https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 04 May 2026 16:48:50 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannychildcare#post-189451 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:17:16 +0000 mrs. bird 189451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: i totally understand and it's so important for everyone that LOs sleep (isn't life with a rested baby so much more pleasant??!!). i just wanted to bring a different perspective to the conversation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannychildcare#post-189243 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:09:04 +0000 Andrea 189243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. bird: you sound like a great nanny! The nannies I tried could barely multi-task and do anything. The main problem was that they couldn't get DD to sleep and she was only a few months old. So if they couldn't get her to sleep then they didn't have time to cook, clean, or do laundry. Nothing. So I definitely didn't want them on the phone if they could barely do anything else! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannychildcare#post-189229 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:57:39 +0000 looch 189229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am not a nanny and I don't have a nanny, but I can say that I do sometimes write a text here or there while I am with my son. I rarely use the phone to make a call because he wants to push the buttons, so I have to do that when he's asleep or occupied with something else.</p> <p>I guess to me, it's not my place to judge what other people do with their children. It doesn't affect my parenting if someone else is sitting on a park bench texting while I am chasing my son, YKWIM? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannychildcare#post-189224 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:51:05 +0000 mrs. bird 189224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i'm going to chime in from the other side- i'm a nanny and i'm posting this from... wait for it... work! it's naptime, the laundry is in the dryer, dinner is marinating, i just found a fizzing side walk chalk project on pinterest to do this afternoon (totally excited about it!) &amp; i guess i'm not sure what people imagine i'd be doing right now. </p> <p>there are also awake times when i'm not actively engaged in an activity with the kids. when adults are constantly playing with children, they aren't allowing them to be as independent and creative as they could be without the adult participating. i def play with the kids and do LOTS of activities, go on lots of field trips and spend tons of time snuggling, but if i spent every moment of the 62 hours i'm working this week giving my undivided attention to my work LOs, they wouldn't learn how to entertain themselves and i'd be hindering their creativity &amp; independence. i'll always offer an activity for them if i'm occupied- giving a big bowl with some soapy water, a sponge and play kitchen items while i wash dishes/clean up, but i'm fine with them playing whatever for a bit. </p> <p>i also avoid hovering. kids with nannies that hover are just like kids with parents that hover. i am always aware of what's going on, but if older kids are having a disagreement, i let them try to work it out and only intervene if i think it's necessary. after we will talk about what happened, how they handled it and what could be done in the future, but they need to learn conflict resolution skills.</p> <p>in the past i've even been browsing on my phone while older kids played at a playground- especially if certain moms were around! you'd be surprised how many moms ask nannies about private family things regarding the families they work for or they have weird ideas about nannies and want to talk to nannies about 'what it's really like'. many feel like it's totally fine to say or ask inappropriate things, i've been told more times than i can count (in front of my work LOs!!), 'why do people have kids if they don't even want to be with them', and 'i'd never hire you as a nanny, my husband would enjoy that way too much', 'have you ever had a boss try to sleep with you?' all sorts of nasty things as soon as the word 'nanny' comes out, not always, but more than you'd think! </p> <p>i'd never have a nanny, i'm way too jealous. i wouldn't be able to have my kids bonding with someone in that way without resenting them- i'm not proud of it, but that's how i feel. i'd have a babysitter and for something like that where they'd be around for &lt;20 hours a week, i'd expect them to be actively engaged with the kids the whole time. i guess my point is, it's between parents and caregivers what their goals are and if all parties are comfortable with what's taking place and no one is being put in an unsafe situation (texting while driving, leaving children alone near water, etc), then it's no one else's place to say anything. people have different ideas about parenting and people have different ideas about the way they want their caregiver caring for their children, to each his own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannychildcare#post-189183 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:15:29 +0000 daniellemybelle 189183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was a nanny when I was in college, and to be honest, I was not a great nanny. I was on my cell phone a lot, or let the LO play by himself while I read. One time, I actually looked up and he had ran three yards over and was playing on a neighbor's swingset! I swear only a couple minutes had passed but that was a pretty YIKES moment. Honestly, knowing how crappy of a nanny I was, even though I loved that little boy and felt like I was trying, makes me even more paranoid about our future childcare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannychildcare#post-189148 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 11:49:59 +0000 Modern Daisy 189148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was a nanny to three young kids one summer and it was before cell phones, but I can't even fathom having time to be on the phone while they're awake. They needed constant attention and monitoring. I have no issues with nanny cams for our future LO's either. I mean it's your kids we're talking about, not the plants you know? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannychildcare#post-189091 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 11:07:29 +0000 loveisstrange 189091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: I worked on a semi-regular basis for several families instead of all the time for one family and I was always so paranoid about the nanny cam when I would go to a new family. I totally get it now too. lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannychildcare#post-189089 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 11:05:50 +0000 Mrs. Pen 189089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: haha yeah me too lol. Now that I'm a parent, I totally don't think a nanny cam is crazy!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannychildcare#post-189085 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 11:04:27 +0000 Mrs. Pen 189085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: exactly. Yeah, I see that too. It's sad, but they're not a paid caregiver - they're the parent, so they make their own choices. </p> <p>@chopsuey119: ugh I know. I think about the day we may need one, I'm so scared! I seriously might consider a nanny cam lol!! I would the parent though that TELLS the nanny we have a nanny cam, instead of hiding it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannychildcare#post-189084 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 11:04:09 +0000 Andrea 189084@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: yeah it makes me mad when I see nannies not paying attention to their kids and on the phone. They have to be alert and looking out for the child's safety. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannychildcare#post-189083 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 11:02:50 +0000 loveisstrange 189083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was a nanny in college, so I feel like I would have really high standards for one because I know how I was when I was a nanny. </p> <p>I definitely wouldn't want someone whose going to be texting all day. Do that junk on your own time. I would probably want someone who brought something extra to the table. I was a classical violinist, spoke french and had a background in theatre and the arts, I would want someone like that. I definitely would want someone creative and willing to find fun projects and activities to do with the kids. I used to carry around a big tote full of puzzles, art supplies, games, etc to all my jobs.</p> <p>And... I think I would totally be one of the crazy moms with a nanny cam the first few times until I know for sure the person is doing what I need them to. lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannychildcare#post-189082 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 11:02:18 +0000 chopsuey 189082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is why I can't hire a nanny.. I have trust issues. Wish everyone was like you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannychildcare#post-189081 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 11:02:15 +0000 heffalump 189081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like if you're being paid to watch my kid, you should be watching my kid and not doing your own personal things. </p> <p>That being said, I've seen plenty of mommy's at the playground sitting on their phone texting, etc while their kid yells, "mommy come do this," "mommy put me on the swing!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannychildcare#post-189078 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 11:00:16 +0000 Mrs. Pen 189078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: yeah that's not cool. I mean, I made sure that the family I worked for was ok with phone use while the kids napped, or intermittently. Like if they are watching a movie, I might send a quick text to my husband. But if we're at the beach/pool - no freakin' way! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannychildcare#post-189066 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 10:57:39 +0000 Andrea 189066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried out a few nannies before putting DD in daycare and I had a no phone policy. One time I caught one of them talking on the phone while trying to put DD down for a nap. Needless to say, DD did not sleep and I was so livid. I definitely gave her a piece of my mind that day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nannychildcare#post-189054 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 10:53:50 +0000 Mrs. Pen 189054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Okay, this has happened a few times that I've noticed and always leave a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.</p> <p>I am a nanny, I was at the park with "my" kids a couple days ago and there was another nanny there with "her" three kids. The kids were elementary school age, and the nanny sat on the bench texting/on her phone the entire time they were at the park. It just made me uneasy. If I had a nanny, I would never want my nanny to ignore my kids, or not be spending time with my kids - no matter their age. I know they are generally more independent at that age (whereas my nanny kids are 1 and 5 so they require more one-on-one care) - but still!!</p> <p>Another time, last summer. Similar thing, I was at the park with "my" kids and there was a home daycare there, they all had matching yellow shirts that had the name of the daycare and a slogan, "loving hands, caring hearts" or something to that effect.<br /> They spent the entire hour they were there yelling at all the daycare kids, putting them in timeouts, not actively playing with them - it was so, so awful. My mom was with me and we did everything we could not to approach the two daycare workers and tell it to them straight. </p> <p>I mean, as a parent you have no way of knowing how a nanny/daycare is really treating your kid. I feel so bad for these parents who don't even know.</p> <p>What would/do you let your nanny do/not do? I guess I feel I would be pretty stringent if I had a nanny on what they do with their time while they're working for me.</p> <p>And I keep that mindset as a nanny, I'm only there 10 hours a week - I don't spend that time on my phone, checking facebook etc- I invest in the lives of my children and give my time 100%. </p>