Working as a nanny can be physically and mentally demanding, even on the best day. Keeping young children safe and turning play into a learning experience requires your undivided attention, as anyone who’s ever spent their day with a toddler can attest. An entire routine can be affected by these rough nights when tired nannies aren’t at the top of their morning-after game.
- Nightmares – Though the occasional bad dream is a rite of passage during childhood, they can keep both kids and nannies awake all night. Spending the night guarding against the monster under the bed can make for an exhausting day.
- Overindulging On Nanny’s Night Off – Nannies need to let their hair down and enjoy themselves on their night off, just like everyone else. However, suffering from a hangover while surrounded by shrieking children can make even the most persistent party animal think twice about drinking too much.
- Sick Charges – When a child is awake all night with a minor illness, nannies that spend the small hours acting as a nurse can have a difficult time staying awake through the next day.
- Family Disputes – Even the happiest couples have their arguments, but when parents are up fighting half of the night, it can keep the whole household from sleeping. As a result, worn out nannies and cranky children spend the next day suffering.
- Personal Emergencies – Unexpected emergencies in a nanny’s personal life can rob her of sleep, but don’t always excuse her from professional responsibilities. Working a full day after doing damage control all night can be a challenge for even the most energetic childcare providers.
- Unexpected Overtime – When both parents have to work extended and unexpected overtime, it can leave the nanny to handle a nighttime routine she’s not accustomed to. Handling the extra work load while conquering unfamiliar territory can leave her out of sorts the next day.
- Separation Anxiety During Overnight Shifts – Live-in nannies often find themselves working overnight when business trips or vacations take their employers away overnight. For children that aren’t accustomed to sleeping without their parents in the house, resting can be next to impossible. When this happens, nannies don’t get enough rest either; unlike their charges, nannies don’t get to take a midday nap.
- Job-Related Stress – A post that’s particularly challenging or is showing signs of being unstable can lead to worried nannies that aren’t able to sleep. When turmoil within the home keeps nanny from sleeping, it can make a difficult job almost unbearable.
- Emergencies Within the Employing Family – When late-night phone calls bring bad or simply urgent news, it can throw the entire household into upheaval. Live-in nannies are no exception; emergencies in the employing family can affect her sleep patterns as well.
While some situations are beyond a nanny’s control, it’s important to make every possible effort to get a good night’s sleep. Your charges and employers are depending on your ability to maintain an orderly household; letting them down because of a poor late-night decision could be quite detrimental to your career.
