Received Friday, April 13, 2007
At around 12:20 pm today (Friday April 13th), after attending a Developmental Movement class for young babies (8 weeks - pre-crawling), nanny left crying/screaming baby (3-5 months old) unattended and out of her sight atop narrow and high counter of kitchenette outside classroom. Nanny had turned around and was no longer facing baby. She had also taken a few steps away from baby. I had a horrified look on my face, and a complete stranger instinctively put her hand on the baby for a few mins. until nanny came back. The distressed baby could have fallen any second. And it only takes a second. Also baby was crying uncontrollably and she did not make any effort to soothe him/her on way out. While that is forgivable,leaving the helpless upset infant on a counter is not. This nanny is inexperienced and oblivious to infant safety.
Nanny was very chatty, in her late 20s, early 30s, and said something about baby being sick/not feeling well. Also said something about travelling upstate tonight, probably in reference to baby and family. It seemed like this job was somewhat new to the nanny who described herself as a personal assistant as well. She was talking about having just been offered a live in position to supplement her current one, starting at 7 pm making dinner for some children etc.
Nanny is of petite stature and thin (maybe 5'2 or 5'3 at most - 125 lbs or less). Caucasian with black curly (but not frizzy) shoulder-length hair. Wore light blue jeans and a green cable-knit sweater with hood. Baby (3-5 months) appeared to be a girl but I am not really sure. Nanny wore a baby Bjorn (black, with red trim).
Scary. Usually even a reckless nanny will dial up the level of care she provides when in public. Hope parents see this!
ReplyDeleteemail it to anyone you know in that class.
Good Save by that Mom. I wonder how many great nannies and mothers save children on a daily basis from idiot nannies????????
ReplyDeleteParents need be entirely sure of a nanny's adeptness with babies if they are to care for an infant. On the job training is NOT always an effective tool in a profession, especially when many of these rich parents know next to nothing themselves.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, why didn't you tell the nanny that her actions were dangerous? I could never watch that kind of carelessness without making a comment. You wouldn't need to be rude, or condesending, but you could say, ya know, babies that little can and do fall when unsupervised. If she was inexperienced, the tip may have helped prevent a future accident. When my daughter was about 3mo old, my husband forgot to belt her into her swing, and wouldn't you know, she fell out. Lesson learned.
ReplyDeleteI hope the parents read this!! They need to know this.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a nanny so I'm asking all of you: is there a standardized class or course to teach people childcare/nanny skills? I know about infant/child CPR and Heimlich classes, but what about "Diapering 101"? You can't teach common sense, but maybe you could teach "Unpredictable Baby Behavior 101".
ReplyDeleteSeriously, someone could make a bundle teaching child caring skills.
This is awful...and honestly, it isn't "forgivable" to me not to at least attempt to comfort a young infant when they are screaming. Yes, babies cry, but they cry for a reason - they need to be soothed! It annoys me to no end to see moms or nannies nonchalantly pushing strollers with wailing babies in them...I'm talking little babies, who are not screaming just for the heck of it. I don't understand how you could *not* respond to a baby screaming like that, and of course it is disturbing to the general public, as well. Inappropriate all around.
ReplyDeleteThe nanny described in this OP sounds *utterly* clueless, however...she just put the baby down like it was an inanimate object!! I really hope the parents see this post.
when I was a teenager, I took a "babysitting class" at a local hospital. The class included CPR and first aid, but we also learned about general childcare. I'm sure classes like that exist elsewhere. You could ask your pediatrician, they might know.
ReplyDeleteWow, this nanny has no common sense when it comes to babies! How sad....this child could grow up to need counseling because of this nanny's small, yet frequent, abandonment acts towards her (him).
ReplyDeleteYes there are nannies out there who are irresponsible and harsh, but most times the kids a nanny has to watch has no manners what so ever, they spit on the nannies, scream at the top of their lungs for no reason just to cause a scene, and the parents out there just expect you to swing a magic wand and control their kids when they themselves are to be blamed for the nasty habits of their kids.I am a nanny i am very patient, but when you cry for no reason , knowing that u had a shower, you are clean and well fed,what is the reason for sucking up to the child? , when the child is going to adopt it as a bad habit. Parents train your child to have respect and do not expect nannies out to be the one to just come and magic is done when you the parents cannot handle your own kids.
ReplyDelete