Is nanny bored?

[Anonymous]

My little one is six months old and still taking three naps a day. He's a pretty good sleeper and each nap usually ranges from 1-2 hours. My understanding is that he'll be dropping the late afternoon nap in the next few months, but until then I'm not sure if I should worry that our nanny is bored. I work from home and whenever I go downstairs when the baby is asleep our nanny is watching TV with a glazed look in her eyes. She just recently started working for us and this is the first time she's working in our particular neighborhood so she doesn't have her usual nanny friends closeby and obviously the weather being cold isn't helping the situation in terms of getting out. LO sleeps for more than half the time she is here and baby laundry, preparing bottles, straightening up doesn't take that much time.

I think it's pretty well understood that time with babies this age can be a bit mind numbing and she's been around enough kids (one of her own included) to know this. But for some reason I just feel concerned that she's going to try and find a less boring job. I'd like to think that she knows that the flip side of this situation could be worse and she'd be going with him non-stop with no break. My son gives her all kinds of smiles and squeals when he's awake and I think my husband and I are pretty good bosses, but I know myself from maternity leave how isolating it can feel being home alone with a baby.

Any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I am sure your Nanny knows full well that your child's frequent napping is not going to be forever.

Some Nannies would welcome such an easy job w/such a little delightful baby!
I know I would!

If you truly think she is bored, you can try offering her some books & magazines, suggest a good movie/show/documentary on Netflix or offer her the personal use of your home computer/iPad, etc.

[Anonymous]

If she's a seasoned nanny she knows this only lasts a couple of months. And if she's never worked with infants before, she's probably relishing this free time. My family recently got number three so when the baby naps and the big kids are at school, I love to have an hour to myself after doing all the chores. It's like a break in the day, it's great.

If you think she's ~afraid to do things other than chores, you can suggest to her that she bring her bills to pay or, idk, her ironing to do? Or bring her laptop to do her things. Let her know her personal stuff is totally fine to do while the baby naps but only while he naps.

[Anonymous]

My current charge is only 13 months and I have been with her since birth. I certainly don't remember being bored when she was your child's age!! Since I narrated and read to my infant charge a great deal, I cherished the time she slept to not talk and get some things done. When the baby's bottles were washed and her laundry done, I would have some time to eat and read (always child development books). I am not a tv watcher either at work or home.


Who cares if your nanny is bored. No job promises excitement all the time.

[Anonymous]

As well as all the above replies, tell her how much she is appreciated. She may just need a boost.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks, everyone. This makes me feel better.

I think I was just stressing because we really think she's great and wouldn't want to lose her since she has great experience for what we need. I know there are much worse things than a baby who sleeps a lot. I'll try some of these suggestions...and will just try and chill out too.

[Anonymous]

Man the last baby I tried to be a full time nanny for was super difficult. I wished he'd have slept more. He was super fussy and expected me to be in his face constantly or he would just cry and cry. That drove me insane!

[Anonymous]

If she doesn't have her own washer + dryer in her home, you can kindly offer her to use yours so she can get her laundry
washed while your little baby sleeps.