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[quote=Anonymous]We have a nanny for our 1.5 year old who is with us about 25-35 hours a week.  She started off as a sitter about eight months ago, but her role morphed into that of essentially a nanny.  Having said that, she had zero nanny experience when she started with us and has never quite settled into the nanny role vs. just a babysitter.  For instance, she has certain duties that we have agreed upon and that I have told her she should do without being told, e.g., putting away baby laundry, changing crib sheet & changing pad weekly, but she will not do them unless I instruct her to do so.  And despite being given lots of encouragement, direction and reminders, she would not take DC out to typical toddler activities (library, story time, playground) for months until I dictated to her that she HAD to spend at least three hours with DC outside the home (weather permitting).  Essentially, she would spend the whole day with DC at home except for an occasional stroller walk.  In a nutshell, she needs to be told what to do and not just in the prior circumstances, but in many, many others.

Despite these issues, we have kept DC's nanny because aside from her loving relationship with DC, she is totally okay with having a flexible schedule.  I work freelance and really appreciate that she willingly puts in extra hours when my work picks up instead of the alternative, which would be to hire a nanny for a guaranteed 40 hours/week even though sometimes I need someone for only half that time.  The thing is that DH and I have started talking about trying for child #2 and I worry whether DC's nanny is up to the task of taking care of a baby and toddler.  We have managed to make things work so far by me essentially treating her like a babysitter and telling her everything she needs to do, but I'm afraid that when baby #2 comes along (knock on wood), I will be so sleep-deprived and mentally so preoccupied that I will need someone I can lean on to be more like a nanny and not just a babysitter.

Thoughts?  And FYI this is not a money issue and about us being too cheap or poor to replace DC's nanny with a nanny who we'd have to guarantee FT hours.  It's really about our personal space.  If we have a FT nanny, then that means that many hours a week (often up to 20), I will be home with the nanny around and lose my privacy and personal space.  DH is the same way and while he works FT, he sometimes will work a half day from home and I see how he feels less comfortable when the nanny is here.  BTW we live in a metropolitan area not in or around DC and our apartment, while spacious by local standards, at 1700 sf, comes nowhere close to a suburban house, hence the personal space issues...

Also, this is not about me seeking validation to get rid of DC's nanny.  She has been with us for the better part of a year and while it's not the ideal working relationship, we are used to it and her.  If we end up not having a second child (which is a real possibility), there is no question we would keep her.  [/quote]

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