Was I OK for being upset?

[Anonymous]

I drove by the park on the way home and saw my nanny on the bench looking at her phone. I couldn't see my 16 month old son anywhere, I drove all around the park and saw him on the opposite side of the park (where she would not be able to see him) picking up a random banana from a bench and about to eat it. It upset me so much. I put my car somewhere ran over to him and found my nanny who didn't seem fazed at all. I asked why she wasn't watching him and looking at her phone and she said he always runs around the park and he doesn't like to sit still by her. She said "do you want me to hold him or sit next to him the whole time"? It rubbed me the wrong way and I did raise my voice and asked her why she thought it was ok to be sitting on the opposite side of the park from him and she should be able to at least see him at all times in the park...
She totally acted like it was no big deal and I felt like it was unsafe. Was I wrong?

[Anonymous]

Time for a new nanny, totally unacceptable.

[Anonymous]

I am a nanny and I am shocked at what you witnessed.
Her job is among other things to keep an eye AT ALL TIMES on your child, anyone could have kidnapped him or he could have had an accident. I'd let her go !

[Anonymous]

Didn't I read this post a few weeks ago? It wasn't a banana, but otherwise I swear it was word for word.

[Anonymous]

Come on. You know it was unsafe. You know the nanny needs to be fired. How can this even be a question?

[Anonymous]

If this were a true story, yes, fire your nanny
However, as already noted, Ito is a rehash of an earlier troll. Hello goats!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If this were a true story, yes, fire your nanny
However, as already noted, Ito is a rehash of an earlier troll. Hello goats!

OP here - not sure of the earlier post but no this happened today. Thanks for your input.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it is unacceptable of your nanny.
My charge is quite a bit older than your baby and I would never take my eyes off him in the playgrouns and I know where he is every moment.
You won't be able to trust her again will you?

[Anonymous]

OP here again. To make matters worse she is acting cold and distant now. She's not happy that I got so upset at the park in front of everyone and should have talked to her privately. At the time I was so mad and didn't care who was around. She does a good job in all other ways and this park is contained and locked on all sides but I still don't think it a all justifies her lack of attention to him. ugh.

[Anonymous]

I am not surprised by this at all. Most nannies spend 90% of their day on their phone. I see dangerous situations like this all the time. Good luck finding the 10% nanny who isn't a lazy phone addict.

[Anonymous]

Wait - the park is fenced in and locked? Ok, that's not such a big deal. But yes, she should be paying closer attention to him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait - the park is fenced in and locked? Ok, that's not such a big deal. But yes, she should be paying closer attention to him.

I'm a nanny who still sees this a a fireable offense. You don't leave a 16 month old unattended, gate or not. He could have fallen and hurt himself or been taken, and this nanny would have been oblivious to the situation. The fact that she acted like is was no big deal shows she doesn't care about safety.
I would fire immediately.

I really hate nannies like this who give us all a bad name. I am a relatively young ( 28 year old) nanny who does not use my phone when I'm with my charge. I take his safety and his needs seriously. So much so, I have been mistaken for a parent since my early 20's when I started nannying. One mom told me she thought the mom because he hadn't seen many nannies as attentive and hands on as me. There are good nannies out there, OP. Fire and don't look back. Your child deserves a nanny who is going to put your child before her phone.

[Anonymous]

At that age she shouldn't be sitting but right next to him. If he was 3 then sure sitting is ok if he is playing nicely with others.

[Anonymous]

I am a nanny and fire her ass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not surprised by this at all. Most nannies spend 90% of their day on their phone. I see dangerous situations like this all the time. Good luck finding the 10% nanny who isn't a lazy phone addict.

Hire an older nanny. I am an MB and 90% of the mothers I see at the park, library and indoor gym are addicted to their phones. It is a problem with our generation. I have a 60 yr old nanny who keeps her phone in her diaper bag. If she is ever texting anyone when DD is awake it is me.