How would you use 5 extra childcare or household hours?

Anonymous
My friends nanny is seeking to pick up 5 hours per week of childcare or household help and I am jumping on this.

Us:
-I own a business, primarily WFH now
-DH travels occasionally for work other he also WFH
-Kids are 5 (full time K) and 2 (in home daycare)
-5bd/2ba house
-Big dog
-Currently no cleaners or household help

Would you prefer one night a week date night where nanny does dinner, baths, bedtime routines? A 5 hour chunk on sat or sun where she watches the kids to allow us to run errands or squeeze a date in? A standing weekend date night? Outsource light tasks- folding laundry, putting away dishes, walking the dog, grocery shopping, errands?
Anonymous
Housecleaning. Dont' ask them to walk the dog, grocery shop, or do errands. Just clean.
Anonymous
100% fold laundry. Like do all of the laundry while working and leave it in piles for her to fold and put away.
Anonymous
I'll get a house cleaner for that cost so I can spend my time and energy on myself or on family.
Anonymous
Giving nanny housework means kids will go unsupervised.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote: I'll get a house cleaner for that cost so I can spend my time and energy on myself or on family.


Agree. 100% house cleaning.

Not dog walking or other nonsense
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Giving nanny housework means kids will go unsupervised.


I do both without issue
Anonymous
Maybe a combo of date night and light tasks
Anonymous
This is a one time 5 hour stretch, so I recommend using it to get a task you HATE out of the way.

Everyone's likes and dislikes are different, so do yours.

For me I would have her come to the house, do all the laundry, and between the loads, sort through the kids' closets and drawers for outgrown clothes, and also put all the out of season clothes into storage.
Anonymous
It sounds like you want a date night of some sort from your post. May I make a suggestion? If you WFH and you have a good set up to get the laundry washed yourself, schedule the weekly date night such that the nanny has time after the kids have gone to bed and she can fold the laundry.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you want a date night of some sort from your post. May I make a suggestion? If you WFH and you have a good set up to get the laundry washed yourself, schedule the weekly date night such that the nanny has time after the kids have gone to bed and she can fold the laundry.


Exactly. You can get some sort of combo going.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Giving nanny housework means kids will go unsupervised.


I supervised my kids and cleaned, but it appears that OP is looking for ways to use the nanny that aren't during her work hours, since her work hours are covered by school and childcare.

So, one option is that she supervises her own kids with her and the person, who is someone else's nanny but not her nanny, cleans.

In your shoes I would pay for deep housecleaning before I paid for 5 hours of childcare. But it doesn't sound like that's something this person does.
Anonymous
If you could have them do a date night, with some light cleaning, that seems like it would be great. I'd do it during the week so you can be flexible if you need to do errands, date night or school meetings.

Things they might be able to do:
food prep
folding
vacuuming
change sheets
toy organizing

I doubt they would want to do heavier cleaning or have time for all of those. The problem with having a part time nanny do clothes organizing is they won't know what to put away or where, and errands probably require your credit card, car or detailed instruction.
Anonymous
I would use her for childcare on a schedule that makes sense to you. I personally do not find that cleaners do a great job at cleaning, so I really doubt that someone who does not do that regularly would be great at it. Sue is someone who watches children for a living, so I’d use her for that purpose. If I wanted the house cleaned, I’d hire cleaners.
Anonymous
The hourly rate would be more for house cleaning I would think. Is this Nanny willing to do a date night or house cleaning for the exact same 5 hours of pay?
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