Asking a Nanny to Do a One-off Task

[Anonymous]

Clean not cheap

[Anonymous]

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

The nanny is the one who uses the stroller and allowed the child to eat in it and get dirty. A nanny should clean up after the kids and maintain the children's bedrooms, playroom, clothing and other things. They should also help keep clean the common areas they use.

[Anonymous]

Totally appropriate to remark that you’ve noticed the stroller is getting gross, and to please take care of crumbs/stains/trash on a regular basis. Also appropriate to follow up after two weeks of it’s not getting done.

Not especially appropriate to dictate exactly when this chore should be done. She may have mentally blocked out that time to go through outgrown clothes, get the high chair really clean, find a new music class, corral the library books, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally appropriate to remark that you’ve noticed the stroller is getting gross, and to please take care of crumbs/stains/trash on a regular basis. Also appropriate to follow up after two weeks of it’s not getting done.

Not especially appropriate to dictate exactly when this chore should be done. She may have mentally blocked out that time to go through outgrown clothes, get the high chair really clean, find a new music class, corral the library books, etc.

Sort of agree but it sounds like a new expectation around this is reasonable, like weekly clean out.

[Anonymous]

Totally normal request and should be managed by the nanny on a regular basis, without the OP having to ask.

[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 very good at her job.

[Anonymous]

Totally normal request.

Some of you nannies sound very entitled!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally appropriate to remark that you’ve noticed the stroller is getting gross, and to please take care of crumbs/stains/trash on a regular basis. Also appropriate to follow up after two weeks of it’s not getting done.

Not especially appropriate to dictate exactly when this chore should be done. She may have mentally blocked out that time to go through outgrown clothes, get the high chair really clean, find a new music class, corral the library books, etc.

Sure she did.

[Anonymous]

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

Umm. What? I ask mine to do this all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

Reading comprehension is not your strength.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

Read the first post and you might not be so confused. It's the stroller the nanny uses daily.

Op it was fine.

[Anonymous]

OP here. To be clear, I was not asking nanny to do this during her “break” when child sleeps. It was during an hour that I was watching the child out of the house when she would normally be working and was getting paid her hourly rate.

[Anonymous]

Well within the scope of her duties. She should be keeping it clean without you having to ask. Is the stroller usually a mess?

[Anonymous]

There should be clearly articulated job expectations. Make sure child does one outside activity a day. Make snack, clean dishes. Keep room and stroller neat, if messes (i.e., eating in stroller) happen on her watch.

But coming up with a task because you happen to have made a plan that covers 1 of her 8 daily hours is petty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There should be clearly articulated job expectations. Make sure child does one outside activity a day. Make snack, clean dishes. Keep room and stroller neat, if messes (i.e., eating in stroller) happen on her watch.

But coming up with a task because you happen to have made a plan that covers 1 of her 8 daily hours is petty.

Why is this petty? The stroller is dirty; the nanny uses it everyday, and the mom is keeping the kid busy -- giving the nanny an opportunity to do this reasonable task without having to worry about the kid. Nothing petty about it.