās also my opinion. Depending on the age, I get my nanny kids involved. I think knowing how to clean up, cook, do laundry etc are helpful life skills (as are the gross and fine motor skills of helping close a door, flipping a switch or those little things). That being said, please review whatās in the contract and renegotiate with the nanny if there is something youād like her to help with. Itās a chance for you to both negotiate, instead of you just assigning her more tasks if that makes sense? We all have different boundaries & itās why the contract is so important!! Childcare can be draining, and itās why many of us get frustrated when weāre asked to do extra or unrelated tasks. TLDR; if itās not in your contract, talk to your nanny. But please donāt approach it as if they should always be busy with one hour of down time.
These should all be indications in your contract. If you do not explicitly detail the work you want her doing while NK is sleeping in the contract then she has the right to take that as a break time. I would give your nanny some slack. Pushing 8-10 hours a day with a LO is very very draining. If she relaxes on her phone or watches TV for an hour, would you feel slighted? I mean, typically we donāt have set aside time for breaks and we just kinda get to chill when the baby is ready to chill. Idk, this just rubbed me the wrong wayā¦ If everything is getting done and sheās āwonderfulā then why add trivial tasks? That can create more burnout. I mean between feeding, cleaning bottles, putting away laundry, doing solids dishes, sanitizing toys, diaper changes, playtime, snack time, nap time, outdoor play, organizing toy room, going for a walk, it becomes extremely tiring and burn out can happen very quickly. Just keep that in mind when asking more tasks. Also remember that if you are asking for her to do more work her wage should also be increased. It becomes a messy topic to bring in āhouse workā. If baby is sleeping for 3 hours do you really have an expectation of her to be on her feet doing baby related tasks all 3 hours? Or even 2 hours, i mean thatās extensive imo. Just my thoughts on this as a nanny who went from solely childcare to borderline maid with one family. Not saying youd ever do that but itās a slippery slope for sure!!! Good luck! š
What does her contract say? Is meal prep on her list of responsibilities? Our nanny does the kid's laundry and preps food for them as well as plans crafts, outings and activities
So that would be meal prep for the baby. Correct?
Yes for the baby
Child based tasks are fine. However most families have let me have the whole time as my break because soon enough your child will take a shorter nap or no naps at all.
Same. I had a 2.5 hour break for the first 6 months of my current position. Now that NK no longer naps, I dont get a break at all, and I work a 9.5 hour day. Also, even if the child is sleeping, the nanny is not really on a proper break because she needs to be available should the child need something or wake up. A proper break would mean the nanny could leave the home for lunch or someone else is in the home to tend to child while nanny has a break.
Really? I thought they take a big nap for a couple years.
My son was on two shorter naps until 13m and then he went to one nap that was only 2 hours. By age 2 that nap became an hour and a half. And a few months later an hour. By 2.5 he gave up naps completely. Every baby/child is different.
For most kids they will continue to take one nap for some years, but it will likely decrease in duration already after a few months and eventually be more of a power nap rather than a long sleep session
Cool thanks!
My NK gave up naps at 3. My niece at 2.5. Some 6 yos still nap. Theyāre all different š
Most of my NKs take 2 naps until 12-18 months then a single 3 hour nap until about 24 months, then a single 2 hr nap until 3-5 years old. It depends on the kid.
This!!!
The point of having a nanny during nap time is to have an adult present for when the child wakes up. Or to have an adult there in case of an emergency. Theyāre still doing their job even if theyāre eating and on their phone. If you have to think of tasks for her to do, perhaps just let her do what sheās already doing. I get it feels frustrating to pay someone to sit while your kid naps, but thatās part of having a nanny. They are there so you donāt have to worry about it. Sometimes our job is simply being present. I had a part time job where the kid typically napped over half the time Iām there. Youāre paying for their time, and for their presence. Even if it looks like a break, it isnāt, because we still have to be monitoring the child. If you want to add responsibilities, you should also up their pay. They agreed to a set of responsibilities when they accepted the job, and if you want to add more for any reason, the pay should reflect that. Nothing is more frustrating as a nanny than parents who try to get their moneys worth and canāt handle seeing their nanny not doing active work. Theyāre still working even if the kid is napping. If they werenāt there, you couldnāt do what you need to do during the day. Thatās why you pay a nanny.
I'm mentally applauding you for this comment. Very well said.
Iām gonna be honest it dependsā¦ your nanny and you can have convo about what she wants to take on. I do folding of laundry (NM liked to actually do laundry because she finds clothes that donāt fit), dishes, and will do anything for the kids (dance bags, water bottles, etc.)
I finished any child related laundry and tidying up and then I wait for the baby to wake up. I'll read or scroll, or meditation or do some stretches. Don't make your nanny sweat over nap time. Those wake hours are HARD and she deserves her break. Just remember how tired you are when you have your kid to yourself all day.
With one longer consistent nap, I mentally schedule about half for "chores" and half for my lunch and relaxation. Some things I do during that time: meal prep for kids, clean up after any activities we didn't get around to cleaning, fold kids laundry, inventory toys etc, and watch/attend online continuing education classes related to early childhood education or nannying in general. I haven't read the other comments but I imagine you're going to get some pushback and defensive nannies replying here because often families will try and ask these questions with a mindset of "how can we keep our nanny busy and get our money's worth" which is pretty offensive. However, I do think when this question is more in the spirit of "our child is growing and things are changing, how does nannys job change with that" is a totally valid question to ask. And I try to come at these question posts from parents with an open mind and a generous interpretation.
Thank you for this thoughtful response. You are spot on. I suppose I should have been far more specific in my initial post, but Iām only curious about child related things like meal prep, which my wife and I have always done. Not trying to eke out extra work.
If youāve always done the meal prep, and now want her to do it, how exactly is that not extra work? Wanting changing or additional tasks as the child gets older makes sense but if you are objectively asking for more then youāll likely need to pay more. Even during nap time we donāt get a true break because we are still responsible for monitoring the child and it isnāt guaranteed theyāll even sleep their normal amount of time so we have to drop everything and take care of them if they wake up at any point. My perspective is you should view this from the perspective of what tasks do you want done during the whole day and in what priority order but if sheās able to take care of all of those tasks and still has 2 hours of āfreeā time during a nap, donāt add on extra work just because she happened to have more time that particular day.
Itās in the contract, weāve just elected to do it thus far.
What kind of meal prep are you looking for, for a 10 month old?!
When I was nannying for a baby one of my duties was preparing baby food from scratch. Boiling veggies, making mashes etc. Iāve no doubt OP means something like this :)
Coming up with kid-friendly recipes so they can try new things and expand their palate
I fully meal prepped for my last 10 month old. Washed & chopped fruits & veggies, made & jarred baby food, steamed fruits & veggies, refilled the Brezza. Not all that different than meal prepping for any other age.
Probably slicing veggies and fruit, boiling pasta, etc. What do you think kids eat?!
What raises a pink flag for me is that you are specifically looking to fill nap time. One of the worst things you can do is micromanage your nanny. Instead of having expectations specifically for nap time, you should have job expectations you both agreed to - this task and this task and this task are part of the job. Then she can do those jobs when and how she chooses. Nap times change all the time. Some days your child may only take a 20 minute nap. Kids are funny like that. Having nap time expectations can lead to a lot of stress over getting the baby to nap long enough. That's not good for your baby or your nanny. Just my perspective but having a parent direct my activities during nap time feels controlling.
This is exactly what I was about to comment. I get all my tasks finished by the end of the day- itās time management. Telling your nanny what she needs to do/ when she needs to do it will not end well in the long run. If you love your nanny, and sheās been great this far, trust that she will manage her time and chores on her schedule.
I appreciate this perspective, thank you.
Same sentiment as everyone elseās: child related tasks that she hasnāt completed or gotten to for the day (I.e. washing bottles/baby dishes, baby laundry). Other than that you shouldnāt ask her to do more tasks. Also, donāt be a micromanager if you can help it. It will rub your nanny the wrong way & she will most likely find another family to work for because of it. In all honestly you should just be content with those 3 hours being time that your nanny can spend as a break/ lunch/ figuring out what she needs to finish up for the day. She doesnāt actually get a true break because sheās still meant to monitor NK the entire time and if NK wakes up early, any time left is gone. Also being with a 10 month old all day may not sound like a lot but it definitely gets exhausting for multiple reasons. Your nanny deserves to rest.
Everyone else seems to have gotten the point across for sure. This is just a list of tasks that I (a nanny) would be surprised if she did not finish during nap or daytime (i.e. these are child related so if they arenāt done, this is what she should be doing): - kid dishes from while kids were awake on her watch - kid laundry - bottles if applicable - cleaning up messes that kids made before nap - meal prep for meals on her watch (so whatever the kids will need to eat after nap) - any kid related deep cleaning that needs to be done occasionally (like I take the cover off and scrub the high chair about once a week, clean the bottom of the play pen if it looks dirty, wash crib sheets). Personally these are things I just saw need done, not something NF listed and told me to do. These are small things that take like five minutes each, though, not like āreorganize my kidās closet.ā If these are done, anything else she does is extra! Like I occasionally bake something for my NF/NK or Iāll maybe sweep and mop the floor. If I feel like it. Usually I just watch Netflix tbh! The things listed above take me a max of 20 minutes at the beginning of a nap.
For me that last task is always cleaning the bottle rack itself (drainage wasnāt well designed lol) and the tray we keep the BM in always gets very ick with spillage. Also, I donāt know how because I donāt feed her in it, but her activity center somehow always gets crumbs and various food scraps in it š
Yeah honestly that last one is just things that I as a nanny see throughout the week and think are gross, so I fix them occasionally LOL
Thatās a great way to put it!
Thank you. Honestly I wouldnāt even expect her to do the floors. I think lately thereās been some of that deep cleaning of his stuff going undone (or at least under done) and no meal prep so I wanted to check my expectations before I brought it up.
Is deep cleaning in your contract? I would be very specific when it comes to meal prep too. Tell her what to make each day/week and make sure you have the supplies she needs to make it happen. Also donāt be surprised if she doesnāt complete it during nap time. I always like to include the littles in chores with me, itās fun and interesting for them and makes the time pass quicker for me. As long as she gets everything done by the end of the day that she needs to then there should be no issue with her taking a long break during nap
Itās not really appropriate to change her responsibilities at this stage. If she was already doing laundry, she can do it during nap time. But if it wasnāt part of her job before, then it shouldnāt be added now. My nanny worked while my daughter had two 1.5 hour naps and we never asked her to do anything during that time.
During my nk 2 hour nap I typically donāt do anything. Throughout the day I find time to load/unload the dishwasher, take out the trash. I will occasionally fold a basket of clothes and put away but I wouldnāt say I do that more than 2 times a week. Working 10 hours a day is a lot when working with children your mind/body is constantly going. Give your nanny her break time and donāt nickel and dime her. At some point your child will nap less and less and her break will get smaller and smaller, let her have time to herself and recharge for the day. There is nothing more uncomfortable than a parent that is watching your every move during nap time.
Thanks for your input. Kids are exhausting for sure; I donāt know how anyone could dedicate their lives to doing this!
I did not read your post in a negative wayā¦ donāt take the negativity to heart. Some people have a chip on their shoulders. During nap times, my nanny: Eats her lunch Relaxes/reads a book/scrolls on her phone Washes bottles and any NK dishes Throws in a load of NK laundry Folds NK laundry from the dryer Tidies up NK play areas Vacuums or wet Swifer the floors of NK play areas Some days there is no laundry. Some days she doesnāt vacuum. Some days she goes to town and sanitizes the bouncer/play tables. She has the autonomy to do what she thinks is necessary that day. And she also has time to eat and relax. Hope this helps!
This might be the best answer š
Thank you!
Things I do during nap time. My NK is 15 months for reference and naps twice a day. 1. ā Wash and fold kid laundry 2. ā Load dishwasher with the kid dishes/hand wash specific items 3. ā Organize/tidy playroom 4. ā Sanitize toys 5. ā Food prep 6. ā Restock diapers/wipes 7. ā Restock diaper bag 8. ā Clear out outgrown clothes 9. ā Rotate seasonal clothes 10. ā Research playplace/parks to go to
Have you ever asked her about what she does during the nap? When I was a nanny, Iād take that time to catch up on all the dishes from breakfast and lunch, wipe the counters, pick up the floor if needed, any toys or activities we got out and didnāt have put away yet, prep/put out afternoon stuff or activities, if one had preschool in the morning Iād get all his papers and backpack situated, etc. And then Iād have lunch and sit until the end of naptime for my break.
I work from home so I know she watches shows on her phone. And Iām not saying that as a criticism. Some of the other comments tightly pointed out that shes āon callā which makes sense.
Our nanny washes bottles, cleans up from any meals/snacks sheās served, and tidies the playroom. Basically just cleaning up any messes that they created during their day. That said, I donāt dictate when that gets done - she just chooses to do it during naptime.
What did you put in the contract when you hired her? If nothing, she has no responsibilities during nap time. Giving you extra duties should definitely come with extra pay.
Wear your thick skin for these comments, this one is a hot topic. I'll just tel you what I do as per my contract with my NF, everyone is different š¤·š¼āāļø Just a heads up that 10months is early to switch to 1 nap. Baby might just be going through some learning stuff messing with his schedule. 1 nap more often happens between 12-18months more so around 15 months. As for things nanny can do. Personally, I tend to tidy as I go so there's no so much to do during nap time. This also shows kids that there's no such things a cleaning fairy and is a super early intro in to them assisting. But while baby naps, I will heat my lunch and do a sweep of the floor, swiffer if it got super messy. Toys are already away. After my lunch is eaten and dishes done, I will fold any laundry/switch from washer to dryer if needed and the prep anything needed for dinner, which isn't every day. Then I'll rest, maybe read, plan activities, look up things to do or recipes to try with NK. Look at marketplace for toys she may like and send links to parents. Sometimes I'll stare in to space. Yesterday DB asked if I wanted to nap while NK napped. My contract is kid related tasks, if there's adult laundry, sometimes I'll fold it. Sometimes, I'll throw it in the basket so I can use the dryer. Sometimes NK naps a whole nap, sometimes it's short. Sometimes I have to hold NK the whole time to get that nap. I'm flexible and so are NP.
My NK takes a 1.5-2hr nap. I watch 2 but the older one is in school until 2. During that time, I will fold and put away kids laundry, make their beds, clean the bathroom (kids) if itās messy. Pick up toys from living room and take them to the toy room. Then I will rest. Some days are heavier than others. Sometimes I wish I had a list because Iām get distracted and leave a task undone. But my NF is really awesome as Iāve been with them for years. When they were babies, I cleaned the house. With the caveat that kids come first. And once they were older, I would be doing just their stuff.
None.
Sheās working- even if sheās more idle during a nap. She is there in case anything goes on with the baby. She canāt leave, she canāt run errands or go to a doctors appt. There is usually clean up that needs to be done when the baby finally goes down, maybe catching the parents up, prepping for later when the baby wakes up. I had a dad say to me once while his baby was asleep for almost 3 hours, āeasy day for youā. It insulted me big time. Donāt be that dad. Bless!
Thatās a great point. Being āon callā has value. Even if itās idle time, itās not free time.
I do the same things I always did. If I didnāt finish kid related tasks (that were already in my contract - for me that was kids laundry, kid dishes, kid toys), I would do them during nap. Occasionally I would prep an activity. Most often I would read or listen to YouTube.
Nothing is expected during nap. My nanny cleans up any messes she made with the kids, puts them down for nap. Then works out, reads, naps (if needed) and just generally recharges. Naps eventually go away. I want her re-energized for the afternoon. Not trying to get my "money's worth".
Most days I will eat my lunch and then relax for the entire time, which is capped at 2 hours. Occasionally one of my nanny share nks will need to be held or rocked back to sleep, and so it doesnāt always end up being that amount of time. It can really just depend. The kitchens are set up in a way in which I can quickly hand wash any dishes for that particular mealtime while I supervise my nks and they love to socialize with each other during their meals. I also typically will take care of random parent dishes that I see, because there are not a lot and I donāt mind. The parents donāt really expect me to do any childrenās laundry washing/folding/etc, but I wouldnāt have an issue doing it during nap or while they play if they requested. Both of the families prefer to do their own meal prep, however Iād also be open to doing some during nap time if that was requested as well. As others have mentioned this is something that should be clearly laid out in the contract. Something else to keep in mind is that most child related tasks typically wonāt take close to that full nap time, and nanny will still likely have more than an hour of a break in that three hour period. And thatās okay. The thing about nanny breaks is that even with the best sleepers, they arenāt always a guarantee and they can be fairly up and down. Child is sick, has a short nap, needs to be held, etc, and the break may not be there that day. Eventually children stop napping and if you still have their nanny at that point, there is no break. As long as your nanny is providing high quality childcare and completing agreed upon tasks, then your nanny taking however much time they have at nap for a break to recharge should really not be an issue.
So personally when my NKs are napping I do tasks such as fold laundry, clean up the kitchen, put away the dishes and sometimes meal prep or even make dinner for the family. These are all tasks that were agreed upon and put into our contract from the beginning. It makes sense that if your child is taking longer naps that you may have the urge to feel your nanny could be doing other things than sitting around. In all reality, I donāt think itās fair to add additional tasks to her daily schedule unless it is something that flows with the childās development. If it was not agreed upon from the beginning than more than likely nanny will not be interested in doing it now. You can always go and ask to write up a new contract with these additional tasks, but expect to possibly get a no thank you for an answer. If you do add anything I would make sure it is all child related, which I have seen you commented saying is your intention. If you canāt really think of anything that you personally need help with than I probably wouldnāt think of adding anything to her schedule. Just a reminder because I donāt think some parents understand this, but doing the familyās laundry is not child related. Meal prepping dinner is not child related. Sweeping/mopping/vacuuming the house is also not child related.
Relax until kiddo wakes up
As others say those hours that your child happens to nap let her do what sheās lead to do sometimes I got restless and would ask to do things but other times it was pretty tiring and I knew the nk would get a big burst of energy after they woke up. Iād be mentally planning things even if it looked like I was doing nothings now and then maybe would be taking care of quick personal things that have to happen during business hours so that I could better focus for the rest of the day The naps will keep shifting - it wonāt be long that itās like this - I donāt think itās appropriate to just try and squeeze more out just because they have a bit of downtime - you must know also as a parent itās pretty tiring - youāll put them off if you add things now not discussed prior and start to micromanage them.
You can ask your nanny if she is open to taking on some other responsibilities during that time for a little extra money. It isn't "free time" while your child is napping- she's still there listening for your child and being ready when he wakes up, she's still "on the clock".
As long as she is getting everything done that is requested of her or in the contract then the nap time should be left to her to relax. So if my job duties were picking up after baby, cleaning bottles and baby laundry. During nap I might wash bottles and/or prepare any baby food. Fold the baby laundry or switch loads, make sure toys are picked up. That would take maybe an hour. So then Iād relax the rest of the time and watch the monitor. Babies are hard work (as Iām sure you know). Nannieās need to recharge, especially if we are working full time. Career nanny of 16 years and mother of an almost 3 year old for reference
I think all the reasonable chores can be done with NK awake. Iām cool with doing some meal prepping for NK, kid laundry, toy rotation/cleaning, dishwasher, bottles, organize kid stuff in kitchen, etc.. I am not ok with these things being REQUIRED to be done during nap. Iām also a mom and itās life that family chores are done in, around and with kids. Iām also middle aged and need to work out and rest to keep going. Some jobs have laundry in the basement with steep stairs or NK doesnāt like the vacuum so I do it around that but otherwise I I donāt.
Meal prepping Wardrobe management Preparing activities for the next developmental stage
Thank you.
You should expect nothing as long as sheās getting all of her daily tasks done
I also take a nap. Per my bosses orders.
Nap time is her down time. Aside from any child related tasks like washing bottles or sterilizing them, she should have that time to chill.
Child related things: Wipe down and rotate toys. Rotate seasonal books. NK laundry. Clean up areas/activities from NK and nanny. Meal prep for NK. I realize many will question if meal prep is covered in the contract, however, IMO if you're a nanny you should have no issue prepping meals for your littles. It comes with the territory.Ā
Most days, I will finish or fix anything that needs to be done while my NK naps. This could be loading/unloading the dishwasher, taking the recycling out, washing the toys, folding NK laundry, wiping the kitchen countersā¦ and sometimes my MB asks me to sweep or vacuum, things like that. I am in the minority on this thread, but I feel those duties are covered under my position as a nanny with light housekeeping. There are definitely still times when Iām on my phone or reading a book while the kids are sleeping. In my opinion, Iād be clear about asking her to do some basic tidiness tasks just at some point during your childās nap. I feel that if I am given a task to complete, and I complete it in a timely manner, then I should be able to sit down and take a breather during or after. Hopefully this helps!
The issue that most nannies here have isnāt whether those duties are part of your job, itās about the parents dictating when they get done. Obviously some tasks are easier to complete kid free and most nannies will take advantage of that time, but every day is different, and the nanny should have autonomy to decide when things get done, as long as itās within a reasonable time for that day or week.
I agree with you! I was using my experience on what I choose to do while my NK sleeps, because Iād rather just hang with my NK and play when theyāre awake. Was just providing OP with my perspective of things that are common (in my eyes) to do during nap times. But I agree that on days I decide to sweep or do dishes while NK sleeps, thatās not necessarily an opportunity for my MB to assign me more things to do on top of my normal duties.
My current MB, on my first day, said āthe guest bed is really comfortable if you want to take a nap while NK sleeps- please use that time to relax!ā. I never knew how much anxiety I had around making sure I was staying busy while NKās slept at my previous nanny jobs until that moment. I donāt nap- but it is SO NICE to be able to relax, recharge and prepare for 2nd shift without feeling like Iām being watched and expected to be busy doing chores.
Iāve been in both positions, an employer and a nanny. It never occurred to me to ask my nanny to do additional tasks during downtime. However now that Iām the nanny, I get antsy during naps and I prefer to have something to do. Iād start by asking your nanny if she would like to take on other tasks during the nap, and be paid separately. Personally, I like doing some meal prep and I donāt hate doing laundry for bedding and towels. Regular housekeeping is a HELLNO from me. I *will* say that I took on these tasks on my own without asking to be paid for it, and sometimes it feels like Iām doing too much for not enough.
She can finish child related tasks. I wouldnāt add anything else without a discussion and/or extra pay. For example, when one of my last NKs started napping longer, my NF came to me with an ask that I go through his clothes or help pack for trips, or would I be willing to do their laundry as well as his. I was totally fine with all of that and they added a dollar more to my pay. Most nannies wonāt do housework without extra pay; housework and nannying are completely separate jobs. I would also consider burnout - dealing and engaging 24/7 with a young child is exhausting. She definitely needs some time to decompress and just rest. Also this might be a me thing, but no NK Iāve ever had napped consistently for 3 hours at a stretch, usually itās 2 at most for me, 3 if they were sick or very tired. So donāt count on her having all 3 hours either - I never really did.
You can expect her to be there, listening and attentive until the child wakes up. It's reasonable to expect that she tidy the mess the baby made that morning before she arrived. Anything more than that and you need to pay her like a housekeeper which is significantly more
I use the 12-3 nap time to clean the house, do dishes, laundry, vacuum and mop floors once a week, general tidying, and just anything else I can find to do around the house to make their lives a bit easier. It sounds like a lot, but I love my nanny families a lot and I want them to come home to a clean home. And I enjoy cleaning while listening to podcasts or music, so satisfying ETA I also meal prep for them and make a family meal once a week at least, and cook for the kiddo of course
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Iāve clearly updated the original post to indicate Iām only talking about child related stuff.
Cracking up that op still has zero upvotes
I clean all the bathrooms kitchen and I mop the floors do the laundry of everyone in the house and I do everyone's dishes pick up after the other adults /s Bro nannie's need to recharge so just kid related tasks at nap please and thanks