PP with the 1yo and 3yo again - the PP above made a good point that you need to find someone who's dealt with this before as well. I had no experience with a newborn and a toddler at all, so it was all a learning opportunity for me. Now that I know how to get things done faster and more efficiently, it is so much easier for me to go out twice a day with them both.

Another thought: do you have your nanny doing tasks other than childcare? With that age gap, she may have very little downtime, as naps often do not sync up, and therefore she may be multitasking childcare and other tasks. If that is the case, then the other tasks will take two or three times as long, which could prevent her from getting out of the house. If that rings any bells for you, and that is definitely something to consider in hiring someone new. I am an experienced nanny who has worked with toddler twins and a baby, but if I arrive to a sink full of dishes, no clean clothes, and no food prepared to feed the toddler, and my day is going to be spent trying to get things in order to do what we need to do.

Hire a nanny who has experience with that age gap. Lots of nannies have juggled that exact scenario before and will not find it difficult to get everyone out of the house at least most days. What is your current nanny doing with them inside the house? Is she at least doing crafts or other activities, or is she simply expecting the toddler to engage in free play for that entire time?

I don't think it's unreasonable, but you have to work to get it to run smoothly. I have a 3yo and 1yo (exactly 2 years difference between them, so I'm guessing around the same as your kids), and we are out and about most days - picnics, splash park, playgrounds, just a long stroller/scooter walk. But I was only able to start doing it when the baby was 8mo or so. Before it was way too tricky with feeding and naps, and the baby absolutely hated being dressed in 50 layers and tucked into the stroller so it took forever, by which point the toddler would have been completely sweated through and gearing for a tantrum, so it was really too much hassle and tears for us to go on an outing. The summer is so much better! Though now my baby is starting to walk and it's a whole other headache, running after them both, but it's certainly doable. I just wouldn't come to it from the point of view 'if you can't do it you're fired'. Work with the nanny and show her the ropes. You're obviously able to take them both out twice a day without a problem, so have the new nanny shadow you for a day and show her exactly all your tricks. No one knows your kids better than you, so help her - and it will benefit all of you.

What would the new nanny be able to walk to, OP? Anything at all?

From what I understand of the area (Twinbrook metro), it is pretty busy and more commercial. I'm guessing there will be at least a park they can go to.

What would the new nanny be able to walk to, OP? Anything at all?

Um yeah - the nanny takes both kids out. Routinely.

This is not an unreasonable expectation or thing to have happen.

Glad you get a chance to reset OP, without having to fire anyone.

I have twins and they have to get out routinely also.

That said, I'm a stickler for naps and schedules - so you have to figure out what makes sense for both kids, and then hire a nanny who is comfortable handling and meeting those expectations.

The more clear you are about that when interviewing, the better, but your expectations are not unreasonable at all.

Let me guess, you work at home? She's leaving all day every day to escape. FYI.

Jesus. I'm new to this forum and its brutal.

Anonymous wrote:Oh my god of COURSE they both get taken out of the house, and of COURSE it's every day. My nanny generally packs a bag and is out most of the day, each day. Picnic every day. Heads to our home around 4pm.

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Let me guess, you work at home? She's leaving all day every day to escape. FYI.

Do you take both kids out by yourself twice a day? Without your husband? Every day? If so this is a reasonable request. If it's a bunch of metro buses, waiting, etc then once a day should be sufficient. Your snowflake won't melt.

Oh my god of COURSE they both get taken out of the house, and of COURSE it's every day. My nanny generally packs a bag and is out most of the day, each day. Picnic every day. Heads to our home around 4pm.

Not unreasonable in general, but you also need to consider things like - whether babies are welcome, must they be contained, nap time, etc. It can be hard at that age because the naps don't usually mesh.

We'll be living very close to Twinbrook metro. Ideally nanny takes both to the toddler's morning activity (gym class, music, what have you) and then also takes them outside after naptime, perhaps playground or a walk.

Depends on where you'll live, what's accessible and what the nanny would like to do.

What exactly is your vision, OP?

Our current nanny refuses to take both kids out of the house because it is too hard to do with a 2 year old and 6 month old. It IS hard, but that's what she's paid to do. Thankfully we are moving to DC area and must find a new nanny. What kind of expectations do you have for your nannies in terms of out of the house activities? Our 2 year old must leave the house every morning for an activity otherwise goes nuts. Ideally he would also have some outside time in the afternoon too.

Those with baby and toddler, what are the expectations for your nannies in terms of how often they leave the house?