nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

My nanny locked herself out of my house with DD sleeping on the couch and the dog inside.
Thankfully she went to my neighbor’s house and they called me and i gave them the garage code and my neighbor was able to break into my house through the garage door and everything was fine. The nanny said the reason she went outside was to get something from her purse. I’m pretty sure it was a maxi pad since I did notice the wrappers in my trash and since she won’t say what it was leads me to believe that’s what it was. She apologized over and over again and I can tell she felt bad. But now what do I do???
DH went home immediately even after he knew everything was ok, told her to go home and we’ll call her later. I personally think he over reacted. I mean I could tell she already felt terrible as it was.
I want to keep her since I do understand this is a mistake and she definitely learned her lesson. I will definitely talk to her and let her know to never do that again. Also let her know DD is starting to try roll, so if she is going to let her sleep on the couch to make sure she sits next to her. Or she can put her in the pack and play and then feel free to walk around the house, however no outside for any reason.
What would you do?

Other than this incident she has been great. we have had her for over a month now.

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

It seems like an honest mistake.. He LL it something that's happened to so many moms out there..

I'd give her another chance.. I think your DH was a bit harsh on her and it's not like she went out shopping or galavanting for hours while your DD was asleep.. she only went to the car.

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

I'd give her a second chance. Things like this happen and thankfully DD was OK.

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

I would give her another chance. Speak to her- find out why she went outside.
If it was for a maxi pad, you really have to cut her some slack, I think.

As for the baby on the couch, you should address that right away.

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

I don't think she should have left DD sleeping on the couch, even if it was just to go upstairs or something (not outside). It's so easy for a baby to roll even a little and fall off the couch.

If the baby had been safely sleeping in a pack-n-play or something, I don't think it's a huge deal that she just stepped outside to her car. Getting locked out was just an accident, it happened to me once.

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

how old is your DD? if she is a baby (as it seems since you say she is starting to roll) I would let her go for allowing my baby to sleep on couch, and for stepping away from the couch for even a second with an infant on it. I would understand about accidentally locking herself out if the baby had been asleep in a crib or someplace safe, and would be mad, but would give a second chance for that alone. IMO, it is not at all ok to let an infant sleep on a couch, and sure as he!! not ok to walk away from the couch and even leave the room with an infant sleeping on the couch.

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

Posted by bicosi

It seems like an honest mistake.. He LL it something that's happened to so many moms out there..

I'd give her another chance.. I think your DH was a bit harsh on her and it's not like she went out shopping or galavanting for hours while your DD was asleep.. she only went to the car.

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

Give her another chance. Tell her to bring her purse in the house with her from now on. It happens. Can't let her go for one small mishap. It could have happened to you or your husband. When I worked as a Nanny, it happened. Give her a break. Or give her a key.

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

I wouldnt fire her over this. I locked myself out of my house the day before I went back to work after maternity leave. I'd be more unhappy about DD sleeping on the couch and her walking away but I would just address that with her and give her another chance.

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

Posted by Ophelia

Posted by bicosi

It seems like an honest mistake.. He LL it something that's happened to so many moms out there..

I'd give her another chance.. I think your DH was a bit harsh on her and it's not like she went out shopping or galavanting for hours while your DD was asleep.. she only went to the car.

I agree.

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

Message edited 12/9/2010 1:39:59 PM.

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

Posted by BethanyLynn

Posted by TnJ2007

Posted by BethanyLynn


As for the baby on the couch, you should address that right away.

the reason she does this is because i told her it was ok, BEFORE DD started trying to roll, so this is partially my fault and i agree.

OK so just explain to her now that she is starting to roll and can fall off. That she should never leave her on the couch- or anywhere elevated- unattended.

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

Definitely seems like an honest mistake.
I'd give her another chance.

This has happened to me. I ran out to get the doorbell & a huge gust of wind blew my door shut with DS sleeping inside. It was really scary.

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

Posted by bicosi

It seems like an honest mistake.. He LL it something that's happened to so many moms out there..

I'd give her another chance.. I think your DH was a bit harsh on her and it's not like she went out shopping or galavanting for hours while your DD was asleep.. she only went to the car.

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

The one thing that would be concerning me is why wouldn't she tell you what she went outside for????? That seems shady to me.
Are you sure she didn't go out to smoke a cigarette.....that's the 1st thing that entered my mind.

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

When Yael was 6 months old, one of the teachers in the infant room was holding her to calm her down because she was crying. At the same time, she went over to update her daily sheet on the wall. Well, Yael leaned over as the teacher was writing something, grabbed onto the crockpot used to heat up the bottles, and badly burned her hands.

The teacher was HYSTERICAL. Called me about 6 times to apologize, hugged me, cried hysterically.

To this day, she is my FAVORITE teacher. She is so attentive and loving to my girls. I would never dream of holding that against her - it was an innocent mistake.

Same for your nanny - as long as the quality of the care is generally good, I wouldn't hold this one mistake against her. If it happens again, then it's time to rethink...

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

I would definitely give her another chance. My son locked the babysitter outside when he was 3. lolol I was so glad she gave me another chance

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

Complete mistake. The baby is fine, just remind the nanny not to leave her on the couch.

I've ran out to my car and left my kids inside for a moment. And if she was running out to get a pad, that is completely understandable, and also private, so I can see why she didn't want to share why.

I'm sure she feels horrible-not letting her go worthy imo.

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

Posted by lullabella

I would definitely give her another chance. My son locked the babysitter outside when he was 3. lolol I was so glad she gave me another chance

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

this can happen to anyone. and its my fear when i go into the garage. our dining room connects to the garage and the door has a lock. i always have to check that its unlocked before I go in there so i dont lock myself in. since most times the front door is locked I couldnt even go out through the garage and back into the house.

and DH is leery of keeping a set of keys in the garage (in case of a break in). So I can say this is probably an honest mistake and she will make sure it never happens again.

I would keep her on and move on from it.

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

I wouldn't fire her over that - it could have happened to anyone.

I have run out to throw away the garbage or get something in/out of the car 5 million times and left Sean in the house - it's 2 seconds - KWIM?

It actually DID happen to my Mom while she was babysitting - I have a breezeway, she went in there to get something and the wind made the door slammed behind her and she got locked out -

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

I'd talk with her about the sleeping on the couch.
I wouldn't fire her. Im sure it was an honest mistake. (getting locked out).

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?

Re: nanny situation - do i let her go or give her another chance?