What will we need in terms of newborn help?

[Anonymous]

OP, if you can afford to have a Newborn Care Specialist at night and an experienced infant nanny during the day, do it! Don’t worry about what anyone will think, and unless you employ both caregivers 7 days a week 13 hours a day, you will get plenty of time with your baby.

In your shoes, I’d have the NCS work Sunday through Thursday nights from 8p to 6a, and the nanny work either M-F days or Tu-Sat days from 7a to 5p. Make sure both can be flexible if your little one tends to have intense crying spells during the 5p to 9p time span.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP back again and thanks for the suggestions and advice. I’ll definitely look into an au pair when the baby is older and work commences (and my sabbatical is over). I’ll start the search for the infant care specialist now.


And to the “genius” worried about having to listen to me practice: I have a soundproof practice studio. I’m sure the nanny will alert me when my baby is crying.

The nanny shouldn’t alert you when the baby is crying, the nanny should attend to the baby. Part of a professional nanny’s job is to deal with crying babies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are having a baby but you are both prioritizing your careers.
One of you needs to give a little.

If you can take the sabbatical then do that. Then when your kid is close to 1 find a Nanny to work the afternoons and evenings and be off in the mornings.

Even if op goes on sabbatical, she still has to practice. Some instruments require daily or near daily practice for the muscle memory even if you are not performing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are having a baby but you are both prioritizing your careers.
One of you needs to give a little.

If you can take the sabbatical then do that. Then when your kid is close to 1 find a Nanny to work the afternoons and evenings and be off in the mornings.

Even if op goes on sabbatical, she still has to practice. Some instruments require daily or near daily practice for the muscle memory even if you are not performing.

+1. Professional musicians must practice daily or nearly daily. It’s just the way it is. Max practice time is generally one to four or five hours. I think OP can absolutely accomplish that while giving priority to her baby. Medical residencies aren’t flexible. You want to be an MD - you do the residency as scheduled.

[Anonymous]

Look for a live-in nanny who is willing to guarantee a certain number of hours per week for a guaranteed salary. You only use the hours when you actually need help, and you give a schedule at least a week ahead, so she can make her own plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People pay to hear a complete symphony with a full orchestra
We do not pay to hear any single musician practice for four hours no matter how the practice time is cut. Also, there are no circumstances where I would pay to hear a yowling infant.

I'm guessing OP isn't planning on charging people to be her night nanny. Generally nannies are the ones getting paid, and part of what they are paid to do is to hear the yowling infant, and interact with the yowling infant in a way that leads to the infant not yowling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People pay to hear a complete symphony with a full orchestra
We do not pay to hear any single musician practice for four hours no matter how the practice time is cut. Also, there are no circumstances where I would pay to hear a yowling infant.

I'm guessing OP isn't planning on charging people to be her night nanny. Generally nannies are the ones getting paid, and part of what they are paid to do is to hear the yowling infant, and interact with the yowling infant in a way that leads to the infant not yowling.

Stop embarrassing yourself, PP. We’re all tired of your “yowling” comments and ignorance regarding musicians. Just stop. It’s getting pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you can afford to have a Newborn Care Specialist at night and an experienced infant nanny during the day, do it! Don’t worry about what anyone will think, and unless you employ both caregivers 7 days a week 13 hours a day, you will get plenty of time with your baby.

In your shoes, I’d have the NCS work Sunday through Thursday nights from 8p to 6a, and the nanny work either M-F days or Tu-Sat days from 7a to 5p. Make sure both can be flexible if your little one tends to have intense crying spells during the 5p to 9p time span.

Hi! Do you have any recommendations for how to find an experienced infant nanny ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP back again and thanks for the suggestions and advice. I’ll definitely look into an au pair when the baby is older and work commences (and my sabbatical is over). I’ll start the search for the infant care specialist now.


And to the “genius” worried about having to listen to me practice: I have a soundproof practice studio. I’m sure the nanny will alert me when my baby is crying.

I think infant care nanny now and then au pair sounds like a good plan given your schedule and needs as long as you have the space to host someone.