Nanny / housekeeper hybrid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a nanny who does this for a couple of families. I certainly don't charge $50 an hour, though I am paid above market for a nanny. Look for an older nanny who got burned out with the extra workload during covid. I pop my AirPods in and listen to library books or podcasts and do a deep dive into 6 loads of laundry every week, then I clean the kitchen (which is usually a hazmat zone), do the recycling, and break down any boxes that came into the house that week--basically the stuff they hate doing. They usually have the laundry washed, and I fold/put away/transfer anything from the washer to the dryer if needed.

Last week I went through the house with a magic eraser and cleaned the walls. Another time I cleaned the fridge. I'll go through the clothes and pull sizes that are too small. I'll make the kid's beds, tidy their rooms, organize toys in the basement and make sure they're put away right, take crib rails off, install new carseats etc. I also do a date night for them once a week, and if the kids are out of school, I might help out here and there with that. Whatever comes up, I'll do it.


I work part time on a salary for a single mom who's a doctor with a varying schedule, and I help out with that type of thing for her as well, since her kid is in school.

OP you can absolutely find someone for this. My situation is very flexible in terms of which day I go. Maybe consider a PT for the childcare days and a separate person for the organization/cleaning days if you're having a hard time selling it as all one job--but I guarantee you will find someone who likes this set up. Just be clear about what you're looking for, be patient as you each settle into the role, be flexible (if she has to take a day off here or there, be cool with it.) Also be prepared to pay a little more, but not excessively more.

Federal law states unambiguously that all domestic employees Are HOURLY employees and are paid OT over 40 hours. Your doctor is breaking the law and you are cheating yourself. I hope she is reported.

oh stop. you don't know the particulars of the situation and are making a lot of assumptions about the number of hours involved and who's getting the better end of the deal.

I don't need to know anytime but that under Federal law nannies are hourly employees and cannot be salaried. Salaried employees are not eligible for OT pay. Stop cheating the people taking care of your children.

Live-in nanny here. I will continue to negotiate for salary, thank you. My salary covers 24/7, including when my employer is home and with the child and when the child is in school. I am available, not working, 24/7, and all parties are happy with it (including the IRS).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thank you to everyone who replied. I’ve been reading all the responses. My biggest takeaway is that I’ve been thinking about the job as ‘can this be done in 40 hours’ versus would I want to do this job for 40 hrs and do it well. The person that brought up needing fresh energy for the kids - great point - hadn’t considered that. I’m still reticent to hire 3 people - cleaning person (non-negotiable), nanny, and housekeeper but it may be what we need to do until we find someone that is actually into a housekeeper / sitter set up.

Hi OP, I'd love to talk to you about this role. Do you have an email address (or even a throwaway one) that I can reach out to?

Hi there, in case you're still available, please reach out! [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

We have a house manager nanny and hired her from care.com. We advertised the job with all the specifics to be sure she understood the role and found the right person. We pay $30 per hour (Arlington). We have 3 girls (2 elementary, 1 who is going into k). During the school years her job was to take the preschooler to half day school, then spend the morning doing housework and errands (tidy the house, do laundry, but groceries). Then she picked up the preschooler, they had lunch at home together, and she cared for her the remainder of the afternoon (read books, watch tv, play outside). In summer, her role is more driving the kids to camps, making an easy lunch (peanut butter and jelly) or doing low key outings together (local pool, library, playground). But she still runs some laundry for us and grocery shops weeks when all the kids have camps. In fall, her job will likely shift further to housework since all 3 kids will be in elementary. But she’ll care for the kids on teacher work days, snow days, etc. and sometimes help with drop offs and pickups. She does not have a college degree, and is an immigrant, but none of that is a problem. The girls love her. They listen to pop music and dance, she runs around and plays with them, etc., and she’s very organized, great with discipline, etc. We have a house cleaner weekly so we don’t ask her to do any cleaning aside from wiping up the kitchen after lunch. She doesn’t do any cooking and we don’t plan to ask her to.

I don’t understand why some seem offended at the idea of a job being offered like this. I think some people would enjoy turning on some music and straightening up around the house for part of the day rather than spending the entire day with kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, it’s housekeeper first. You’re not going to find anyone with a childhood education degree who is going to wash your laundry or vacuum. I echo the above: advertise for a housekeeper who is willing to babysit for those days. It might be hard to find someone who can read to your child in English (if that’s important to you). But you could find a loving woman who raised her own kids.

+1

The best of both worlds.

[Anonymous]

Some of the people commenting here are crazy. As someone mentioned above, the trick is to find a housekeeper who likes kids and is willing to care for yours as needed. It won’t be as easy to find this person as it would just a nanny or housekeeper, but they do exist.

After our nanny of 5 years left, we were able to find someone who would clean and tidy the house while our two kids are in school, but then drive them around to activities after school and prep dinner. She is older (early 60s) and really sweet with the kids, but definitely not as engaging and energetic as our nanny was - but that’s fine and we knew that going into this. She is $27/hour and we guarantee 40 hours per week. She has a list of cleaning tasks but her #1 priority is the kids when they are around and she knows it’s ok if she doesn’t get to some things.

I will say though that I think this arrangement with a baby vs school aged children is a little trickier, because the developmental stuff is so important at a young age as well as getting down to play and engage. I would definitely try to find someone who has grown kids of their own to ensure they have a maternal instinct and some experience.

[Anonymous]

NP also looking for a nanny-housekeeper…what agencies are best for that type of position?