How much interaction should nanny have with infant?

[Anonymous]

What would a great nanny do with a 5 month old when she is awake-what is reasonable to expect? Should the nanny be talking to/engaging with baby pretty much the whole time they are awake? What do most nannies do?

[Anonymous]

Here is what our lovely nanny did at that age
While baby was awake - feeding, changing, read, talk, play, baby bath, go to playground or library (pre-covid), walk around the block in good weather. She would only leave baby alone secured if needed for a quick bathroom visit but otherwise was fully engaged.
During baby naps - eat lunch, clean and organize playroom, prep bottles, puree food etc.

[Anonymous]

Yes, although I think it’s possible to engage with baby while doing other things, like preparing food or folding laundry etc. And if baby is independently playing (like, he or she makes the choice to do so) I think it’s okay for nanny to check her phone for a bit or something. She doesn’t have to disrupt baby’s quiet play just to “engage” him.

[Anonymous]

I would say my nanny was pretty engaged with my baby around that age. She definitely laid her on her play mat and did tummy time (which is less engaging), but they went for walks daily and when home she would read her, show her toys and how to play with them, sing her tons of songs. She would often hum songs while feeding her bottles.

I think there are different levels of engagement and that’s ok... as long as there is some good interaction throughout the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, although I think it’s possible to engage with baby while doing other things, like preparing food or folding laundry etc. And if baby is independently playing (like, he or she makes the choice to do so) I think it’s okay for nanny to check her phone for a bit or something. She doesn’t have to disrupt baby’s quiet play just to “engage” him.

+1 talking/engaging during all waking hours is not really healthy/beneficial. I don't think a nanny should strap a baby into something and leave them, but I think they can let them play on the floor uninterrupted (with supervision) for as long as the baby is happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, although I think it’s possible to engage with baby while doing other things, like preparing food or folding laundry etc. And if baby is independently playing (like, he or she makes the choice to do so) I think it’s okay for nanny to check her phone for a bit or something. She doesn’t have to disrupt baby’s quiet play just to “engage” him.

Nanny here and this is the right balance. You don’t want to disrupt a baby who is focused on something like rolling over, picking up a toy, etc. just to babble to them. Most of the time she shouldn’t be on her phone even right beside baby because if the baby looks at nanny for feedback/reassurance, you want her to notice right away and reply, but a stray text here and there shouldn’t be a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, although I think it’s possible to engage with baby while doing other things, like preparing food or folding laundry etc. And if baby is independently playing (like, he or she makes the choice to do so) I think it’s okay for nanny to check her phone for a bit or something. She doesn’t have to disrupt baby’s quiet play just to “engage” him.

Nanny here and this is the right balance. You don’t want to disrupt a baby who is focused on something like rolling over, picking up a toy, etc. just to babble to them. Most of the time she shouldn’t be on her phone even right beside baby because if the baby looks at nanny for feedback/reassurance, you want her to notice right away and reply, but a stray text here and there shouldn’t be a big deal.

+1 you actually don’t want nanny to be engaging constantly, babies need time to explore and quiet to focus. You want them to be engaging in the caretaking aspects, going on walks, being responsive etc.

[Anonymous]

Our nanny narrated everything, read to her, talked and sang to her. But she also knew when the baby wanted to disengage and just explore. Nanny never had her phone out of her bag except at her lunch break. Ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is what our lovely nanny did at that age
While baby was awake - feeding, changing, read, talk, play, baby bath, go to playground or library (pre-covid), walk around the block in good weather. She would only leave baby alone secured if needed for a quick bathroom visit but otherwise was fully engaged.
During baby naps - eat lunch, clean and organize playroom, prep bottles, puree food etc.

+1. Same with our nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What would a great nanny do with a 5 month old when she is awake-what is reasonable to expect? Should the nanny be talking to/engaging with baby pretty much the whole time they are awake? What do most nannies do?

What would you want to do if you were carrying for the baby?

[Anonymous]

Talk to them, read to them, sing to them, hug and hold them, kiss them, carry them, love them etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, although I think it’s possible to engage with baby while doing other things, like preparing food or folding laundry etc. And if baby is independently playing (like, he or she makes the choice to do so) I think it’s okay for nanny to check her phone for a bit or something. She doesn’t have to disrupt baby’s quiet play just to “engage” him.

+1 talking/engaging during all waking hours is not really healthy/beneficial. I don't think a nanny should strap a baby into something and leave them, but I think they can let them play on the floor uninterrupted (with supervision) for as long as the baby is happy.

+1

Imagine having a personal trainer who was in your face ALL THE TIME. You'd go nuts. Babies don't need constant engagement and stimulation. They are stimulated by ceiling fans and leaves. They need some time to just take in the world around them, and explore and move on their own. It's okay to let them hang out on the floor, or just put them in a stroller or carrier and walk around the block, or whatever. I'd say that at least a few minutes every hour should involve direct engagement: talking, reading, singing, etc. Other times could be indirect engagement: singing while washing bottles or something. But babies also need some down time, to process all the information they are constantly taking in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny narrated everything, read to her, talked and sang to her. But she also knew when the baby wanted to disengage and just explore. Nanny never had her phone out of her bag except at her lunch break. Ever.

Same with our first nanny who was a RIE trained former teacher. DC1 started school and nanny went on to a a new job. I had a second child and nanny wasn’t available so we hired a new nanny who didn’t engage as much or narrate for DC2. I think because of it, DC2 isn’t as verbal or articulate as DC1was at that age. Also DC2’s vocabulary is no where close to where DC1’s was.

Ask your nanny to engage your baby more. It’s important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny narrated everything, read to her, talked and sang to her. But she also knew when the baby wanted to disengage and just explore. Nanny never had her phone out of her bag except at her lunch break. Ever.

Realistically, how would I know my nanny did this if I wasn’t at home?

[Anonymous]

Talking and engaging the entire time? No that is not reasonable. It is beneficial for children to learn to entertain themselves and have quiet times when they can look around and observe.