My LO is 7.5 months. We have a nanny who comes three mornings a week. Starting in April she will be with us full time when I go back to work 5 days/week. Do you plan activities each day for your nanny? Give suggestions of things to do? Once/if the snow ever melts, I would love them to go out everyday but I'm feeling overwhelmed by working and planning stuff. Any suggestions?
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I'm a FT nanny for a 1 year old and a 5 year old (although the oldest is in school full days). Their parents definitely do not plan daily activities for us; I have pretty free reign. That being said, I like to keep busy and am always taking them out to different stores or playgroups, playing outside, going for walks, etc., so everyone seems happy with the arrangement. The only pre-planned activities are lessons (swimming, right now) that I take the youngest to one day per week. I have to say, I wouldn't love being micromanaged like that!
I guess it depends on how much initiative your nanny has. Do you not think she'll plan enough on her own to keep busy? You are paying her to keep your child happy, safe and entertained - just my opinion, but I don't think you should have to spend a bunch of time planning activities on top of that! That's her job.
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If I were you I would think about a radius that you are comfortable with them using and then make a list of places for them to go. Try looking up story time and other baby friendly activities. Sometimes the libraries have passes to local attractions which would make those free. Then I would just have a chat with her and encourage her to seek out other options and play dates. She will probably be happy to get to go on adventures with your lo. I would take that time to discuss a budget and how to handle eating out. I try to pack lunches but at some places it is far easier to grab something there or if there is an event at a coffee shop or would be nice for you to cover her coffee.
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@PermaStudent: thanks! that is helpful. maybe I'll make a list of the free activities in the area and she can make plans for the week.
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@brady80: Looking up a bunch of free activities is a really good idea! Also, just knowing that I was encouraged to go out and explore and have fun with them was a big help to me. The one year old and I have so much more fun during the day when we are out and about.
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@PermaStudent: our nanny has been reporting that our LO is "cranky" but I honestly think she has cabin fever! she loves being around other kids and when I take her out she is always in a great mood.
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@brady80: we were stuck inside for a few days with bad weather and there was cranky cabin fever all around! I would definitely let your nanny know that she should feel free to take LO out and about. I was hesitant at first because I wasn't sure how the parents I work for would feel about all of the outings, but once I found out that's what they preferred we've been out somewhere every day and it has been a much better experience
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I see that we live in the same area and I think planning activities for nannies is pretty common and not seen as a negative. At that age, I found that 1030am is great (after the morning nap, but time to be home for lunch). With infants who take 2-3 naps it can get isolating and I think being out of the house helps everyone, especially when the weather is yucky. I also had friends who didn't plan things and the nannies just ended up mall walking:( Anyway, we do some classes (art, music, sports/gymnastics, story time at the lib) and also leave $ for a nearby indoor playground. Some whole foods also have events. Good luck!
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@Sparkler: where is the indoor playground?
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I was a FT nanny for about five years!
Honestly, I think it depends on your nanny's personality. I would have hated it and felt obligated! But I DID appreciate it when the families had memberships to the zoo/aquarium/etc and had plenty of art supplies and books, etc. In the summer, it was nice when they set up the outside and had a sprinkler available. The more open-ended, the better!
(P.S. Same for meals...it was great to have ingredients and lots of options for snacks, etc., but not necessarily be told exactly what to feed them at every moment!)
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When I was a nanny, the little boy (2 yrs old) had some scheduled activities that I took him to. On days he didn't have a scheduled activity, his mom would very strongly suggest something like the pool or the bouncy place. I say very strongly because if I forgot my bathing suit she would want me to borrow hers, so it was clear I was expected to do it. I was not a very good nanny, haha, so I think it was good that she planned things. I was a college kid & I really cringe when I think about how much I sucked at being a nanny!
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@brady80 Not sure where you are, but there are a handful in the Boston area. Belmont, Watertown, Woburn, West Roxbury and Natick. They are all around $10, I think.
Maybe start with one planned activity and see if your nanny likes it? I agree it totally depends on personality!
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My family gives me full rage. They did buy passes to the museums, zoo, and aquarium but do not do any planning. I like to mix up our routine and like being able to chose where we go everyday. They also let me run personal errands (like target and tjmaxx) with the baby. Sometimes I tell them our plan in the am but other times I don't tell them where we went until the end of the day. We also have two different play groups that we are part of. I say the more freedom you give the nanny then the happier she will be.
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I think I'll make a list of all the stuff around us and passes that the library has. I want her to do stuff that she wants to do and not feel like I am micro managing her. But I also want them to get out and not just go on walks.
@daniellemybelle: I was a pretty bad nanny too! It was during the summer so I just took them to the pool everyday. Pretty boring
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I tell my nanny a few things I care about and she does everything from there. I'll say something like "can you work on blank..." Or "can you make sure he always has a veggie with each meal." But she is experienced and I trust her to do good things with each day!
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LO is still young, but basically I provide the "toys" (she's 4 months so it's her little hand-held toys, and her jumper/activity center mostly) and let the nanny do whatever she pleases while she's there! She keeps her very busy!
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