How to be the best possible nanny?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, are you looking for ways to become indispensable to the family even after their daughter starts full-day school? We have a wonderful nanny who, because of all the extras she does for us, we are considering keeping even after both of our kids are in school all day.

The only requirements of the job were caring for the children and doing baby laundry. However, she has taken it upon herself to:

-vacuum and mop our small main area
-prepare salads for us (she knows we have one with most dinners)
-empty trash cans throughout the house
-do all of the household laundry
-make our beds

We leave the house in good shape for her each day, but it's often in even better shape when we come home at the end of the day. All of these extra things she does make our lives so much easier, and we appreciate her beyond words. She has said that once the kids are in school, she would be happy to run errands and prepare meals. I have even caught her pulling some weeds in my garden.

I guess when she sees something that needs tending to, she just does it. She treats our home like her own.

We never asked for any of it (and never would), but we go the extra mile for her, too.

Oh, and I am not suggesting that you do all of the above! Just letting you know what our nanny does to go the extra mile. I would say if you can offer to spend 20-30 minutes on dinner prep for the family, so that when they get home all they have to do is cook it, they would be immensely grateful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, are you looking for ways to become indispensable to the family even after their daughter starts full-day school? We have a wonderful nanny who, because of all the extras she does for us, we are considering keeping even after both of our kids are in school all day.

The only requirements of the job were caring for the children and doing baby laundry. However, she has taken it upon herself to:

-vacuum and mop our small main area
-prepare salads for us (she knows we have one with most dinners)
-empty trash cans throughout the house
-do all of the household laundry
-make our beds

We leave the house in good shape for her each day, but it's often in even better shape when we come home at the end of the day. All of these extra things she does make our lives so much easier, and we appreciate her beyond words. She has said that once the kids are in school, she would be happy to run errands and prepare meals. I have even caught her pulling some weeds in my garden.

I guess when she sees something that needs tending to, she just does it. She treats our home like her own.

We never asked for any of it (and never would), but we go the extra mile for her, too.

Oh, and I am not suggesting that you do all of the above! Just letting you know what our nanny does to go the extra mile. I would say if you can offer to spend 20-30 minutes on dinner prep for the family, so that when they get home all they have to do is cook it, they would be immensely grateful.

OP here and thank you! My employers have a housekeeper but I am always looking for ways to help as much as possible. My charge is their first and they are planning on having more children, but so would not want to stay on when the last goes to school anyway.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

This might be weird and it might be just me - but I hate missing pieces to toys and bins of unsorted toys. Our nanny takes the time to put my child's toys back together with all pieces before she puts them away. Anything broken beyond repair gets tossed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This might be weird and it might be just me - but I hate missing pieces to toys and bins of unsorted toys. Our nanny takes the time to put my child's toys back together with all pieces before she puts them away. Anything broken beyond repair gets tossed.

I WISH my nanny would do this. Sometimes I try, sometimes my housekeeper does, but not the nanny. Of course, we have four children, all older than OP's charge, so a lot more toys with a lot more pieces!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This might be weird and it might be just me - but I hate missing pieces to toys and bins of unsorted toys. Our nanny takes the time to put my child's toys back together with all pieces before she puts them away. Anything broken beyond repair gets tossed.

I WISH my nanny would do this. Sometimes I try, sometimes my housekeeper does, but not the nanny. Of course, we have four children, all older than OP's charge, so a lot more toys with a lot more pieces!

Thank you! I do do this only because it is a weird pet peeve of mine too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I currently have a fantastic nanny job that I definitely want to keep. Aside from being a great nanny to my charge (loving, teaching her, engaging her) - what the the little extras that I might be forgetting? I am always ten minutes early and never rush out. My charge's toys and room are always picked up and put away before I leave. I never leave one dish in the sink. I have taken over all the ordering for the baby and pretty much the house. I do the child's grocery shopping and never leave for the weekend without making sure she has enough food.

Anything I might be forgetting? Anything special that your nanny does that you appreciate (even if it was not in your contract or agreement)?

Thanks!

This is all great and to be expected. Very helpful to the family and beyond the simple "babysitting/playtime nanny" that some nannies plateau at.

I have also worked with the parents to pick 1 or 2 developmental areas per month for each kid and work on those during 1 on 1 quiet time. I also teach the children life skills and explain how and why to do things in the store or house. For example we cook together, fold clothes, put things away, make bday cards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This might be weird and it might be just me - but I hate missing pieces to toys and bins of unsorted toys. Our nanny takes the time to put my child's toys back together with all pieces before she puts them away. Anything broken beyond repair gets tossed.

I WISH my nanny would do this. Sometimes I try, sometimes my housekeeper does, but not the nanny. Of course, we have four children, all older than OP's charge, so a lot more toys with a lot more pieces!

Thank you! I do do this only because it is a weird pet peeve of mine too.

who likes losing parts of toys or games?! this is a fantastic good habit to have: putting things back where they below. Not losing things.

[Anonymous]

I think what you're doing is already great. We have a wonderful nanny and she's always early and doesn't rush out and I really appreciate it. I'd love more pictures and videos of my kid too. Our nanny made baby food and now makes things like cottage cheese and yogurt. Cooks meals for dd during nap time for me to feed at dinner. Mops and vacuums the whole first floor public space (not our bedrooms) every Friday and does a deep kitchen and main/baby bathroom.
Biggest and best thing is that they spend lots of time outdoors. Water table, drawing with chalk and a bunch of playgrounds as long as it's not pouring rain. I think dd sleeps so well and is generally chill in part because of fresh air.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I currently have a fantastic nanny job that I definitely want to keep. Aside from being a great nanny to my charge (loving, teaching her, engaging her) - what the the little extras that I might be forgetting? I am always ten minutes early and never rush out. My charge's toys and room are always picked up and put away before I leave. I never leave one dish in the sink. I have taken over all the ordering for the baby and pretty much the house. I do the child's grocery shopping and never leave for the weekend without making sure she has enough food.

Anything I might be forgetting? Anything special that your nanny does that you appreciate (even if it was not in your contract or agreement)?

Thanks!

This is all great and to be expected. Very helpful to the family and beyond the simple "babysitting/playtime nanny" that some nannies plateau at.

I have also worked with the parents to pick 1 or 2 developmental areas per month for each kid and work on those during 1 on 1 quiet time. I also teach the children life skills and explain how and why to do things in the store or house. For example we cook together, fold clothes, put things away, make bday cards.

OP here - the idea to work on two development areas per month is fantastic! Thank you so much! Great idea and one I would love to incorporate. May I ask - how do you choose the areas of focus?

Again, thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think what you're doing is already great. We have a wonderful nanny and she's always early and doesn't rush out and I really appreciate it. I'd love more pictures and videos of my kid too. Our nanny made baby food and now makes things like cottage cheese and yogurt. Cooks meals for dd during nap time for me to feed at dinner. Mops and vacuums the whole first floor public space (not our bedrooms) every Friday and does a deep kitchen and main/baby bathroom.
Biggest and best thing is that they spend lots of time outdoors. Water table, drawing with chalk and a bunch of playgrounds as long as it's not pouring rain. I think dd sleeps so well and is generally chill in part because of fresh air.

Thank you for responding. I love being outside with my charge and I've set up a huge play area with water table, sensory table, play house, table and chair where we do finger paints and play-dough, slide, climbing cubes, chalk. And my family has a housekeeper and MB prefers to have dinner as a family.

[Anonymous]

MB here. You sound awesome and like you and the family are both lucky.

My nanny makes an end of year photobook that I treasure for a Christmas gift. I highly recommend that.

We also use a notebook where our nanny details what was done each day and what my kids ate, etc. (also note about things we might need to know). It's wonderful to look over.

Other things are going through clothes and shoes and making sure the kid's closet is seasonally appropriate and seeing if there is anything she needs.

[Anonymous]

OP is Uriah Heep in flesh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP is Uriah Heep in flesh.

Jealous much? I would hire her in a hot New York minute.

[Anonymous]

Here are the things my nanny did that I really appreciated that aren't in our contract:

every few months two piles of clothes were presented - one to toss, one to give away/hand down
same with toys
twice a year i was given a list of toys developmentally appropriate for the upcoming age
when there is a sale at clothing stores I like the kids clothes to be from, I'm sent a screen shot of suggestions
Adventure Day - about twice a month the nanny plans one - it's to somewhere they've never been. a farm, a restaurant, a library, a park, whatever.

[Anonymous]

Proactively set up play dates, both away and at your host house. Take kids to classes.