How do nannies care for a baby and older kid?

[Anonymous]

I know this will sound like a dumb question but please be kind. How can a nanny provide good care to both a baby (4 months) and an older child (age 2)?

I’m going back to work soon and don’t understand how our nanny can care for both kids without putting one in a bad situation at times.

Examples:
-If they’re at the playground, she can’t prevent DD from falling off equipment while sitting next to DS’s stroller. DS dislikes baby carriers, but even if she did wear him, she wouldn’t have full mobility. DD had a bad fall recently (on my watch), so I’m feeling anxious about this.
-DS’s wake windows are short, so he often needs to be put down for a nap at inconvenient times, like during DD’s meals or while she’s making messy art in the basement. DD is a slow eater and underweight. If DS gets tired during DD’s meal, it seems like nanny’s options are 1) leave DD alone while she takes DS upstairs for a nap; or 2) bring DD upstairs mid-meal and try to convince her to play quietly alone while nanny rocks baby to sleep. Option 1 clearly puts DD at risk of choking. My concern with option 2 is that DD won’t finish meals after they’ve been interrupted, and she’s already so thin. Putting DS in a swing for a mid-meal nap isn’t an option.

What am I missing? How do people do this safely?

[Anonymous]

I can’t handle the DD, DS omg. Please just say son or daughter or child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t handle the DD, DS omg. Please just say son or daughter or child.

First day on the internet?

[Anonymous]

She compromises. I was solo almost all weekend when my two were those ages. For playground time: baby naps in the stroller, the stroller follows the older child around the playground. The 2yo should be to taught to climb/play without constant supervision so that by the time the baby is mobile she doesn’t need an adult within arms reach all the time. For the lack of nap schedules: younger siblings will likely get on a schedule far sooner than an only would and there should be multiple safe sleep spaces throughout the house if the baby doesn’t nap being held. Sometimes the baby will have to wait for his sister to finish his meal; sometimes big sister will have to eat more quickly than she prefers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t handle the DD, DS omg. Please just say son or daughter or child.

First day on the internet?

Ofc not. I’ve hated it since day1. Like, wtf do you need all the extra Ds for? Stop it already

[Anonymous]

I don’t know - you just make it work. Like how a mom makes it work with multiple kids solo. I have 3 kids who are 4.5 years apart. I am solo probably 75% of the time. Somehow I just figure it out. Give the older kids some independence and make sure the baby is safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this will sound like a dumb question but please be kind. How can a nanny provide good care to both a baby (4 months) and an older child (age 2)?

I’m going back to work soon and don’t understand how our nanny can care for both kids without putting one in a bad situation at times.

Examples:
-If they’re at the playground, she can’t prevent DD from falling off equipment while sitting next to DS’s stroller. DS dislikes baby carriers, but even if she did wear him, she wouldn’t have full mobility. DD had a bad fall recently (on my watch), so I’m feeling anxious about this.
-DS’s wake windows are short, so he often needs to be put down for a nap at inconvenient times, like during DD’s meals or while she’s making messy art in the basement. DD is a slow eater and underweight. If DS gets tired during DD’s meal, it seems like nanny’s options are 1) leave DD alone while she takes DS upstairs for a nap; or 2) bring DD upstairs mid-meal and try to convince her to play quietly alone while nanny rocks baby to sleep. Option 1 clearly puts DD at risk of choking. My concern with option 2 is that DD won’t finish meals after they’ve been interrupted, and she’s already so thin. Putting DS in a swing for a mid-meal nap isn’t an option.

What am I missing? How do people do this safely?

I observed the same, especially with our very active toddler, and ended up putting him in daycare.

[Anonymous]

Op, your ob can prescribe meds for your anxiety

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, your ob can prescribe meds for your anxiety

+1
You can put the baby to sleep in the carrier. If you're worried about choking, just cup up the food into tiny pieces.
Improvise and learn as you go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know - you just make it work. Like how a mom makes it work with multiple kids solo. I have 3 kids who are 4.5 years apart. I am solo probably 75% of the time. Somehow I just figure it out. Give the older kids some independence and make sure the baby is safe.

This. Experiment with different carriers so the nanny can wear the baby. When my 2nd was a baby she took most of her late afternoon naps in one of those bouncy seats on the floor in the kitchen so I could make/supervise the toddler's meal.

If you have hired an experienced nanny she probably has a better handle on this than you do so ask how she approaches it.

[Anonymous]

OP, how do YOU take care of them both?

You do...right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, how do YOU take care of them both?

You do...right?

Haha! Hysterical. Just what I was thinking. How have mothers for centuries taken care of more than one child??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t handle the DD, DS omg. Please just say son or daughter or child.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, how do YOU take care of them both?

You do...right?

No, I hire nannies. What a silly question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, how do YOU take care of them both?

You do...right?

Haha! Hysterical. Just what I was thinking. How have mothers for centuries taken care of more than one child??

We have friends with two kids who are never alone with both their children at once. It's always mom + dad, or parent + nanny, or parent + grandparent. Apparently some people really can't manage more than one child at a time.