Make a schedule. A 4 month old should be taking 3 naps a day. I don't remember the details but you could probably look it up online. At 6 mos I moved to two naps. The schedule for that was wake up- 2 hrs awake- nap- 3 hrs awake- nap- 4 hrs awake- bedtime. Put them to sleep. Sleep begets sleep.

I got them on a schedule last week while db was out of town. He wahm and out of home. Mb and I agreed that they sleep less when he's home not sure if it's because he's loud (doesn't seem loud to me) or if it's because he does come in to play with them. She's going to talk to him about being more quiet and texting me before he comes into the room we are in. I don't mind if he comes on to play with them but if it's around nap time or I feel it's not a good time for him to come in due to upsetting them then he'll wait

Maybe they don't sleep well at night and parents think they'll sleep better if they don't nap as much? Also, some parents seem to think nannies are being lazy if they "make" the babies sleep "too much". It's the nannies job to take them outside, stimulate them and wear them out so the parents can just come home and put them to bed!

I agree with what you said about patting them and shushing or humming if they wake up. MB stayed home one day to do paperwork, make phone calls etc and I noticed she would pick him up the instant he woke up. This wouldn't just destroy any chance of his going back to sleep, it sort of startled and disoriented him.

I do the pat/hum thing, and he often goes back to sleep. Even if he doesn't, he wakes up more gently and in a better mood.

Activities I do with my 4 month old: Read to him, show him various toys and see how he responds, show him little kid YouTube videos (like counting, alphabet videos), tummy time and floor gym, Jumperoo (even though he is a bit too small), walking him around outside in my arms or a stroller, making funny faces at him, etc.

This is what the 4 month I work is doing. I just started and have worked to get him on a schedule that fits everyones needs, although I'm a little lax since he's still so young. In between there is tummy time, milestone encouragement, play, reading, sensory activities, walks, outdoor time, library, play time with older sister integrated..

6am: up for the day
8am: bottle(if hungry)
815/830: 10ish - nap
10: bottle
1100/1115: 15-20 cat nap
1200: bottle
1200/1230-300ish: nap
300/330: bottle
430: hand over to MB/DB