Why Is My Baby Having a Hard Time with the Nanny?

First of all, what is leading you to believe that your baby is having a hard time with the Nanny? Has the Nanny told you that your baby is fussy? Not sleeping? Not eating? Adjusting to a new environment can be difficult for a new baby, especially if they’ve been at home with only you for the first six weeks. There are several things you can do to help make your baby’s transition easier. Some of these are things you should consider practicing right from the start.

At least one week before you are going back to work, begin keeping the baby journal. Log at least a full seven days of your baby’s entire daily routine with times notated for waking (WU), wet diaper (WD), dirty diaper (DD), feedings (number of ounces taken), and times going to sleep. Include types of bowel movements (loose, pasty, marbles, etc.). Keep a daily total of number of WD, DD ounces taken and total number of hours your baby sleeps. This journal will be an invaluable tool for you and your Nanny to communicate and keep track of what is going on with your baby on a daily basis.

Review the baby’s journal daily looking for discrepancies in the new schedule, or major differences in your baby’s days at home compared to days at the Nanny’s. Babies thrive on routine. It’s important that your baby’s life at home is structured essentially the same at the Nanny’s. Work with the Nanny and commit to making this happen. This usually means a big lifestyle change for you, but it’s worth it in the long run.

Right from the day you come home from the hospital, begin using a “sleep soothing” device in your baby’s crib or bassinet. A Sleep Sheep from Cloud B is a terrific sleep soother. They come in both full size and small travel versions. This can either go back and forth with the baby or get the Nanny her own. This way, when you transition your baby to the Nanny, she will be able to fall asleep listening to the same sounds she is used to hearing in her own crib at home.

Begin offering a pacifier in the hospital. It’s easier for a baby to be soothed to sleep by a new caregiver if they will take a pacifier. If your baby doesn’t take to the first one you offer, try different types, shapes, and nipple material until you find one she likes and will routinely take. Have plenty of extras and make sure the Nanny also has several of them.

Nursing mothers should begin to offer feedings by bottle at least a week prior to moving the baby to the Nanny’s. Other family members should take turns feeding the baby so he is used to taking a bottle from individuals other than mom.

Take enough time on your first day to show the Nanny exactly what temperature your baby is used to getting her bottles. Show the Nanny what positions she likes to be fed in and what positions seem to soothe her the most. Discuss the baby’s going to sleep routine. Explain if the baby likes to be rocked, swaddled, held tightly, or have her head covered.

Bring a clean receiving blanket that you have slept with the night before with the baby and ask the Nanny to use it the first few days to swaddle him before sleep. It will help keep your scent close to him and reassure him you are not far away.

Starting off with half days is a good way to ease into the Nanny transition, if you have some flexibility at work. Also, if you are able, try to pick up early the first week. Young babies begin to wind down by late afternoon and seem to start getting worked up beginning about 4:00 pm. Picking your baby up early the first week or so will go a long way towards easing the first difficult days of separation for both of you.

And finally, give it some time. Your baby may take a little while to settle into the new routine. If you make an effort in the early days of your childcare relationship, you will likely see your baby actually become happy to see the Nanny and will eagerly go from you to the Nanny upon your arrival. After all, your baby’s Nanny is focusing on meeting your child’s every need all day, every day. This kind of nurturing is bound to result in a happy child and a comforting bond between them over time.

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	It’s an excellent idea
	Sounds good in theory, but too much trouble in practice
	Sounds kind of silly, to me

Why Is My Baby Having a Hard Time with the Nanny?

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