Nanny not efficient - how can I talk with her about this or just let it go?

[Anonymous]

Op you sound bat shit crazy. Everyone has a different way of doing things. You sound mildly retarded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We hired a new nanny about a month ago, I think she is really wonderful, but I'm a little disappointed in how inefficient she is with baby-related tasks. For example, her start time is over 30 minutes before my daughter wakes up and during that time, she is supposed to get two meals ready and packed up (DD eats these meals outside the home). They are simple meals requiring very little preparation on her part, such as today's:

Meal 1: chicken strips, 1 yogurt cup, half an apple
Meal 2: infant cereal (the powder kind), steamed broccoli, 2 fish sticks

The chicken strips & yogurt were already prepped and in their containers so the only things she needed to do were: peel & chop apple; measure out cereal; steam broccoli; stick fish sticks in toaster oven. Everything gets put in its own container, then everything including water & milk thermoses & utensils put in lunch bag. In the 20 minutes the fish sticks are cooking, I would get all of this done easily, plus do some clean-up. Today, it took her over a half hour, or about 45 minutes after her start time. At the end of her work day, she has an hour to do baby-related cleaning during which I watch the baby. I've asked that at a minimum, she clean up DD's dishes and treat stains (not a full washing) on DD's clothes from the day and she will do just that, but with an hour, she has plenty of time to get to other things, but she won't.

I think it boils down to two things: 1) she doesn't think being efficient and keeping time are really important. She lives a 10 minutes' walk from us, but regularly arrives 5 minutes late. She takes DD to music class late (literally a 5 minute walk from us) and when she recounts their day to me, I'll often hear things like, oh I gave her dinner late because our play date ran over. I've told her being on time is important to me, but I know some people are just not programmed to keep time. 2) I get the sense she doesn't take ownership of the baby-related cleaning. She does what I ask her to (i.e., clean baby dishes & treat stains), but won't look around to see what else she can get to. I don't think I should have to ask her to do something that is obvious (e.g., fold & put away baby laundry that is hanging from the drying rack).

What's even more frustrating is that she asked for a minimum # of hours and so I gave her the extra 1.5 hours/day to do the baby cooking & cleaning. I often find myself at the beginning of the day doing some of the cooking for her so DD and she aren't late to class or whatever and at the end of the day doing the cleaning that I feel she had time to get to. I really like how this nanny engages DD, so would like to keep her. I would really appreciate some advice on how and what to communicate to her so that she does a better job with her ancillary baby-related duties.

I think you have a babysitter, not a nanny. Find a nanny, she is either voluntarily or involuntarily not doing basic childcare duties up to par (if at all). Plus y have given her what needs to be done and she's not doing it.

[Anonymous]

OP I'm curious if you've told her what additional tasks you'd like her to also be doing if she finishes the tasks you've listed faster than the hour you've allotted for her or if you only mentioned treating the clothes and washing dishes and are just expecting her to read your mind and know that you'd also like her to fold the laundry? I can see many possible reasons for this situation and it may be due to you not being clearer with your nanny. First, if your nanny arrives before your daughter wakes up and spends this time food prepping and that is the only task you've asked her to do in the morning, if your daughter is still napping and not being neglected during this time then why does it matter if the nanny does it as fast as you would like? What is the difference if the nanny gets the food prepped in twenty minutes and then sits around doing nothing until your daughter wakes up versus her taking her time and using the entire time? Additionally, in regards to the afternoon hour, if there are additional tasks you want the nanny to do like laundry that day, you should tell her. If I was a new nanny, I might not take the initiative to start performing tasks my boss had not mentioned because I wouldn't know if she'd want me doing those things. So she may just be taking her time doing these tasks since those are the only ones you've mentioned to her and she has an hour to fill. Maybe she can do them more quickly but fears that if she finishes those two tasks in thirty minutes every day, you might start rethinking paying her for that entire last hour everyday.

Summary point is that instead of expecting the nanny to read your mind, you should talk to her about it and if there are other tasks you want her to be doing tell her or make her a list or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I'm curious if you've told her what additional tasks you'd like her to also be doing if she finishes the tasks you've listed faster than the hour you've allotted for her or if you only mentioned treating the clothes and washing dishes and are just expecting her to read your mind and know that you'd also like her to fold the laundry? I can see many possible reasons for this situation and it may be due to you not being clearer with your nanny. First, if your nanny arrives before your daughter wakes up and spends this time food prepping and that is the only task you've asked her to do in the morning, if your daughter is still napping and not being neglected during this time then why does it matter if the nanny does it as fast as you would like? What is the difference if the nanny gets the food prepped in twenty minutes and then sits around doing nothing until your daughter wakes up versus her taking her time and using the entire time? Additionally, in regards to the afternoon hour, if there are additional tasks you want the nanny to do like laundry that day, you should tell her. If I was a new nanny, I might not take the initiative to start performing tasks my boss had not mentioned because I wouldn't know if she'd want me doing those things. So she may just be taking her time doing these tasks since those are the only ones you've mentioned to her and she has an hour to fill. Maybe she can do them more quickly but fears that if she finishes those two tasks in thirty minutes every day, you might start rethinking paying her for that entire last hour everyday.

Summary point is that instead of expecting the nanny to read your mind, you should talk to her about it and if there are other tasks you want her to be doing tell her or make her a list or something.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We hired a new nanny about a month ago, I think she is really wonderful, but I'm a little disappointed in how inefficient she is with baby-related tasks. For example, her start time is over 30 minutes before my daughter wakes up and during that time, she is supposed to get two meals ready and packed up (DD eats these meals outside the home). They are simple meals requiring very little preparation on her part, such as today's:

Meal 1: chicken strips, 1 yogurt cup, half an apple
Meal 2: infant cereal (the powder kind), steamed broccoli, 2 fish sticks

The chicken strips & yogurt were already prepped and in their containers so the only things she needed to do were: peel & chop apple; measure out cereal; steam broccoli; stick fish sticks in toaster oven. Everything gets put in its own container, then everything including water & milk thermoses & utensils put in lunch bag. In the 20 minutes the fish sticks are cooking, I would get all of this done easily, plus do some clean-up. Today, it took her over a half hour, or about 45 minutes after her start time. At the end of her work day, she has an hour to do baby-related cleaning during which I watch the baby. I've asked that at a minimum, she clean up DD's dishes and treat stains (not a full washing) on DD's clothes from the day and she will do just that, but with an hour, she has plenty of time to get to other things, but she won't.

I think it boils down to two things: 1) she doesn't think being efficient and keeping time are really important. She lives a 10 minutes' walk from us, but regularly arrives 5 minutes late. She takes DD to music class late (literally a 5 minute walk from us) and when she recounts their day to me, I'll often hear things like, oh I gave her dinner late because our play date ran over. I've told her being on time is important to me, but I know some people are just not programmed to keep time. 2) I get the sense she doesn't take ownership of the baby-related cleaning. She does what I ask her to (i.e., clean baby dishes & treat stains), but won't look around to see what else she can get to. I don't think I should have to ask her to do something that is obvious (e.g., fold & put away baby laundry that is hanging from the drying rack).

What's even more frustrating is that she asked for a minimum # of hours and so I gave her the extra 1.5 hours/day to do the baby cooking & cleaning. I often find myself at the beginning of the day doing some of the cooking for her so DD and she aren't late to class or whatever and at the end of the day doing the cleaning that I feel she had time to get to. I really like how this nanny engages DD, so would like to keep her. I would really appreciate some advice on how and what to communicate to her so that she does a better job with her ancillary baby-related duties.

Time to get a real nanny.

Write down your expectations again/her job duties and schedule for the day. Don't do a thing on that list yourself, no enabling, no setting a precedent that you will do her job. If she can't get it right, give her a warning.

If YOU are doing her morning and after hours duties and it is making YOU late for work, you really really need a better nanny.

[Anonymous]

I often find when I show up at work in the morning that I have a bunch of tidying up to do before I can get focused on meal prep.
The trash can is full, the sink is full of dirty dishes, something has been spilled all over the counter / stove / kitchen table since I was there last.
In order to peel and cut up an apple, I need a knife and a cutting board. The knife that was clean and put away when I left the day before is nowhere to be seen now, so I need to hunt it down.

It would probably take me me more than 30 minutes in the morning to get two meals together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think this is something you can teach, but FYI there are tons of nannies out there who are on top of everything and won't struggle to accomplish basic tasks.

This. Efficiency and timeliness and seeing things that need to be done and doing them are often innate. We have a great nanny who manages to get so much done when the baby naps. She just multitasks and used time very very efficiently. Dishes are washed right after a meal while baby sits in high hair and plays with a you or claps. They make a game of it for less than 10 minutes. I told her to relax and not worry about things except the baby and baby things like heating up food and bottles and baby laundry every couple days. But she's very energetic and doesn't like to sit still. I thank her for all the extra tasks every day (she manages to mop and vac every day) and try to let her go home early with pay at least once a week in return.

You most likely aren't the micro-managing type. It sounds like she got into a routine.

It sounds like one person is capable and the other is not. There is more to being a nanny than being a playmate!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op you sound bat shit crazy. Everyone has a different way of doing things. You sound mildly retarded.

Grow up and expand your vocabulary!

OP, There are plenty of nannies that could be highly successful in the position you have. This is all quite standard. But maybe your nanny needs 45 minutes instead of 30 to get the meals packed. Help by getting the things that take the longest started when she gets there. It may be easier to tag team it for 5-10 minutes while you chat about the day.

[Anonymous]

I also bet pay comes into play here. I am fully equipped to handle this position and more. I am a self starter, manage time well, tend to all child related chores and am open to helping with household errands, and am absolutely great with kids. But I would not bother myself with a job that was advertised below my range. OP, you chose this candidate out of those you interviewed with; why? What qualities did she exhibit that drew you to her? Are you offering pay that will bring in a more qualified applicant? You don't get the best simply because you want the best.

[Anonymous]

Despite the apparently amazing nannies posting on here, I think it's actually pretty rare to find a nanny who is great with your child; great with housework; 100% timely and never has any personal issues; and fits in your price range (which I assume is modest, not extravagent, like most of us mortals). For me personally, my #1 priority is the nanny's relationship with the child, so I am willing to compromise a lot of other things. If what's really important to you is having a maid first who accomplishes all housekeeping tasks exactly like you would, then you probably need to go looking for another nanny (or pay a lot more money). Even so, unless you clearly spell out exactly what you expect, you are going to continue to be disappointed, no matter how amazing she is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think this is something you can teach, but FYI there are tons of nannies out there who are on top of everything and won't struggle to accomplish basic tasks.

This. Efficiency and timeliness and seeing things that need to be done and doing them are often innate. We have a great nanny who manages to get so much done when the baby naps. She just multitasks and used time very very efficiently. Dishes are washed right after a meal while baby sits in high hair and plays with a you or claps. They make a game of it for less than 10 minutes. I told her to relax and not worry about things except the baby and baby things like heating up food and bottles and baby laundry every couple days. But she's very energetic and doesn't like to sit still. I thank her for all the extra tasks every day (she manages to mop and vac every day) and try to let her go home early with pay at least once a week in return.

You most likely aren't the micro-managing type. It sounds like she got into a routine.

It sounds like one person is capable and the other is not. There is more to being a nanny than being a playmate!

Not true. I'd be pretty upset if I found out my nanny was ignoring my child in order to mop and vacuum (??). I have a housecleaner to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think this is something you can teach, but FYI there are tons of nannies out there who are on top of everything and won't struggle to accomplish basic tasks.

This. Efficiency and timeliness and seeing things that need to be done and doing them are often innate. We have a great nanny who manages to get so much done when the baby naps. She just multitasks and used time very very efficiently. Dishes are washed right after a meal while baby sits in high hair and plays with a you or claps. They make a game of it for less than 10 minutes. I told her to relax and not worry about things except the baby and baby things like heating up food and bottles and baby laundry every couple days. But she's very energetic and doesn't like to sit still. I thank her for all the extra tasks every day (she manages to mop and vac every day) and try to let her go home early with pay at least once a week in return.

You most likely aren't the micro-managing type. It sounds like she got into a routine.

It sounds like one person is capable and the other is not. There is more to being a nanny than being a playmate!

Not true. I'd be pretty upset if I found out my nanny was ignoring my child in order to mop and vacuum (??). I have a housecleaner to do that.

If we make a mess, we clean it. The child can learn to help and kids typically love that. Cleaning up after yourself, doing child's laundry, putting toys away, etc. are all part of the job. You can find a way to incorporate the hild, get the child set up with an activity, or wait until quiet/nap time. There IS more to being a nanny than being a playmate, and that includes focusing on development as well. Any parent should realize this, as should any qualified nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does DD eat 2 meals a day outside of the house?
Your whole system seems bizarre to me.

[b]

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are crazy. Way too much to expect this. What is wrong with you, other than laziness, that you cannot prepare lunches the night before? I did.

Well our nanny cooks soup from scratch before the school run. She would do this in about ten minutes and wouldn't even need to be asked.

I think OP is very reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think this is something you can teach, but FYI there are tons of nannies out there who are on top of everything and won't struggle to accomplish basic tasks.

This. Efficiency and timeliness and seeing things that need to be done and doing them are often innate. We have a great nanny who manages to get so much done when the baby naps. She just multitasks and used time very very efficiently. Dishes are washed right after a meal while baby sits in high hair and plays with a you or claps. They make a game of it for less than 10 minutes. I told her to relax and not worry about things except the baby and baby things like heating up food and bottles and baby laundry every couple days. But she's very energetic and doesn't like to sit still. I thank her for all the extra tasks every day (she manages to mop and vac every day) and try to let her go home early with pay at least once a week in return.

You most likely aren't the micro-managing type. It sounds like she got into a routine.

It sounds like one person is capable and the other is not. There is more to being a nanny than being a playmate!

Not true. I'd be pretty upset if I found out my nanny was ignoring my child in order to mop and vacuum (??). I have a housecleaner to do that.

If we make a mess, we clean it. The child can learn to help and kids typically love that. Cleaning up after yourself, doing child's laundry, putting toys away, etc. are all part of the job. You can find a way to incorporate the hild, get the child set up with an activity, or wait until quiet/nap time. There IS more to being a nanny than being a playmate, and that includes focusing on development as well. Any parent should realize this, as should any qualified nanny.

there's a difference good modeling to teach a kid to clean up after themselves, and having your nanny double as your maid. particularly when they're still just infants.