How to Prepare Your Home for a Confinement Nanny

Space Preparation

A confinement nanny will live in your home for 28 to 30 days. Their living arrangement significantly affects how comfortable and effective the engagement is.

• Ensure the nanny's room or sleeping area has a proper bed, adequate ventilation, and access to a bathroom. A shared bathroom is fine; a bathroom used exclusively by guests or family and not accessible to the nanny is not acceptable.
• Clear out the room before the due date. Do not leave this to the last minute while you are in hospital.
• If the baby's cot will be in the master bedroom with you, ensure there is also sleeping space for the nanny when she takes night duty turns.

Kitchen Setup

The confinement nanny will spend a significant part of each day in your kitchen preparing confinement meals and herbal soups. A few practical preparations make a real difference.

• Confirm stove compatibility: If you have an induction hob, confirm the nanny is comfortable cooking on it. Many traditional confinement nannies are more familiar with gas stoves. Adaptors are available for some pots, but this is worth confirming in advance.
• Large pot and slow cooker: Herbal soups require long simmering. A large stock pot and a slow cooker (or Instant Pot) are useful. If you do not have these, buy them in advance.
• Pantry stocking: Stock confinement staples so the nanny can begin cooking on day one (see shopping list below).
• Storage: Clear adequate space in the fridge for the volume of cooking involved. Confinement cooking produces large quantities of broth, cooked food, and herbs that need refrigeration.
• Kitchen access: Discuss with older family members (in-laws, parents) sharing the kitchen. Multiple cooks with different approaches can create friction. Clarity on who is responsible for what helps.

Roles, Rules, and Expectations

The clearer you are about expectations before the nanny arrives, the fewer misunderstandings during confinement. Address these before day one:

• Exactly what night duty means: Does she do all feeds if bottle-feeding? Does she bring the baby to you for breastfeeds and then settle the baby? Does she start taking full night duty from day 1 or build up? Agree this in advance.
• Cooking for the household vs cooking for the mother: The nanny's role is to cook confinement food for the mother. Cooking full family meals for a partner or older children is generally outside scope. Clarify this clearly, especially if in-laws are also staying.
• Visitors and hygiene: Set rules on who visits and whether visitors can hold the newborn. Many confinement nannies have strong views on this from a hygiene standpoint. Align your own preferences with hers beforehand.
• Phone use and privacy: Some families are uncomfortable with nannies photographing or filming the baby. State your preference clearly at the outset.
• Older children: If you have older children, confirm whether the nanny will interact with them and in what capacity. Most confinement nannies focus solely on the new mother and baby.
• Day off: Some nannies expect one day off per week or per month. Others are willing to work through. Agree this in your contract.

Shopping List: What to Buy in Advance

Stock these before your due date so the nanny can begin cooking immediately upon arrival (you will likely be home from hospital on day 2 to 4, and the nanny should arrive on that day).

Some confinement nannies bring their own herbs and charge separately. Confirm whether your nanny's fee includes herbs and ingredients or whether you are supplying them. Many families supply all ingredients and the nanny provides labour and expertise.