BEIJING: A Chinese confinement nanny’s heartfelt farewell to a baby she had cared for over three months moved the family and people online, shining a spotlight on the country’s postpartum care industry.
In her final days caring for the baby, nicknamed Little Tomato, in Zhejiang province in eastern China, Ping held him on her lap and had a quiet talk with him.
“Little baby, I will be the first person in the world to leave you. Listen to your mum, dad, and grandparents. They are the people closest to you.”
Ping made a large circle with her arms to represent “the world.” The baby stared at her, seeming to understand what she was saying.
The conversation was captured by a surveillance camera installed in the room and later posted online by Little Tomato’s mother.
The video received more than 260,000 likes. Many people said they were moved by Ping’s farewell words to the baby.
“The nanny really loves the baby,” one person wrote.
“It looks like an ordinary scene, but it was a moment when an experienced person spoke one of life’s saddest truths to a new life: that life is one farewell after another,” another commented.
Many mothers said they related to the video, recalling that saying goodbye to their confinement nanny was harder than breaking up with a man.
Little Tomato’s mother said she was grateful to Ping, who had cared for her and her baby day and night for three months, when she was at her most vulnerable.
She said she was struck by Ping’s optimism and the unconditional love she showed the baby. Ping was always patient with them, waking at night to feed and comfort the baby, and giving him massages and playing games with him during the day.
Ping, 45, originally from Hunan, had lived in Zhejiang for 18 years. After an unsuccessful attempt to start a business, she began working as a confinement nanny in 2019.
A confinement nanny, or yue sao in Chinese, is a live-in carer who looks after new mothers and their babies for about a month, helping them through one of the most challenging periods after childbirth.
The first 30 days after childbirth are also known in Chinese as zuo yue zi, or “sitting the month.” New mothers are expected to rest and recover during this period, which is traditionally believed to benefit their health.
Postpartum nanny’s farewell message to baby goes viral on Chinese social media
Confinement nannying, a job traditionally done by women, is becoming increasingly popular among new college graduates and unemployed women because of its high pay.
Some people said a confinement nanny could cost between 15,000 and 30,000 yuan (US$2,250 to US$4,500) for a 26-day session. Those wanting more support can also hire a nanny for 42 days or longer.
However, some nannies said they are not as well paid as people imagine, since they must be on call around the clock.
A professional confinement nanny should be skilled not only in caring for babies but also in supporting their mothers. She should also have basic medical knowledge to identify problems in a timely manner.
Ping worked with Little Tomato’s family for three months. She said her heart breaks every time she leaves a family.
She believes that knowing how to say goodbye is also a professional skill for confinement nannies. She usually leaves parents a notebook with round-the-clock guidance to help them adjust to parenting on their own.
She also gave Little Tomato a carefully chosen pair of winter shoes as a farewell gift.
“Now ordinary people can’t hire Ping so easily any more,” one online observer commented, noting the demand for exceptional confinement nannies.
Another added: “People say that good confinement nannies are never available on the market. Wealthy and lucky families book them months in advance.” - South China Morning Post
