Activities with nanny
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Anonymous
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Morning! I am a first time (nervous) mom. My daughter is almost 4 months and I can't seem to find activities for her to do with our nanny. We want something in Bethesda/Chevy chase area that doesn't require driving on the beltway. I can't seem to find any classes or activities geared towards babies nearby. All the libraries aren't doing story time until September now. Anyone have suggestions?!
P.S I know baby will not really benefit from classes but I think our nanny has cabin fever. She took DD on a walk yesterday and it is just way too hot for that. |
Anonymous
| Gymboree? Music Together? |
Anonymous
| Too hot for a walk? No beltway driving? I wouldn't worry about cabin fever. I predict she won't be around that much longer. |
Anonymous
| 4 months old?? Nothing. |
Anonymous
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Too hot for a walk? We're in North America and thousands of miles between us and the equator and millions of babies who are surviving walks and many even living without air conditioning!
I say this gently...do you have untreated anxiety? Get that under control now. A mom with mental issues is much more detrimental than summer temps. |
Anonymous
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Too hot for whom? The nanny or the baby?
The baby shouldn't be out for hours in direct sun or anything, but cover up with a hat and light clothes, and out they go ... If you're close enough, let the nanny walk up to the shopping area and wander around. The baby will like that, and they can duck into stores to cool off if need be. In a couple of months, she'll be sitting up and this will be easier. |
Anonymous
| How close, distance wise, is your nearest shaded park, OP? As I recall, CC has lots of them. |
Anonymous
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My nanny is looking after my 5 month old and they have been going for a walk every day. They go early, eighth around first nap and into the park where it's a long trail and shady (we are lucky with that obviously).
Not sure what you're looking for. Your nanny can go to the library and just walk around inside or to a mall if you're within walking distance. |
Anonymous
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I am sorry that a lot of people jumped on you. I know that it is difficult to let go and handover your baby to someone who is not yet familiar to you. That said, the sentiment stands. If your nanny is taking your child out for our long walks at 1 PM in the blazing sun, then you should get another nanny because your current one majorly lacks judgment. If your nanny took your child out on it she be strong for a reasonable length of time outside of peak sun hours (10 AM to 4 PM in the summer), then you definitely need to calm down. If it is something in between those two, you need to figure out what you think is reasonable approach your nanny.
The reality is that as a parent with the nanny you only get to micromanage a handful of areas before you create a work environment that will drive good nannies away. If you have a nanny that you should be able to trust based on her references, experience, and what you have seen of her work, then you need to make that leap and rely on her judgment. If you do not, you will end up with the kind of nanny that no one should be trusting their child to. |
Anonymous
| There's no reason they can't go to libraries and book stores. It doesn't take a librarian to read a few books to a baby and sing it some songs. |
Anonymous
How far is their library? Is nanny driving? |
Anonymous
It's a damn 4 month old! Lmao. When have kids this age we take morning walks when it's summer and in the afternoon we use a stroller with a visor over it and I even use my umbrella to shield the sun when we go out in the afternoon. We would take 2 or three walks per day and not to any particular place just around the neighborhood for fresh air. I read to the child myself and wouldn't waste time going to a library and exposing a young infant to all the unnecessary germs from other kids that are running around during "story time". We would eventually start doing tummy time, bath time with soft classical music playing. And like I said I would read to the baby and be very animated and would usually have them in their seat sitting up a bit. Also on nice days a large blanket on the grass while laying down blowing bubbles. Babies love watching them float by. Soon enough the baby will be old enough to wear a real outing makes sense but right now it doesn't. |
Anonymous
OP here. Thanks for your kind response and reality check  This is all new for me and quite a learning experience. I also appreciate the suggestions from most people.
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Anonymous
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I think the big difference between a crazy micromanager parent and a normal parent isn't HOW controlling you are, but how many areas you try to control.
I LOVE my current bosses, but one of them is super anal about the house and everything being put away all the time. And that is fine. I do my darnedest to stay on top of the stuff that bugs him because they are otherwise so respectful and open to my needs and POV. So if you want/need to be really picky about outings, then own that and talk to nanny about it honestly. If you feel that you should be picky about outings, laundry, food, nap schedules, socialization, and every other little thing, then it starts to be too much. There has to be room for your nanny to breathe a little and do things her own way and exercise some judgement. When I have worked with micromanager-types in the past, I find myself thinking, "Which choice will keep MB from being mad at me?" That's NOT what you want. You want a nanny who is thinking "Which choice is the best thing for my charge?" |
Anonymous
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I was a Nanny in Bethesda for a while, I walked to Barnes and Noble then went in and had a coffee, or walked around the shops there.
I think the classes are a waste of time and money until the baby can at least sit up and crawl around. Does your Nanny have Nanny friends close by? It would be nice if she could meet up with friends a couple of days a week, just to sit and have the babies together and have adults to talk to. |