Need input: those with triplets

spartybride3 · August 2014

Hi-

We are doing a nanny share with our friends and our children are both 3 months old. One nanny that we interviewed & liked has a 5 month old that she would bring with her while watching our two children. She is a kindergarten teacher by background, but just moved due to her husband's job. We really like her, however we are worried about the ability to handle 3 children so close in age. Plus the logistics of carting 3 infants around the city of Chicago seems like such a difficult task.

Since we are first time parents & only have 1 child, I was wondering what it is really like to handle 3 infants and if it really can be done alone. This is our only hesitation with her and we have no other candidates that we love. We thought about giving her a 3-4 week trial to see how she feels about handling all 3 as well. She came and did an hour trial as her 2nd interview & it was ok, granted no baby was fussy or needing to be fed, etc. I just want honest advice from those that have managed 3 infants to know if this is something that can be done.

Thank you!

1+tripsmom · August 2014

It can be done alone. I did but they are my kids I had no choice and it was hard. I tried watching a friends baby who was a few months younger then my oldest when they were younger and it was hard I was not able to do that.

basil2 · August 2014

Not a triplet mom, but we did have our singleton in daycare starting at 3 months.
In our state the infant ratio is 4:1 and that is the ratio our daycare used. That said- that was the max and it was often better than that. I always felt that 4 infants was too much for one provider, it seemed like 3 was a more appropriate ratio. And in a daycare center there are breaks scheduled and other adults right there if things get to be too much.
It might depend a little on the infants- are they all relatively easy babies? Also, is anyone able to go home regularly at the beginning to give her a short break? I think the provider would have to be really awesome for me to want to do that.
Good luck!

zazu13 · August 2014

I"m not a triplet mom, but I have often wondered how they do it at day care when they have more than two infants to care for. Then I remember that they are getting paid so that *Should* be all they are doing and not trying to maintain a household, run errands or other projects at the same time. They are also not caring for the same babies 24/7 and trying to function on a 3 month PP sleep-deprived state. I think it could be done. I have offered to care for other (Single) children along with my twins and it feels doable. Is she coming to one of your homes? That would make a difference to me in my confidence that she was giving it 100% attention. I would also make sure she has what she needs to feed & entertain 3 babies at the same time (swings, boppy pillows, etc) Good luck!

pea-kay · August 2014

Well, I mean, yeah, of course one person can take care of three infants at once. Pay her well and give her a trial run is my advice.

mommaoftrips · August 2014

It can be done BUT here are my concerns - has she taken care of three infants before? We hired a teacher too once because she interviewed well but had no infant experience, in went down hill fast. This was my lesson - make sure that the person you get has the necessary experience to manage 3 infants and the household chores that are required as they will be ALONE - DC has other people to help if things get hairy.
Like other posters have said, when it is just you with your babies you make do, and it's somehow a little different, and sometimes there were no breaks for me. If you can manage without sharing and just have someone watch your two, I think your kids will get more attention and you won't be likely to cycle through people. 3 infants is really tough, especially when they start needing more attention, IMO. Gl

spartybride3 · August 2014

Ok thank you all. I do worry that it would go downhill fast and that she wouldn't be able to keep up with everything. I also worry that she would take care of her kid before ours and someone would always be neglected in some way. She worked in a daycare in college, so that was her experience with infants besides her own child. Working in a kindergarten classroom is challenging, but in a completely different way than caring for 3 infants. No one would be able to come in and give her a break. I work 30 miles away and no one else has the freedom to leave their jobs. The other mom can check in on her lunch break, but that's about it.

Thank you all for the input. I would love to have her, but I don't think it will work out with 3 so close in age.

HeavenBlessedMom · August 2014

I'm in Chgo burbs
Have 4 mo trips & a 1.5 yr old. Go no where all together. Have a nanny 7-1 m - f, then family help.
The 3 boys are fine together. Very good babies though, so it depends on their temperament. I took them out for the first time ystrdy alone. To oak brook for 20 min and back. Was fine. Feeding 3 infants takes an hour even of they are all hungry. It's difficult to go places, but of your hiring her to stay at home, it's probably ok.

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