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Just went back to work, and my 3 month old is adjusting to life with a nanny. My nanny wants to spend 4 hours outside a day (2 in the morning, 2 in the afternoon), but with the summer heat I wonder if that's too much? Also, don't really understand why a 3 month old needs to be outside that much? Any advice would be appreciated.
39 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]seems like a lot of time but it's a personal thing. i would be concerned about the heat and if db is going to be out in the sun, make sure she puts enough spf on him to protect his sensitive skin
[ Reply | Options ]--as i was typing this i realized: can you even put spf on a 3 mo? dd is almost 2 and i seem to remember that i couldn't use it on her before 6 mos. you should check w/the pediatrician about that...otherwise 4 hours a day unprotected is a lot of UV.
[ Reply | Options ]--"Infants under 6 months of age should be kept out of the sun." and yep, no sunscreen under 6 mos: http://www.allina.com/CCS/doc/Detailed_Drugs/47/602311.htm
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maybe she's just an outdoor person. a lot of moms spend about this amount of time outside with young babies. some babies find the outdoors soothing, and it's entertaining for the adult!
[ Reply | Options ]np: Are you kidding? Getting out of the house with nb is the key to sanity! I nearly went insane with db #1 because I sat around the house the first four months. Won't make that mistake with this one! OP, if db is in stroller with good sunshade, she should be fine. Also, just walks for fresh air, or taking db to B&N or other outings are good for babies.
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Tell her no. Maybe a half hour before the "high heat" part of the day and a half hour after. It can be longer once the baby gets much older.
[ Reply | Options ]thanks for all the responses! my nanny is very social, and openly so, and i know she likes to socialize with the other nannies at the park. also she misses her previous family and i think she times her visits so she can catch them at the park. i guess it's fine, as long as nanny doesn't ignore my baby there? i'm almost positive she's careful about staying in the shade. i just think at this age, better interaction would be more direct (reading stories, tummy time, etc.) vs. passive (watching from stroller, since she can't enjoy the playground yet).
[ Reply | Options ]Tummy time can be on a blanket in the park in the shade. A lot of babies won't tolerate it for more than 20 minutes anyway. I think reading stories is totally premature at this point, to be honest. 3 mos are entertained by faces, trees waving in the sky, other DCs who stop to interact, all kinds of things. They get bored inside more than outside. How many SAHMs spend all their time inside "stimulating" the baby without going nuts?
[ Reply | Options ]you, girl, have a lot of growing up to do. Reading to a 3 month old is pretty much useless. Tummy time is overrated but can be done easily on a blanket in the park. Let the poor woman go outside with your child as much as possible. The stimulation the baby will get from theere is so much better than staying inside.
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wow, this site is great (this was my first post). i really appreciate all the insights and responses. i'm trying not to micro-manage the nanny, since i really do like her and think she is excellent, but wanted also to get the perspective of experienced moms here. thanks!
[ Reply | Options ]it's hard adjusting to leaving your baby with someone else, and you will always question things she does, worry about it, etc., but in the end if you trust your nanny and have good communication then it will all work out. I hired my nanny because she is outgoing! One thing I do recommend is letting her know when you think it is too hot for the baby to go out. my nanny took my son out in the freezing cold and we put a restriction on that. Nowshe tends to dress him too warm because she sees it's a little cool in the morning- you just need to voice concerns and move on. She expects you to worry about your child and want to do things the way you want. Just make sure you give her some leeway, after all she probably has more experience than you!
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I guess I would try to understand what "outside" is. I see so many nannies hanging out at the Gap, checking out what is on sale, with the db's strapped into strollers. It doesn't hurt when they are 3 months, I guess, but as they get older, why do you want your db hanging out in a stroller at a store? so I'd be much better with "outside', if that is really where they are.
[ Reply | Options ]Like another poster said, it depends on what you mean by going "out." On weekends I probably take my DB out for four hours at a stretch when he was 3 mo, just running errands and stuff. I think four hours outside outside is a bit much, but indoors, at B&N or the library? Sure!
[ Reply | Options ]I don't understand New Yorkers. Why NOT take the baby outside? As long as he is in the shade, the fresh air is good for him, the activity outside helps build intelligence, exposure outside builds up resistence to germs and sickness, your nanny will be happier (thus so will baby)..., the list is endless.
[ Reply | Options ]don't put this off on NYers. I am a NYer and I am out with DS from morning until night, except to come to nap. He is 2 yo, but this started from the day he was born (which was May) and continued through summer, fall, winter, and spring, and so. Babies are very resistent to weather, as long as you dress them appropropriately. Why be cooped up all in a apt. That's nuts.
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Some precautions would be to make sure she's drinking enough; not to be in the direct sun; with all the mosquitos invading this season, watch for that but no sunscreen. What would worry me if she was sitting at the park chatting with friends and baby is in direct sunlight with mosquitos around for much of that time. Just give her the usual safety warnings.
[ Reply | Options ]outside to much??? i don't even understand the question. Wouldn't you rather her be outside getting fresh air, sunshine, and seeing and hearing the sights around her, rather than cooped up in your apt/house all day. I get irritated when my childcare provider (my mother) spends to much time inside on a beautiful day. As for the heat, unless its over 95 and humid (which we haven't come close to seeing yet this summer) you don't need to worry about the heat.
[ Reply | Options ]Listen, I totally get why you're worried. I see nannies ignoring their charges while they socialize w/ each other ALL THE TIME! It drives me batty because they'll face the strollers away from them and just chat for hours w/ each other not even checking on the babes. It's a pet peeve of mine. Anyway, I DO think that outdoor time is great and don't have an issue w/ nannies talking to other nannies, but you need to find out if your nanny is ever neglectful. Can you send anyone by to spy? That's what I'd do. Good luck.
[ Reply | Options ]ITA! Your nanny sounds like she wants to make sure her social life is protected and while I understand the need to get out of the house with an infant, four hours is too much per day. Good luck.
[ Reply | Options ]I agree. I have a 3 month old and I take him outside everyday, but not for 2 to 4 hour stretches at a time and not when that sun is blazing. Your nanny is going to run her mouth in the park with the other nannies. Nothing wrong with that, but let's not pretend that it's for the benefit of 3 month old baby.
[ Reply | Options ]you guys are nuts. because you are afraid that the nanny will just park the child in a stroller (because you've been seeing this happening ALL the time) she is supposed to stay home and do what? It is easier to neglect a child at home than outside.
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