As a nanny, I agree it’s a bad look to be on your phone that much, especially on your first
day. If it were me, I would have been trying to get to know your child, their interests, talking with them, and just studying their general demeanor and play style.

With that being said, independent play is such an important skill. She wasn’t ignoring or neglecting your child. But, I would keep a close eye on it. Sorry to say it probably won’t get better if she’s doing this on day one.

Once I’ve been with a family for a little while is when I feel comfortable being on my phone scheduling play dates and researching activities and events. That way I have a better idea of who the child gets along with/prefers to play with, what activities they like, what kind of events they may enjoy, etc.

Not all young nannies are addicted to their phone. I work from home and the only time I see ours on the phone is while DD eats. I don’t love that because I don’t want her to associate mealtime with screens but it doesn’t bother DD and DH does it too, even though I’ve asked him to stop. I doubt your nanny will stop the excessive phone use, though. If she wasn’t on her best behavior from the beginning, she’s not capable of it.

Having nanny cameras in plain sight inside your personal home to record sound and audio is not illegal.

Anonymous wrote:I resent MBs who spy in on their nannies without their permission. Know why? Because everyone hates their jobs. Even those who claim to love it, wouldn't be there if it wasn't for the money.

You're telling me you're always on the top of your game at your job, when you think/know your boss isn't there?

Not everyone hates their job. Sorry to hear you do.

My MB doesn't spy on me and trusts me wholeheartedly. She wouldn't leave her DD with me if she felt otherwise. Trust is earnt and if there is even a flicker of doubt that you MB's can't trust your nanny then quite frankly, she shouldn't be working for you. You were right to let her go OP. The trust has gone and when that happens the nanny/mom/dad relationship cannot survive.

I resent MBs who spy in on their nannies without their permission. Know why? Because everyone hates their jobs. Even those who claim to love it, wouldn't be there if it wasn't for the money.

You're telling me you're always on the top of your game at your job, when you think/know your boss isn't there?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cell phone addiction with younger nannies is real. Set very strict - I will fire you if you don't - rules about cell phone use. The nanny may use her phone when the child is nappy for personal calls and at no other time during the day. If you see her on the phone while the child is awake, she had better be about your child - setting up a play date or ordering supplies.

I fought this battle with our first nanny. Thank God our second nanny, 58, is a grown up and leaves her phone in her diaper bag and only takes it out to take pictures of DD and send them to me.

What happened with the first nanny? It sounds like the "battle" didn't go well...?

We had to let her go. After countless warnings about her phone use, I drove by the park one day and she was on her phone while my daughter was on the other side of the park talking to a creepy man. We gave her two weeks severance and let her go on the spot.

Wow!
I would have been absolutely L-I-V-I-D!

You were very generous + kind-hearted to offer her severance of any kind.

She definitely didn't deserve it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cell phone addiction with younger nannies is real. Set very strict - I will fire you if you don't - rules about cell phone use. The nanny may use her phone when the child is nappy for personal calls and at no other time during the day. If you see her on the phone while the child is awake, she had better be about your child - setting up a play date or ordering supplies.

I fought this battle with our first nanny. Thank God our second nanny, 58, is a grown up and leaves her phone in her diaper bag and only takes it out to take pictures of DD and send them to me.

What happened with the first nanny? It sounds like the "battle" didn't go well...?

We had to let her go. After countless warnings about her phone use, I drove by the park one day and she was on her phone while my daughter was on the other side of the park talking to a creepy man. We gave her two weeks severance and let her go on the spot.

You should definitely hire an older Nanny.

I am a forty-eight year old Nanny who does not feel the constant "need" to be connected by her phone.

Engaging my charge is my top priority.

My grown children are constantly checking their phones & are barely away from them.

They are mid-20s + no way in heck would I ever hire them to care for any young child at this stage of their lives!

You need to tell her about the cameras and be explicit. I don't think you need to say, "Hey, I was watching you, and you were on your phone all the time," but you should point out that there are cameras. This is probably something you should have gone over from the moment of hiring, but what's done is done.

Some of this is probably her age and the fact that her focus is not being a permanent nanny. I would expect a younger person who is going into a different field in the fall to be on her phone more than a permanent, FT nanny. On the other hand, you are right that this seems a little much. I think setting a limit of only 10 minutes total (if she's FT) is a bit much, personally. I think it's reasonable that she might be on it periodically, but I agree that it isn't good for her to be on all the time. Try a respectful and kind conversation first and then set more boundaries if needed.

Again, you need to tell her this OP.
If you are able to view her actions on a device and she is unaware of that then you are in the wrong.