Thinking of quitting a job, venting & advice please!
Hey all! I could just really use a little nanny venting and some real advice π I currently nanny for two girls in a part time share, so we do a share 2 days a week and I alternate care for them the other days. I was nannying one of them exclusively at first and then added the other who is a family friend and needed help when they couldn't get into a daycare.
I am really struggling π« the 1st baby (14mo) is almost a dream, she sleeps really well, is sweet, cuddly, likes to interact with me, can do some independent play, and really only needs extra care when it comes to feeding solids and some development/movement lag, which I don't mind doing at all. The 2nd baby (12.5mo) is almost a niece to me, but has been a little hellion from day 1 π± screams and whines and fusses all day long, hates being held or dressed or changed or cuddled or put to bed, and will fight SO hard against any nap and really only wants to be on the move doing her own thing - with me present in the room (she also screams if I leave the room, but doesn't really want to interact much if I am). She refuses to nap in the stroller, pack n play, or contact nap. But lately she has been refusing her naps altogether. She will stay up for hours in her crib and fight it every second she starts to get drowsy, even if I take her out and try again later once she should be tired (we're talking pushing 5-6 hour wake windows after a 45 minute nap etc). She doesn't give sleepy cues really, she is either 100% gogogo or she is melting down and there are like 2 seconds of in-between with hardly any signs. I am really struggling with her. NF does not want to drop to 1 nap (she is 12.5 months) but I literally cannot get her to sleep. I feel like I have tried everything at this point. And her constant screaming and whining and yelling over every single thing I do/every transition, while it has gotten marginally better since I started with her and worked with her on it, is REALLY grating on me (even with occasional earplugs).
I am also being paid below market rate for both the individual babies and for the share - since I started part-time with the 1st baby and it was only supposed to be for the summer, I accepted a lower rate since it was an ideal location, hours, and work situation for me to get back into the nanny game after a few years working in the corporate world. Which led to the other family paying me the same rate ($25/hr individual & $32/hr share).
I consider myself a very dedicated, loving, and passionate nanny, but I feel like I am just BURNING OUT. I love working for the 1st family and they are very trusting, open to feedback, and adaptable, so I feel like I am doing a good job and being respected. With the 2nd family, while they are almost like family, they don't seem to value me the same way and always seem a bit disappointed or like it's somewhat my fault when they have rough nights because their baby skips naps. It sucks. Also the commute and hours (~50h/wk) are just way too much for me, on top of a really difficult baby that leaves me wiped and almost in tears many days.
I guess advice-wise, I have two asks!! 1) Does anyone have advice on working with a 1 year old who fights naps HARD? Other than transitioning to 1 nap, bc the NF does not want me to do that yet (even though I think she is more than ready). And 2) How would you go about putting in notice with someone who is like family? We aren't super close but also they are family friends and have been seeming to really struggle with their baby, too, as well as figuring out childcare. Do you think 1 month notice is enough? 2 months? As far as I know, they do not have backup childcare at all, as I initially filled in to help them out in an emergency situation.....almost 7 months ago now. So the idea of telling them I am done is really stressing me out - especially when I do want to continue working part time with the 1st family π¬
Sorry for my rambling, but ANY advice, or even a little camaraderie from other nannies, is SO welcome!!!
Posted Mar 8, 2026, 5:53 PM UTC