Housekeeper / nanny?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just say you're looking for Alice.

"Professional nannies need not apply."

Not the OP, but nothing on this site makes me want to hire a "professional nanny." I used to get an image of Mary Poppins, but now I get an image of someone middle-aged and bitter with totally unrealistic expectations of me as an employer. More Patty and Selma Bouvier than Julie Andrews.

What expectation might be unrealistic?

Zip. Or was it an on-time paycheck, or your getting home on time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need Housekeeper so put a Ad that says NEED HOUSEKEEPER.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

I think housekeepers are more willing to watch your kid, than nannies are willing to clean your house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want a housekeeper who can watch the kids occasionally. That is not a nanny. So get off the nanny site!!!

This is exactly right.
A warm body housekeeper is NOT a Nanny.

This exactly.

[Anonymous]

So what are acceptable duties for nannies in this area? Childcare-related meal prep and light housekeeping (e.g. making sure kids clothes and toys are laundered/folded/clean and tidy/out of the way)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what are acceptable duties for nannies in this area? Childcare-related meal prep and light housekeeping (e.g. making sure kids clothes and toys are laundered/folded/clean and tidy/out of the way)?

I am a nanny and I do pretty much anything and everything for the child. Always the child's laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, ordering of supplies (her shampoo, soap, diapers when she wore them, etc), cleaning and disinfecting toys (more important for crawlers but do wash toys for older charges), making sure her room, playroom and outdoor playroom are straightened and all toys put away/books back on the shelf as well as her bathroom after her bath. I also keep up with her too small clothing and get them into storage boxes. I don't clean really - it is too hard to mop and vacuum when my charge is awake and not possible when she is sleeping. I pack and unpack for my charge when we go on a trip. I keep track of her classes and the payments for those classes. I get birthday gifts for her friend's birthday parties. I am always looking for new books and toys as well as organizational stuff for storage but always run by the bigger purchases by my employers. I make sure she has art supplies. Of course I take her to classes and organize play-dates and playgroup.

It is a lot, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just say you're looking for Alice.

"Professional nannies need not apply."

Not the OP, but nothing on this site makes me want to hire a "professional nanny." I used to get an image of Mary Poppins, but now I get an image of someone middle-aged and bitter with totally unrealistic expectations of me as an employer. More Patty and Selma Bouvier than Julie Andrews.

Well, luckily you cannot afford a "professional nanny" so your outrage is toothless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what are acceptable duties for nannies in this area? Childcare-related meal prep and light housekeeping (e.g. making sure kids clothes and toys are laundered/folded/clean and tidy/out of the way)?

I am a nanny and I do pretty much anything and everything for the child. Always the child's laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, ordering of supplies (her shampoo, soap, diapers when she wore them, etc), cleaning and disinfecting toys (more important for crawlers but do wash toys for older charges), making sure her room, playroom and outdoor playroom are straightened and all toys put away/books back on the shelf as well as her bathroom after her bath. I also keep up with her too small clothing and get them into storage boxes. I don't clean really - it is too hard to mop and vacuum when my charge is awake and not possible when she is sleeping. I pack and unpack for my charge when we go on a trip. I keep track of her classes and the payments for those classes. I get birthday gifts for her friend's birthday parties. I am always looking for new books and toys as well as organizational stuff for storage but always run by the bigger purchases by my employers. I make sure she has art supplies. Of course I take her to classes and organize play-dates and playgroup.

It is a lot, PP.

+1 Pretty much the same duties here but I also manage the house (pay housekeeper and gardener, grocery shop and order for everyone, keep schedules).

I don't do any cleaning or laundry for my employers. I have worked there for over two years and have never even seen their master bathroom! A good nanny will do what is child-related.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a nanny and I do pretty much anything and everything for the child. Always the child's laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, ordering of supplies (her shampoo, soap, diapers when she wore them, etc), cleaning and disinfecting toys (more important for crawlers but do wash toys for older charges), making sure her room, playroom and outdoor playroom are straightened and all toys put away/books back on the shelf as well as her bathroom after her bath. I also keep up with her too small clothing and get them into storage boxes. I don't clean really - it is too hard to mop and vacuum when my charge is awake and not possible when she is sleeping. I pack and unpack for my charge when we go on a trip. I keep track of her classes and the payments for those classes. I get birthday gifts for her friend's birthday parties. I am always looking for new books and toys as well as organizational stuff for storage but always run by the bigger purchases by my employers. I make sure she has art supplies. Of course I take her to classes and organize play-dates and playgroup.

I do all the same things for my three, plus I grocery shop for the family and run little errands from time to time (bank, post office, dry cleaners). They have a cleaner who comes regularly so I do not have to do any cleaning. I am perfectly happy with this arrangement and quite like having so much freedom to do things how I like them. Naturally I run all bigger purchases and decisions by the parents but they are incredibly supportive and appreciative of my efforts.

We had this arrangement from the start - going in, I knew it was more than only looking after the kids, and I accepted this position willingly. I imagine I would have felt it was awful job creep if the position was advertised as a nanny one. So I think you absolutely can find someone for your needs, but try to be as specific as you possibly can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a nanny and I do pretty much anything and everything for the child. Always the child's laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, ordering of supplies (her shampoo, soap, diapers when she wore them, etc), cleaning and disinfecting toys (more important for crawlers but do wash toys for older charges), making sure her room, playroom and outdoor playroom are straightened and all toys put away/books back on the shelf as well as her bathroom after her bath. I also keep up with her too small clothing and get them into storage boxes. I don't clean really - it is too hard to mop and vacuum when my charge is awake and not possible when she is sleeping. I pack and unpack for my charge when we go on a trip. I keep track of her classes and the payments for those classes. I get birthday gifts for her friend's birthday parties. I am always looking for new books and toys as well as organizational stuff for storage but always run by the bigger purchases by my employers. I make sure she has art supplies. Of course I take her to classes and organize play-dates and playgroup.

I do all the same things for my three, plus I grocery shop for the family and run little errands from time to time (bank, post office, dry cleaners). They have a cleaner who comes regularly so I do not have to do any cleaning. I am perfectly happy with this arrangement and quite like having so much freedom to do things how I like them. Naturally I run all bigger purchases and decisions by the parents but they are incredibly supportive and appreciative of my efforts.

We had this arrangement from the start - going in, I knew it was more than only looking after the kids, and I accepted this position willingly. I imagine I would have felt it was awful job creep if the position was advertised as a nanny one. So I think you absolutely can find someone for your needs, but try to be as specific as you possibly can.

You both sound very reasonable and fair.

[Anonymous]

This thread was resurrected... OP is 11/09/2014. Presumably OP either found (or didn't) the nanny/housekeeper they wanted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want a housekeeper who can watch the kids occasionally. That is not a nanny. So get off the nanny site!!!

This is exactly right.
A warm body housekeeper is NOT a Nanny.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread was resurrected... OP is 11/09/2014. Presumably OP either found (or didn't) the nanny/housekeeper they wanted.

No one cares about the dates. The same issues persist.

[Anonymous]

My employer would hate these 2 PPs who are arranging playdates, buying gifts, shop for diapers, etc.etc. You sound like very meddlesome women! You probably make your employer feel like she is a complete failure as a parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My employer would hate these 2 PPs who are arranging playdates, buying gifts, shop for diapers, etc.etc. You sound like very meddlesome women! You probably make your employer feel like she is a complete failure as a parent.

It’s called delegating.