I don’t know what I can do about this...

[Anonymous]

The way our two kids current nap schedules worked out, our nanny doesn’t get a break during her 8.5 hour day. I know how hard it is because DH and I have it on weekends.

Does just acknowledging how hard it it currently help? Kids are 2.5 and 5 months.

[Anonymous]

Institute independent playtime! If the 2.5 year old had an hour of independent playtime during 5 month old’s best nap, and 5 month old had 30 mins independent playtime during 2.5 naps, your nanny (and you!) would be much saner.

https://www.babywisemom.com/independent-playtime-overview/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Institute independent playtime! If the 2.5 year old had an hour of independent playtime during 5 month old’s best nap, and 5 month old had 30 mins independent playtime during 2.5 naps, your nanny (and you!) would be much saner.

https://www.babywisemom.com/independent-playtime-overview/

Babywise?! Whatever they say, I would do the opposite!

NP and nanny here in the same place with similarly aged kids. I like the baby’s naps to get quality time with my older charge. The youngest is a crawler so I don’t get one-on-one with the older child.

Just talk to your nanny, OP, and let her know that you know how hard her job is right now. Recognition always help. Your nanny, of experienced, knows how hard multiple kids can be.

[Anonymous]

I hope she’s being paid well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope she’s being paid well.

OP here. $27 an hour. And we love her. I hope that’s “well paid”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope she’s being paid well.

OP here. $27 an hour. And we love her. I hope that’s “well paid”.

Not for the DC area and for kids that young.

[Anonymous]

We give our nanny permission to use TV in situations like this. She can put a show on for the 2.5 yo for an hour while the 5 month old sleeps and take somewhat of a break.

Ordinarily we prefer our nanny not use screen time but this is a situation of you do what you gotta do.

We also can work from home and during my lunch break I’ll take a kid and hope it aligns with nap time so the nanny can take a break.

Also $27/hour is great especially if you offer other perks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope she’s being paid well.

OP here. $27 an hour. And we love her. I hope that’s “well paid”.

Not for the DC area and for kids that young.

That’s fine pay, and obviously nanny is ok with it as she took the job. OP, I honestly don’t think there is a ton you can do, beyond asking the nanny if she has any requests or suggestions on how to handle this. Sleep schedules are not always ideal but they shift quickly and often. I’m sure your nanny is well aware of this and feels confident handling the situation as she is a professional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope she’s being paid well.

OP here. $27 an hour. And we love her. I hope that’s “well paid”.

Not for the DC area and for kids that young.

Of course it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope she’s being paid well.

OP here. $27 an hour. And we love her. I hope that’s “well paid”.

OP again. Our nanny also gets full healthcare paid for by us and a yearend bonus that is up to $4200.

No screens or tv for toddler. Nanny is against it and so are we.

[Anonymous]

I’m guessing your baby still takes 2-3 naps a day. Is it possible to move your toddler’s nap slightly to at least get 30 minutes overlap?

I’d start by thanking her for her hard work and acknowledge how hard it can be, especially solo. If there is a store she loves, grab her a gift card and give it to her at some point. Then ask her for input on when both kids might nap simultaneously, and ask her how she would work to coordinate that transition.

“Nanny, I wanted to thank you for everything you do. I know it’s hard to not get a break during your day, especially since you are usually on your own with both kids. It’s challenging for DH and I, and there are 2 of us on the weekends. I’m interested in your thoughts about when and how we can shift nap times so that you can get a bit of a break most days. Can we talk about that soon?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Institute independent playtime! If the 2.5 year old had an hour of independent playtime during 5 month old’s best nap, and 5 month old had 30 mins independent playtime during 2.5 naps, your nanny (and you!) would be much saner.

https://www.babywisemom.com/independent-playtime-overview/

Ah, yes, the equivalent of “blanket training”. Any book or person suggesting an active energetic toddler be left in a playpen to amuse themselves for up to an hour a day isn’t a good source of childcare information.

You are suggesting 1.5 hours out of an 8.5 hour workday be spent with one child sleeping and one child being made to play independently. That seems a tad excessive, and I’m a nanny, not a parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m guessing your baby still takes 2-3 naps a day. Is it possible to move your toddler’s nap slightly to at least get 30 minutes overlap?

I’d start by thanking her for her hard work and acknowledge how hard it can be, especially solo. If there is a store she loves, grab her a gift card and give it to her at some point. Then ask her for input on when both kids might nap simultaneously, and ask her how she would work to coordinate that transition.

“Nanny, I wanted to thank you for everything you do. I know it’s hard to not get a break during your day, especially since you are usually on your own with both kids. It’s challenging for DH and I, and there are 2 of us on the weekends. I’m interested in your thoughts about when and how we can shift nap times so that you can get a bit of a break most days. Can we talk about that soon?”

1. Nanny here and this would be greatly appreciated if I were in that situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Institute independent playtime! If the 2.5 year old had an hour of independent playtime during 5 month old’s best nap, and 5 month old had 30 mins independent playtime during 2.5 naps, your nanny (and you!) would be much saner.

https://www.babywisemom.com/independent-playtime-overview/

Ah, yes, the equivalent of “blanket training”. Any book or person suggesting an active energetic toddler be left in a playpen to amuse themselves for up to an hour a day isn’t a good source of childcare information.

You are suggesting 1.5 hours out of an 8.5 hour workday be spent with one child sleeping and one child being made to play independently. That seems a tad excessive, and I’m a nanny, not a parent.

PP here. You’re right. Waaaaaay better to park them in front of a screen for an hour then to have them play independently with engaging toys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Institute independent playtime! If the 2.5 year old had an hour of independent playtime during 5 month old’s best nap, and 5 month old had 30 mins independent playtime during 2.5 naps, your nanny (and you!) would be much saner.

https://www.babywisemom.com/independent-playtime-overview/

Ah, yes, the equivalent of “blanket training”. Any book or person suggesting an active energetic toddler be left in a playpen to amuse themselves for up to an hour a day isn’t a good source of childcare information.

You are suggesting 1.5 hours out of an 8.5 hour workday be spent with one child sleeping and one child being made to play independently. That seems a tad excessive, and I’m a nanny, not a parent.

PP here. You’re right. Waaaaaay better to park them in front of a screen for an hour then to have them play independently with engaging toys.

Learn to read, PP. OP’s toddler has zero screens and neither do my two kids 4 and 2. We just aren’t using 1950’s cages for our children.