Nanny Share question when families have different parenting styles

[Anonymous]

your nanny is wrong. I've been the nanny in a share for 6 years (two families, each kept getting pregnant around the same time). one family is ALL ABOUT the ipad and tv and iphones for their kids - during meals, before naps, during quiet time, etc and the other family rarely uses the ipad except for long road trips.

the tv family hosts, so when the parents are home (aka during breakfast) everybody gets some cartoon and ipad time - I'd say 15 minutes tops while the morning routine is going on and parents are leaving. as soon as the parents leave, all electronics are shut off and we get on with the day. no electronics at any point. like one PP said, no parent ever says "my child MUST watch tv." your nanny is in the wrong on this one and you should tell her that you don't want the kids watching tv during the day. 100% reasonable request. this is more about the nanny than different parenting styles

[Anonymous]

Do you have any reason to believe that the nanny is showing them television shows during the day other than the fact that your child knows the names of these characters? If you are assuming that your child has seen these shows because your child is talking about the characters, singing the songs, and is familiar with some of the narratives involved, then you really need to delve a lot deeper before making any assumptions. My kids have never seen a single episode of Dora, but they can sing the theme song, they know who she is and some of her catch phrases, and they know some of the parade for all characters as well. Their peers are interested in this and have books and toys featuring their favorite characters. I agree that the nanny should not be showing the children TV shows, but the fact that your kid has heard of these characters is not enough evidence to condemn them

[Anonymous]

Perhaps you should have discussed parenting styles with the other family prior to agreeing to the share. Water under the bridge now, I know, but still....

Your nanny must be in a really touch position and it is unfair of you to ask her to forbid screen time with your child when the other child in the share has parents who allow it. It just makes her job harder.

If no screen time is really important to you fundamentally, then it is simply unfair to ask the nanny to accommodate for this. The best thing you can do now is enter a share with another family who have similar parenting styles as you do.

[Anonymous]

If they are watching 20 mins of seseame street or Mickey Mouse club, don't think it's worth killing a share, which we all know are difficult to find. Talk to the nanny.

[Anonymous]

If other family has said "we want child to watch x in the AM or at nap" or whatever to the nanny so she feels she needs to follow that direction, then you need to switch families. If they told her "DC can watch tv; no big deal" and you told her "no TV at all" then your problem is with the nanny who should be defaulting to no TV given your strong views on it and that their DC can just watch tv at other times. You need to know which situation it is to know what to change though.

[Anonymous]

Every nanny ought to know the idiot box is for idiots, regardless of parental whims.

[Anonymous]

I agree with you OP. I a nanny that work with young infant through toddler age. I never ever turn on the tv during work hours. Most families I've worked with love that and are against screen time.

However, I had one family who would say things like " I was able to watch tv when I was ill, turn it on for him" or " it looks like a rainy day, turn on the tv". My charge was 8 months when MB bought DVDs so I can let my charge watch on rainy days. Instead we cuddled with a lot of reading and him using toys while sitting on my lap ( wanted to be close).

I think this falls into the nanny. She needs to respect her wishes and do her job. I would have a talk ASAP. I would look into finding a new nanny if this doesn't change.

[Anonymous]

Sitters do tv, nannies don't. Period.