Asking a Nanny to Do a One-off Task

[Anonymous]

I have a full time nanny with guaranteed hours. Our child still takes an afternoon nap, so she gets a built-in break while child sleeps. Here is my question - I took the child for a late morning excursion (1 hour) that came up unexpectedly. I asked the nanny if she would mind cleaning out the stroller with a Dustbuster while we were away. She looked at me like I was crazy to ask that. It is the stroller she uses daily and it is disgustingly covered with food crumbs in the seat and sand, etc. from the playground in the storage underneath. Was I unreasonable to ask her to clean something? The expectation has always been just to clean their playtime messes and dishes.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't have asked her to do that. But I'm sure opinions will differ here.

[Anonymous]

Why are you taking the time to post here? It’s one fleeting moment. Maybe at the exact moment you asked her, she had a gas pain. Or maybe she was annoyed. Who cares? Do you always complain about such trivial nonsense and have to crowdsource whether it was unreasonable? Of course it was fine. What’s not fine is you fixating on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are you taking the time to post here? It’s one fleeting moment. Maybe at the exact moment you asked her, she had a gas pain. Or maybe she was annoyed. Who cares? Do you always complain about such trivial nonsense and have to crowdsource whether it was unreasonable? Of course it was fine. What’s not fine is you fixating on it.

Ya, also including the idea that she has a "built-in break" because of the nap. Well, she is still responsible for the child at that moment, as is any babysitter who you are paying to watch a child. I wonder why that was included? Makes me think you have issues with your nanny more generally, or maybe issues having a nanny.

[Anonymous]

Her job is to take care of your kid. She’s not a cleaning service. You were out of line.

[Anonymous]

Ask her to start cleaning out the stroller regularly because she’s letting it get gross.

[Anonymous]

That is absolutely part of her job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Her job is to take care of your kid. She’s not a cleaning service. You were out of line.

She’s not doing a good job of it if she’s letting the stroller get like this and just strapping the kid back in a crumb-filled mess BFFR

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you taking the time to post here? It’s one fleeting moment. Maybe at the exact moment you asked her, she had a gas pain. Or maybe she was annoyed. Who cares? Do you always complain about such trivial nonsense and have to crowdsource whether it was unreasonable? Of course it was fine. What’s not fine is you fixating on it.

Ya, also including the idea that she has a "built-in break" because of the nap. Well, she is still responsible for the child at that moment, as is any babysitter who you are paying to watch a child. I wonder why that was included? Makes me think you have issues with your nanny more generally, or maybe issues having a nanny.

Anyone who has common sense would wipe down a stroller they use every day vs. put a child in a dirty stroller.

[Anonymous]

Not unreasonable but you’ll likely find many who disagree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you taking the time to post here? It’s one fleeting moment. Maybe at the exact moment you asked her, she had a gas pain. Or maybe she was annoyed. Who cares? Do you always complain about such trivial nonsense and have to crowdsource whether it was unreasonable? Of course it was fine. What’s not fine is you fixating on it.

Ya, also including the idea that she has a "built-in break" because of the nap. Well, she is still responsible for the child at that moment, as is any babysitter who you are paying to watch a child. I wonder why that was included? Makes me think you have issues with your nanny more generally, or maybe issues having a nanny.

Anyone who has common sense would wipe down a stroller they use every day vs. put a child in a dirty stroller.

+1. You shouldn't even need to ask. Same with cleaning up high chair and area underneath after meals.

[Anonymous]

I cannot imagine a worse job than being a nanny for a DCUM mom.

[Anonymous]

Why couldn’t OP clean the damned stroller? How hard can it be? Is the work beneath her?

[Anonymous]

I’m confused. You expected her to clean out the stroller on her “break” because YOU dirtied it up and didnt have time to clean it?

[Anonymous]

Me personally I would keep it cheap anyway if u was the one using it.
However if I work FT and had a one hour break I would be annoyed/resent you asking me to do that too.