Anonymous wrote:I'm starting a new job next week with a 4 month old---I've had 4 month olds in the past but they've always had an older sibling so just tagged along to whatever the older kid's activities were. When you just have one baby, how do you break up the day?

Hi there,

I took care of many babies in the past. I always follow the same schedule (while taking into account the biological clock and the needs of my charges).

8:00 am: Breakfast Time
From 8:30 to 10:00am: Play time - We play together and/or sing/play nursery songs, read books, go to the library for story or music time (depending on the days and the area) or go for a walk , or to the playground
10:00am - 12:00pm: I feed him a bottle and put him down for his morning nap. If we were out earlier, by the time we come home, the baby will be sleeping in his stroller. If he wakes up before 12pm, we play until lunch time.
12:00pm: lunch time
12:00 - 2:00pm: Play time, sing songs, read books.
2:00pm: feeding and nap times.
4:00pm. Feed him another bottle then we go for a walk or to the playground. I bring him back home 10 or 15 minutes before 5pm, time when my shifts ends. If my shifts end at 6pm, I will bring him home around 5:30pm. We will play again until one of the parents come home.

As the baby grows up, I will include play dates.

Please take into consideration your baby's needs. I started working for my current employer, when my charge was 5 months. Now, he is 8 months. We have a lot of fun together.

I hope this helps. Good luck!!

After he is refreshed from a nap, use his awake time wisely as an opportunity to get some fresh air & a change of scenery.

Even a stroller walk around the block is good for you both to break up any daily monotony that may exist.

I wouldn't take a baby that age to a library however.
It may be challenging to keep him quiet there.

Maybe walk around a local park & let him just gaze at his surroundings.

Sometimes doing these things may help him actually rest better later on.

I know it's hard with their schedule sometimes, but try to get out when able. It is good for both baby and nanny. When I was with an infant full-time we often went to baby and me classes, story time at the library, and went on many walks.

I'm starting a new job next week with a 4 month old---I've had 4 month olds in the past but they've always had an older sibling so just tagged along to whatever the older kid's activities were. When you just have one baby, how do you break up the day?