We hired another nanny when my leave was over to watch our second while our main nanny watched our oldest. The main nanny knew she couldn’t handle it and didn’t care but the second nanny was unreliable and quit after a couple weeks. Your main nanny may be relieved to have the extra help. They had you helping while you were on leave! You could always ask before you start the process?

As long as baby has at least one nap a day in the crib they will be fine with other naps on the go. If one nap a day is in a stroller or car seat now and again it’s fine.
If the 3yo is in preschool every morning they also don’t need to go out and about every single day.
Life changes when you have a sibling, it’s ok for them both to adapt a bit.

Damn what a privilege to even have enough $$ to possibly hire a new nanny. If you couldn’t afford child care, how would you do things? In parenting, you gotta just figure shit out. You hired your nanny because you thinks she’s capable of caring for your children. Ask her how she feels and if she’d like the help first. Communication is key!!!

Two nannies caring for 2 siblings, during the day. Expect your wonderful nanny might quit at some point. Most of them would prefer move on, and find another family where she will be the only Nanny. It would be very difficult that a Nanny is happy to work along a second Nanny. Even though each one will be in charge for 1 child, it's hard they will get along well. Different personalities and some issues will arise in future.

If you decide to do this, I would also suggest letting your current nanny know your plan and make it clear this is temporary, part time help for the naps and she is still the long term “main” nanny. Make sure the toddler is actually getting to do high-energy activities (playground, soccer class, little gym) whenever your second nanny is working so that you are actually getting the benefit of dual care. That way it’s also not so bad for the toddler if he has to do some independent play or quiet time when your nanny has both kids and the baby needs more attention.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a wonderful full-time nanny. As my leave ends, I’m increasingly worried about her ability to manage our energetic toddler and the baby’s nap schedule. I don’t want the toddler’s afternoon to revolve around the baby’s naps, but I also don’t want the baby to nap on the go too much. I am considering hiring an afternoon nanny exclusively for the baby (as the toddler has preschool in the mornings). Does anyone have advice on how to attract a good candidate? I would offer the usual guaranteed hours, PTO, etc.

Ridiculous. You will be insulting your present nanny by hiring an afternoon nanny! If she can't do the job then you find a nanny who can.

It has nothing to do with the nanny's ability to care for two children. It's the parents' priorities for the very different needs of the children at these ages and stages.

OP, your baby is on three naps currently, toddler/preschooler is on one? Reality is that by the time the infant is down to one nap, the elder child will be dropping the nap. This is just the way it is with multi-child families unless they're multiples. You have the option of hiring multiple nannies, but many nannies would prefer to care for both due to the sel opportunities that happen naturally with siblings.

Anonymous wrote:We have a wonderful full-time nanny. As my leave ends, I’m increasingly worried about her ability to manage our energetic toddler and the baby’s nap schedule. I don’t want the toddler’s afternoon to revolve around the baby’s naps, but I also don’t want the baby to nap on the go too much. I am considering hiring an afternoon nanny exclusively for the baby (as the toddler has preschool in the mornings). Does anyone have advice on how to attract a good candidate? I would offer the usual guaranteed hours, PTO, etc.

Ridiculous. You will be insulting your present nanny by hiring an afternoon nanny! If she can't do the job then you find a nanny who can.

All great advice. Thanks!

Typically, after school nannies are really hard to find and retain. And I think most people would feel a second nanny is overkill / not worth the extra expense for this situation. I know it kind of sucks but that's just how it is being the second kid sometimes. That being said, I think there are two things working in your favor.

1) this is likely to be a short-ish term problem since it's common for babies to drop to 2 naps by 9 months and 1 nap by 15-18 months, so you only need someone for 6-12 months
2) you do have a FT nanny who can take the baby sometimes. That means you have some flexibility on schedule

Usually, it's tough to have a college student PT nanny because their class schedules change every 4 months, but maybe for you that's workable? Like if someone can't work Tuesday afternoons or finals week, would that be good enough for you that the baby gets crib naps 4 days a week and sleeps in the car with your FT nanny on Tuesdays? And even if that PT nanny leaves in a year, is that okay with you because by then your baby will be down to one nap anyway? If you're willing to be flexible, advertise that and see what applicants you get

We have a wonderful full-time nanny. As my leave ends, I’m increasingly worried about her ability to manage our energetic toddler and the baby’s nap schedule. I don’t want the toddler’s afternoon to revolve around the baby’s naps, but I also don’t want the baby to nap on the go too much. I am considering hiring an afternoon nanny exclusively for the baby (as the toddler has preschool in the mornings). Does anyone have advice on how to attract a good candidate? I would offer the usual guaranteed hours, PTO, etc.