00:07 here. I definitely agree the nanny relationship is not like other professional relationships and we also definitely want our nanny to be comfortable in our home in many ways. But my view is that there have to be some professional lines. To the MBs to try to treat their nannies like family, would you also encourage your nanny to have friends over to your house to hang out? Not a playdate, just a bunch of her friends. How about on a Saturday night when you are out of town? Borrow your expensive jewelry?

That's neither here nor there though. Mostly, I can't figure out why any adult would be encouraged to nap for two hours during the day every day or why I would have to specify that it is not acceptable to do that on the job. If your nanny is sick or had a tough night or something, well we all have days like that and I don't think it's a big deal. But if my nanny was napping every day for two hours, I'd encourage her to go to the doctor and figure out why she can't make it through the day without a nap. Part of being a professional is showing up to your job well rested and ready to be on. If the baby has a tough day and refuses to nap, and your nanny doesn't get her nap, does that mean she's phoning it in for the rest of the day?

Have to* agree

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is something that needs to be addressed when hiring your nanny. Some people are okay with it on occasion and some people are not. Neither are right or wrong, it's just a matter of clearly stating so at the point of interviewing or signing of work agreement.

That's just strange. I would never think to tell a nanny i don't want her to nap at my house (or do her laundry here, etc.) because it would never occur to me that a professional would think this would be appropriate to do.

I disagree on both issues. My wonderful nanny would be more than welcome to nap while the baby naps or do laundry in my home. She is like a member of the family. I would never hire a nanny to help raise my children who I would not consider to be like a member of the family and therefore make herself at home in our house. I feel like the nanny profession is very different than any other professional job because of this personal nature.

As a young but relatively experienced nanny I would have I agree that the nature of the working relationship is more personal and different than other careers. My MB has encouraged me to nap if I would like during DC's naps.

BUT, I really do understand if some MB/DBS would be uncomfortable with it. It is simply a personal opinion in my mind.

I am a nanny, my boss encouraged me to take a nap if I need to. I am taking care of 2 boys 5 & 7 yrs old.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is something that needs to be addressed when hiring your nanny. Some people are okay with it on occasion and some people are not. Neither are right or wrong, it's just a matter of clearly stating so at the point of interviewing or signing of work agreement.

That's just strange. I would never think to tell a nanny i don't want her to nap at my house (or do her laundry here, etc.) because it would never occur to me that a professional would think this would be appropriate to do.

I disagree on both issues. My wonderful nanny would be more than welcome to nap while the baby naps or do laundry in my home. She is like a member of the family. I would never hire a nanny to help raise my children who I would not consider to be like a member of the family and therefore make herself at home in our house. I feel like the nanny profession is very different than any other professional job because of this personal nature.

Anonymous wrote:This is something that needs to be addressed when hiring your nanny. Some people are okay with it on occasion and some people are not. Neither are right or wrong, it's just a matter of clearly stating so at the point of interviewing or signing of work agreement.

That's just strange. I would never think to tell a nanny i don't want her to nap at my house (or do her laundry here, etc.) because it would never occur to me that a professional would think this would be appropriate to do.

OP - I am surprised by how many nannies have responded saying their MBs encourage this. I think this is just weird and I agree with the concerns you have articulated. Is it a big deal? Not necessarily, especially if your nanny was unwell, or had some other reason for being particularly tired - we all have days like that. But if it happens every day, I guess I would just wonder why an adult needs a two hour nap in the middle of the day every day and what that means for how on she is the rest of the time. And I say this as someone who spent eight months at home with my kiddo before going back to work. It's hard work taking care of kids and being on all the time but a LOT of professions are hard work and it's not appropriate to nap in any other work place.

This is something that needs to be addressed when hiring your nanny. Some people are okay with it on occasion and some people are not. Neither are right or wrong, it's just a matter of clearly stating so at the point of interviewing or signing of work agreement.

OP, you are justified I. Your response and absolutely correct. If a nanny feels the need to nap, that's all on her for not going to sleep properly.

OP - I didn't really expect nasty responses like that I obviously have not spent much time with my baby! I certainly have and have a nanny on the days which I work. I simply wondered if it was the norm. There are times I am up most of the night with my baby and I still make the 7 hours of work without a sleep so I think I just cannot understand why it is needed. And to answer the question about if I worry that if she is so tired she isn't taking care of my baby as well as she could my answer is simply yes!

House is clean, baby sleeping and well cared for. I'm fine with that as I sleep/nap when baby does.

My MB's would rather me be "unprofessional" and get that quick recharge so I can be the best that I can be in the afternoon for the rest of the day, than not take a quick power nap and still feel a lower energy for the rest of the day and not be performing at my full potential. I only do it when I really need to, but if that means I am not professional, so that I can be my best later on, then so be it. I am not doing it for myself, I don't mind being more tired, I am doing it for my charge so they get the best me possible.

It is this kind of manipulative response that magnifies exactly why people think nannies are over entitled for what they are paid and what they are worth. Everyone could use ample downtime (Especially to the tune of a 2-3 hour nap their charge might take) to be at their best the rest of the day. If it's in service of your charge, well, that's all the more important because a nanny who hasn't enjoyed enough downtime cannot possibly expect the best care. The best care, according to you, requires indulging your deep need for your unprofessional energy raising power nap.

Crazy.

Of course you aren't doing for yourself. Except that you absolutely are.

I don't think that the nannies that do take a nap while their charge is, are doing so everyday. I think it is wise to take advantage of the break and recharge. If this is just reading or sitting doing something, great. If for some reason you are feeling a bit more tired that day (getting over a cold or one starting, had an extremely busy morning) that taking a closed eyes rest is what your body needs.

My MB's would rather me be "unprofessional" and get that quick recharge so I can be the best that I can be in the afternoon for the rest of the day, than not take a quick power nap and still feel a lower energy for the rest of the day and not be performing at my full potential. I only do it when I really need to, but if that means I am not professional, so that I can be my best later on, then so be it. I am not doing it for myself, I don't mind being more tired, I am doing it for my charge so they get the best me possible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. Professional nannies DO NOT sleep on the job.

Ok but OP said all duties were finished. So it's either nap on the job or read a book on the job....or watch tv, surf the web..whatever. What does it matter if her work was done?

She could read books about child development, she could be finding what activities there are for children in the area, she could be doing a million other things to better herself than sleep. A true professional nanny would not nap during the day.

lol

Today Baby would only sleep on top of me for his long nap. I couldn't help but doze off for part of that time-- 2+hours lying down completely still with a sleeping baby breathing heavily on top of me. He's so sweet, poor guy just needed the personal contact. But, I woke from my light sleep every time he stirred even a little, and had my hands on him, etc. Really a physiological reaction in cases like this, and I don't see a problem, obviously

In general, I think it should be an outlier of an event--- when the nanny is having a very off day, perhaps working over 12 hours + commute, not feeling well but was asked to come in anyway, that kind of thing--- very, very occasional. When I was in college and the little one would take a nap, I often did too, in the same room and again, sleeping very lightly. I still don't think that was terrible, however, I would never see it as an everyday thing now that I am an adult in the working world (and I know the younger nannies may object to that classification, but there really is a difference between the mentality of most college-aged people and most who are beyond that time).