We have a brilliant nanny who’s been with us since DS was born 2.5 years ago. I’m due with a second baby in a couple weeks and thinking about getting a second nanny for the newborn so as not to rock my toddler’s world too much. It would be a temporary position as our primary nanny would take over full time with the baby when DS starts preschool in September.
I’ll be working from home and don’t really get a maternity leave (I’m a small business owner) so I’ll definitely need help with the newborn too. I have no doubt our nanny could handle both kids but it would really disrupt my toddler’s routine with his nanny. |
I'd get a night nanny before I got a second daytime nanny. |
No because it is a lot of hassle to find and hire the right person, especially if it's just temporary. I am going to have an au pair and a nanny when my next baby is born this winter, though, because I don't think one au pair can handle two kids and a baby. |
No. I find managing help really stressful. Almost not worth the help |
Yes! If I could afford it, I’d get a second nanny in a hot New York minute. It’s been hard on my older child to share her nanny and get stuck at home so much with the new baby. |
Not unless I already had several other types of help, like a full time housekeeper.
I’d consider a night nanny or postpartum doula. We had a night nanny who came two or three nights a week and would stay until 10 am the next morning, so I could focus on getting my older kids dressed and ready for school/preschool, then workout and shower. |
I’d try and find a part time person 2-3 days a week. It will be good for your older child to have his “ world rocked” some of the time. That happens with a sibling. |
OP owns her own business. I doubt she finds managing people stressful. |
OP again. Yes, we have a housekeeper. I breastfeed so I didn’t find a night nurse helpful with my first but it might be different with second. I don’t know. I’m really just thinking about my older child here. He has such a great routine with nanny that he loves especially during this last year of covid restrictions. And he’s been doing so great with just nanny... I don’t know... |
[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]No. I find managing help really stressful. Almost not worth the help[/quote]
OP owns her own business. I doubt she finds managing people stressful. [/quote] PP here. I also own a business (with 25 employees). I would have to hire a nanny to manage the other nanny but to make it worthwhile I'd have to hire 4 or so nannies under the boss nanny. So I'd have to have 5+ kids. |
OP I suggest giving your current nanny and elder child a shot. Worries might be founded, or not. Let them try it out and if it's not working, hire up. IME (3 kids) you get somewhat irrational anxiety when you're pregnant. |
This is really great advice, OP. Hugs and easy delivery!! |
Money is no object for us and we did not hire a second nanny. We hired a night nanny for four weeks to help us nudge the newborn towards a sleep schedule, and she'd bring the baby to me to nurse and then handle everything else during the night. |
Nanny here. I would talk to the nanny about your concerns. Has she handled sibling transitions before? How does she envision things going once the baby comes? |
Hit enter too soon. As a nanny I have done the transition to a new sibling multiple times, including once with toddler twins and a new baby. I always have a clear plan of how the baby will fit into our lives (such as changing the siblings’ nap routine during mom’s pregnancy to better accommodate holding a baby, building quiet play into our day in intervals that will make it easy to feed and change baby, getting the toddler used to getting shoes and clothes on without help, finding playgrounds that are fenced in and easy to supervise the toddler while I hole a baby, etc. |