Au Pair Tasks while Baby Naps

[Anonymous]

What do your au pairs normally do while the baby is napping (please no unhelpful comments about how I shouldn’t have trusted an au pair with a baby). I’m wondering if it’s acceptable for us to expect her to clean up after baby’s meals, do baby’s laundry, etc. while the baby is napping.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you can ask her. But be mindful she needs a mental break too to be fresh.

And of course you count the hours regardless of whether she does these chores or not.

[Anonymous]

Totally appropriate to ask her to do tasks while the baby naps.

That said, look at the whole picture. Do you have her working 45 hours each week with a young child? That can be exhausting and isolating, and I would be inclined to give her a break while the baby naps. On the other hand, if she is only working, say, 30 hours or so, or getting help from you throughout the day, I would definitely have her work through the naps!

[Anonymous]

I take care of a newborn and clean bottles and do her laundry when she sleeps. Then I relax,eat my lunch or take a bathroom break because this is my only down time. If I’m lucky I get ten mins of relaxing

[Anonymous]

Just think about what you would do if you are taking care of the baby by yourself. I did the baby chores while my son was napping but I definitely cherished the time to relax as well. If your baby already have a routine, say taking a nap for 1.5 hours 2 times a day, I would assign the AP 45 minutes to do the chores and 45 minutes just to relax during each nap.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think you should tell her when exactly she needs to be doing certain tasks. Just tell her what tasks you want done within her work windows. Longtime au pair mom.

[Anonymous]

AP duties while baby sleeps(not sure how an AP could watch a baby …) wash bottles, baby laundry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think you should tell her when exactly she needs to be doing certain tasks. Just tell her what tasks you want done within her work windows. Longtime au pair mom.

+1

We definitely had kid’s laundry as an au pair task. And cleaning up after kids lunch etc. As long as she gets it done, who cares when she does it?

[Anonymous]

Let her have a break ( on the clock ) she can clean up and do the babies laundry while the baby is awake can’t she? As a parent I didn’t wait til my baby was asleep to do these things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let her have a break ( on the clock ) she can clean up and do the babies laundry while the baby is awake can’t she? As a parent I didn’t wait til my baby was asleep to do these things.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

that would be the logical thing to do. thats the best time to get anything done especially when the child sleeps for a long time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do your au pairs normally do while the baby is napping (please no unhelpful comments about how I shouldn’t have trusted an au pair with a baby). I’m wondering if it’s acceptable for us to expect her to clean up after baby’s meals, do baby’s laundry, etc. while the baby is napping.

I never had an affair, but my nanny always just had her lunch. I let her do whatever she wanted.

[Anonymous]

She needs a break as she’s not allowed to watch tv or be on phone with baby at all. She does whatever she wants - relaxes and watches tv