3-4 non-consecutive hours throughout the day, and avoiding sun exposure between 12 and 3, would probably be fine with me. 10 am to 4 or 5 pm, as mentioned by another poster, would not be fine with me. Meals are probably less healthy than they would be at home, naps are probably less restful if they are taking place in a stroller in public, mosquitos and air quality can become an issue, and I would question how seriously the nanny takes the job. There is also a significant possibility that she is spending a big part of that time sitting in a mall or coffee shop chatting with her nanny friends, which inevitably means compromised focus on the child.

I once had a sitter who used to take my five month old on "walks" to and around the nearby neighborhood she lived in. I believe in daily outdoor time even for young babies, so I was okay with that until I learned that she was actually walking to her apartment to eat lunch and clean house, while my baby lay on a blanket on her floor.

Parents need to probe what the nanny/sitter and child are doing on an hour to hour basis during these extended "outdoor" trips, and consider laying down rules about what is acceptable and what is not.

I'm a nanny and frequently have the one year old outside for 3-4 hours a day. Usually not all at once. Obviously I check the weather before heading out, put sunscreen on and keep him in the shade. If its too hot for me it's too hot for him, so we find something to do indoors. However I'd much rather have a child out and about than cooped up in the house.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed - it has been way too hot here in DC, particularly if she is going in between naps, which probably is the hottest time of day. We're back in the house by 11:30 at the latest - and even that is pushing it...

Kids don't melt. What on earth do you think kids do in Arizona or Florida during the summer? Play inside all day? No. You slap on sunscreen, dress appropriately for the weather, stay hydrated, and duck into some shade when you need it.

Are you insane? Have you never heard of a little thing called a heat advisory? Air quality alerts?
This is not an instance of "just put on a little sunscreen and play in the shade. This is dangerous.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny often takes the baby out around 10 am and they easily may not come home until 4 or 5pm. Granted, it's not super hot here in CA.

Why do you allow this? Do you have an accurate idea of where they are during that time?

I allow it because I believe in fresh air for babies and socializing for babies and in not keeping the poor guy watching her home with no adult interaction all day long. Of course I have an accurate idea of where they are.

I'm all for fresh air for babies, but to me seven hours outside the house would sound excessive. Where does your baby nap? And for how long? Does the nanny pack up all their food? Who is the poor guy here?

Depending on how old your baby is, the benefits of socializing may or may not be valid. They are certainly not as important as nannies would have you believe before age one. I'm all for adult interaction but not for seven hours at a clip.

But you do what works for you.

OP you should have a discussion with your nanny to find out what they are doing for 4 hours at the park. I agree that it makes a difference whether they are also going to a library, splash park etc. I would also be clear that the 1 year old should NOT be sitting in a stroller. Its fine to use it on the way home if he's tired but some nannies will set at the park with a kid just strapped into a stroller. If the kid isn't playing, she needs to stop chatting with the other nannies.

Okay, I'm in Houston and there are absolutely times when taking kids outside for more than a few minutes is not safe. There have been 3 digit numbers here and NO ONE is outside playing, running, walking, etc. so I do think there is a time when kids shouldn't be outside.