Advice on working with different age group and longer hours

[Anonymous]

For almost the last six years, I have been a before school nanny for school aged children and will be ending my position when school is over. Ideally, I would like to find another morning position, as that would allow me to sit for other families on afternoons/evenings/weekends that I currently have great relationships with and give me my own time without feeling burnt out working long hours for one family.

On the other hand, I am thinking of working a standard full-time 40-50 position for one family. I would love to know a typical schedule for a baby or toddler from any nannies to get a bit of an idea. Also any pros or cons you see in switching from a part-time position to full-time? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I prefer working with several families during the week. You have more control over yourself, and can earn more.

[Anonymous]

Our schedule of a 10hr day (8am-6pm) with a young toddler is more or less as follows:

(7:45am) 8am : I arrive 10-15 minutes early, make my coffee, chat with MB, and get settled before she leaves for work. From 8-8:30am we play and read stories and I start any laundry that needs to be done (it wakes him up if I start it during a nap, but if it's already going when he falls asleep it's not a problem)

8:30am-~9:30am Nap 1 : this can be 40min - 1.5hr depending on day

9:30am-10am : snack & diaper change

10am - 12pm: walk to an activity out of the house (story time at the library, toddler play gym, park, swimming, playgroup)

12pm-12:30pm : walking home and getting settled back at the house

12:30pm-1pm: lunch

1pm-1:30pm : indoor playtime, a little more independent than the morning block (I'm in the room and talking to him occasionally but mostly reading a magazine, putting away dishes, skimming DCUM, or otherwise not giving him my 100% attention)

1:30pm-3pm : Nap 2

3pm-3:30pm : diaper change & snack

3:30pm - 5pm : walk to an activity out of the house (usually we go to the park in the afternoon, but if the weather is really bad we will stay home) and walk home

5pm-5:30pm : bath

5:30pm-6pm : light snack and play until parents come home at 6

Pros of a FT position are, of course, benefits, but also continuity (and familiarity) with the routine. Also there is no need to coordinate schedules between multiple families and you have the ability to be flexible with your employer as far as schedule changes go. Cons are certainly the potential for burnout, either from hours or from a lot of face time with the same children/family (although I haven't experienced that), and a lack of flexibility for your own needs when you have a set schedule.

[Anonymous]

Thanks pp for writing it out. I am trying to figure out what and how a daily schedule would work, so that definitely gives me an idea of what to expect.

[Anonymous]

MB here - 16:30's schedule is very much like what happens in our house. Our nanny works 8-6 M-F. Nap and meal times have shifted over time (as infants have grown into toddlers) but basically her current schedule includes 3 meals (b'fast, lunch, dinner) and one or two naps with playtime, laundry, etc... built in around meals.

On nice days they go to the park/playground, meet other nannies for playdates, etc... On rotten days they bang around like maniacs in the basement. (Or occasionally she'll take them to the mall to get out or something.)

A lot depends on the families, the kids, the individual family dynamics, etc... I know that our nanny really values feeling like part of the family - being the primary caregiver for the kids and knowing they see her as central in their lives, joining us for dinner or holidays sometimes, staying with us when there's bad weather, being able to count on us for rides when her car is in the shop or helping her move, etc... But that kind of relationship isn't for everyone. In the negative column could be the lack of adult company during the day, the long working days, the pressure to show up since we're all counting on her so much every day, and the fact that she doesn't get paid as much as she might w/ a share situation or multiple families.

So the trade-offs and advantages can be very personal for you. Good luck figuring out what works best for you and finding it!

[Anonymous]

I look after a 14mth old at the moment. I work 7-6 mon-friday. Our schedule looks a bit like this

7am-I arrive. Db has already left and I greet L and me and mb have a quick chat. She then leaves and me and L say goodbye.She usually has started her bottle of milk but wont finish it yet. L then plays with her toys while I tidy up a bit and then I join her on the floor for some playtime.

7:30-I prepare breakfast for L.
7:45-breakfast time. Usually scrambled egg and toast and then fruit.
8am-I tidy up from breakfast and prep lunch
8:30-take L upstairs, change her diaper and get her dressed. Put laundry in washing machine
9am-Leave for morning activities. L finishes her bottle of milk in the stroller. Depending on the day we have storytime, Gymboree, music class, playdates or a walk round the park.
11:30-home time. L plays on the floor while I finish making lunch
12-lunchtime. Cooked meal followed by chopped fruit
12:30-Take L upstairs and change her diaper while she has a bottle of milk. She usually drinks half of it.
I then tidy up from lunch, switch laundry to dryer and then fold when its done, prep dinner and then have my own lunch.
3/3:15- L wakes up. She finishes her bottle of milk while I change her diaper.
3:30- we then head out for our afternoon activities. Usually at this time we go to the playground, feed the ducks or have a playdate.
4:45- back at home, L plays on the floor while I finish making dinner.
5pm- dinner time, followed by fruit and yogurt
5:30-I tidy up then change L's diaper. We then read stories, sing songs and play with her toys.
5:50-mb comes home,goes and gets changed and then comes back down and we have a quick chat
6pm-I say goodbye and leave

[Anonymous]

18 month old.

Arrive at 8:30. Mom already left at least an hour ago. Toddler is either dressed or what she's to wear for the day is folded in a pile on the changing table.
8:45 - Dad goes to office or to house-office.
I double-check the diaper bag, put in snacks, and take the toddler out of the house. Maybe we're going to the bookstore, library, one of the many parks, the museum, aquarium, etc.
Do morning activity.
Noon - feed lunch. Toddler is getting less and less messy every day.
Check diaper, change it, head home. She usually falls asleep on the way home.
1 or 1:30. Take shoes off (me and girlie), put her in crib. Collapse on couch.
2pm - Clean out diaper bag and re-stock, wash out snack containers, dump sand out of shoes, possibly start load of laundry.
3 or 3:30 - Toddler wakes, we play in living room or on balcony, or she plays and I finish laundry.
3:30 or 4 - We head back out to run errands (drop off or pick up dry-cleaning, hit up farmer's market, pick up stuff for dinner, etc., then stop at little park on the way home).
5:30 - Get home, restock diaper bag for following day, leave baby with dad.

[Anonymous]

Thanks pps, I appreciate it.