I work from home, and we have a nanny here 3-4 days per week. I work in another area of the house, but can hear what's going on. My baby, 6 months, just seems generally unhappy. The nanny does a good job of different activities and changing scenery (getting outside, when possible). But what else can we try?! This kid just wants a boob in her mouth 24/7, but that's not possible. (I nurse her 2-3 times while the nanny is here. Wondering if I should start pumping and have the nanny give a bottle ... but it's pretty much the only time she's not crying)
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How long have you had the nanny? If it has been less than a month I might give it a little more time. I know many kids had a rough transition to daycare at that age
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@Pollywog: Nanny has been here on and off for about a month. I literally held M alllll week last week (she was sick, and had to be upright). She's probably having some residual clinginess from that, but I can just feel this super separation anxiety creeping in. She cries if I put her down and go to the other room, for example.
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I feel like maybe you coming in and out to nurse her, she gets separation anxiety all over each time? Maybe pumping would make it easier (for her, not you I know)
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It sounds like maybe she's getting confused on you coming and going throughout the day, making her more clingy. I agree that pumping might create a more of a routine that she can get used to, and not have her constantly looking for when you're coming back. It's easier said than done i'm sure because you can hear her and our mommy hearts can only handle so much.
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I can hind in our tiny apartment bedroom because we always keep the door shut, but if the kids know I am around (and some how they know, even as babies) it's a shit show.
I dont know how possible this would be, but maybe try pumping and going to a cafe for a few hours to see if that helps the baby and nanny get used to each other.
It can be really hard to care for a child who knows mom is in the house somewhere. When I was a nanny it was the worst. I ended up taking the baby out all day.
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If you only nurse her 2-3x while the nanny’s there, how often is that? At that age both my babies were still eating every two hours.
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My DD cried for at least a month when we started with the nanny around 4 months. I also WAH and made them leave the house. I would nurse right when the nanny came and then they would go out with the stroller for a few hours. It eventually got better and when she was eating solids, they could go out for a bit longer before she needed a feed.
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I would start pumping so the nanny can give a bottle. This may help with the confusion and/or clinging she may have during the day.
It will get better! Routine always helps and I would definitely talk to her about the day even though she’s 6months old!
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@littlejoy: I WFH and had a nanny when I went back to work. I had to pump instead of nurse because LO had such a hard time when I would pop out of my office for short periods of time. After a few weeks, LO started to understand the routine and everything was fine.
Could your nanny take LO on a walk first thing like @lamariniere: suggested? That also worked well for me to transition to work and LO to transition to time with the nanny.
Also, I highly recommend investing in noise canceling headphones - it helps you focus and not be distracted by whatever is going on with LO.
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Thank you, everyone!!! After you all shared your thoughts, I decided to stop popping into the main part of the house during the day. I pump 1-2 times while the nanny is here, and she just gives M a bottle when it's time.
Everything is going SO MUCH BETTER!!! The last two days, there has been such minimal crying. I'm so relieved. Thank you all!
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@littlejoy: 6 months is a separation anxiety period. I remember DS2 couldn't be put down like even in a bouncer or jumparoo at all - he would just burst into tears. Ride it out - its developmental.
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@littlejoy: I know it's so tempting to pop in when they are right there! Glad you all are having a better time.
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