Nanny left baby outside

[Anonymous]

Our nanny left our 6 month old outside unattended for less than 5 min. I would not have found out about this except that the police saw DS and we were called home. Our nanny has taken care of our older child for almost three years and she has done a fabulous job and filled her life with love. We've never had a problem before, although I've noticed she has seemed more tired lately.

I'm not sure what to she really is a part of the family but at the same time I would never leave DS on the street unattended for any period of time.

[Anonymous]

She's done. No question. It is awful to find someone new, but it has to be done. Who does that?! Is she going to leave him in a hot car next time?

[Anonymous]

Why is this even a question??? -Nanny & Parent

[Anonymous]

I'm curious what the nanny had to say for herself?

[Anonymous]

She said she ran up our walk to get help from (who's staying with us this week) to bring the stroller up since the baby was sleeping. My sister confirms her story but did say that she told her the baby should not be outside alone. When they came out the police were there and said they would not leave until the parents came.

[Anonymous]

Hmm yeah...could she not have texted your sister instead of going inside and leaving baby outside? Was the stroller on or near the porch or entrance of the house, or was it left on the sidewalk or far from the house? Either way it isn't good, but, I think if you are considering not firing her over this incident, I would only do that if her reasoning was solid (she couldn't have texted your sister for help) and if the baby had at least been removed from the sidewalk and placed in a safer location adjacent to the house.

I care for infant twins and when we prepare to leave the house in the stroller I set up the stroller just outside the front door of the house, about 20 feet from the sidewalk. I put one baby in a safe place (swing or bouncer) inside the house, and I bring the other baby out and strap him in. Then that baby waits in the stroller for about 20 seconds while I go grab his twin. It's not possible to carry both twins and the diaper bag safely while exiting through the metal screen door which is on tight springs and slams back quickly. I've actually spoken to their parents about this, and they agreed that when one of them was with the twins alone they had to do it the same way also.

Of course, you're talking about one baby and no twin, but if it was for less than 45 seconds and if the baby was at least in a safer spot than just on the sidewalk or adjacent to the sidewalk, then if you're otherwise happy with the nanny, perhaps you can give her a stern talk about how this is NOT OKAY and maybe keep her on on a probationary basis or something?

[Anonymous]

17:22 again, just wanted to also clarify that even if I could get out the door holding both babies, it wouldn't be possible to hold one safely while buckling the other in since that process requires two hands, hence it is safer to keep one in the swing or bouncer momentarily.

[Anonymous]

Your nanny should have brought DC inside or even stood at the front door to call for help within eyesight of the stroller. Nannies who have multiple babies often have to leave one on the sidewalk while carrying the other in, but your nanny doesn't have that justification.

[Anonymous]

I am an nanny and this is inexcusable. You NEVER leave a baby - never. "Eyes on the child" is the very least a nanny can do!

I don't know if this is a forgivable offense or not, but I would definitely consider letting her go.

[Anonymous]

Why would it take 5 minutes to open the door and yell in. And, how did the police get there so quickly.

[Anonymous]

No way it was only 5 min unless cops were literally already on your street

[Anonymous]

So it was less than5 min maybe 3 my sister corroborated that part of the story. The police that discovererd DS were in fact right there attending to another issue when the discovered the baby. That part they confirmed.

I'm not trying to defend our nanny but those to facts seem accurate. This is a tough decision because in 3 years we've had a great relationship. She's literally 15 min early every morning, she's never called in sick. Neither child has ever had a big fall or bruises under her care. When I say she takes excellent care of them I mean it. The teachers at DD's school often tell me that we are lucky to have her. But today has shaken my confidence in her.

[Anonymous]

fire her. I'm a nanny of multiples and NONE of my charges have EVER been left alone for more than seconds outside. like some PPs said, I do have to leave one in a stroller and grab one from the inside which takes less than a minute. 5 minutes? a 6 month old? not strapped into anything? absolutely not.

[Anonymous]

Where was the child left at ? Sitting on the ground ? Crawling around ?

[Anonymous]

I know someone who fired a nanny after a couple weeks on the job for doing this. I've caught my nanny doing this, but for seconds rather than minutes. Even that is not okay with me. When I load the second child into the stroller or unload groceries before bringing the child inside, I make sure I keep the front door open and the stroller in my sight at all times. The nanny needs to learn to slowly drag the stroller up the stairs with the baby strapped in so as not to wake him.

I would be concerned that this particular nanny is overly relaxed about other safety issues as well.