Asking a nanny to walk 1.2 miles twice a day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's an unreasonable request as long as it's part of the job description from the beginning. I'm assuming the nanny will be smart enough to work around any issues...like getting a hands free backpacking umbrella with UV protection if she needs it (I would) and having good walking shoes. And, I'm assuming you'll have a good jogging stroller that makes it easy to take both kids as well. Will your nanny be able to go ANYWHERE with the kids? If not, you may end up with a burned out nanny unless you hire someone older. Just something to keep in mind.

OP here. We live in Westwood - parks, libraries, restaurants, shops, and UCLA are all within walking distance. We have a pool in our building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's an unreasonable request as long as it's part of the job description from the beginning. I'm assuming the nanny will be smart enough to work around any issues...like getting a hands free backpacking umbrella with UV protection if she needs it (I would) and having good walking shoes. And, I'm assuming you'll have a good jogging stroller that makes it easy to take both kids as well. Will your nanny be able to go ANYWHERE with the kids? If not, you may end up with a burned out nanny unless you hire someone older. Just something to keep in mind.

+1. You're looking for a nanny who actually likes to walk and prefers to keep the kids out of the car.

I think it's funny when nannies chime in to say some aspect of the job is horrible ; just don't apply for that job. There's no law that says every nanny job has to be equally "good" for all potential nannies.

OP, I would not only be up front about this, though, in the interview, I would ask questions that get to whether or not this is an "outdoorsy" person. And ask about that with references, too.

As with anything, the more competitive your package, the more candidates you'll have to choose from.

I'm a MB, not a nanny, and I almost never drove when we lived about a mile, downhill from downtown Silver Spring (near DC). I made that walk up hill at least twice a day with one, then two, then three kids. And it gets truly hot in Silver Spring in the summer, and cold in the winter. I love to walk. I'm sure you will find someone who does, too.

[Anonymous]

I live in Southern CA & work in coastal communities like La Jolla, Del Mar, etc.

And from July - October it gets miserably H-O-T.
I kid you not.
Not as hot as inland.....but still pretty hot + humid all around.

No way would anyone around here want to push a stroller outside at 3PM!

I think you should be considerate of BOTH your Nanny AND child and let them ride in an air-conditioned vehicle during this time.

As a parent, I cannot imagine making both of my children walk around in such heat on a daily basis.
Anyone who lives in SoCal knows it gets very humid as well in the summer making everything unbearable.

Please,
Think about your children too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I would prefer that nanny doesn't drive the kids anywhere. We had three nannies for after school care for my older child and all three got into minor accidents - and that was just with one older kid in the car. I have no idea how to test a nanny's driving abilities with a screaming infant in the backseat!

So no - it would not be a driving position.

It gets hot in the mid-summer and early fall here, but I would make arrangements if it was over 92 degrees at 9 and 3.

Thank you for the replies.

Look for someone who has driven in a previous position, so that she can drive in an emergency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would make the temp cutoff 80 or maybe 82. 90 is ridiculous.

Nanny here and you are ridiculous! Kids play outside at 90 pretty much all summer - what is the big deal about walking in 90 degree dry weather?!

You guys are total pansies.

It would be fine with me, OP. Put it put there - if applicants can't or won't do it, they won't apply - a great screening!

Nice casual homophobia, nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would make the temp cutoff 80 or maybe 82. 90 is ridiculous.

Nanny here and you are ridiculous! Kids play outside at 90 pretty much all summer - what is the big deal about walking in 90 degree dry weather?!

You guys are total pansies.

It would be fine with me, OP. Put it put there - if applicants can't or won't do it, they won't apply - a great screening!

Nice casual homophobia, nanny.

No, it isn't. Millions of people around the world manage to walk when it is 92 degrees outside. Those who claim they cannot are delicate little flowers who wilt easily.

I agree - asking a nanny to walk 1.2 miles twice a day in weather up to 92 degrees is a great way to weed out the pansies who simply cannot do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in Southern CA & work in coastal communities like La Jolla, Del Mar, etc.

And from July - October it gets miserably H-O-T.
I kid you not.
Not as hot as inland.....but still pretty hot + humid all around.

No way would anyone around here want to push a stroller outside at 3PM!

I think you should be considerate of BOTH your Nanny AND child and let them ride in an air-conditioned vehicle during this time.

As a parent, I cannot imagine making both of my children walk around in such heat on a daily basis.
Anyone who lives in SoCal knows it gets very humid as well in the summer making everything unbearable.

Please,
Think about your children too!

OP said up to 92 degrees. That is fine for a 0.6 walk for a child by foot and for a baby in a stroller.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:92 degrees is when it's too hot for YOU? In Southern CA it's definitely too hot for some people. So if it were 91 degreres she'd have to suck it up and sweat her ass off? You suck.

92 degrees is when it is too hot for an infant in a stroller. I would be fine - and have walked - when it is 102 and 103.

Clearly you are not the right nanny for this position! Thank you! Hopefully asking that the nanny walk in 91 degree temperatures will keep childish ("you suck") people like you from applying. Thanks for the tip!

Lol, I'm not a nanny. But I am somebody who overheats, gets sick, and passes out. So I'm not somebody who would spend time in the sun when it's 90+ degrees out. You would do much better to give someone autonomy over their own body and decide for themselves if they will be too hot on any given day to walk over a mile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:92 degrees is when it's too hot for YOU? In Southern CA it's definitely too hot for some people. So if it were 91 degreres she'd have to suck it up and sweat her ass off? You suck.

92 degrees is when it is too hot for an infant in a stroller. I would be fine - and have walked - when it is 102 and 103.

Clearly you are not the right nanny for this position! Thank you! Hopefully asking that the nanny walk in 91 degree temperatures will keep childish ("you suck") people like you from applying. Thanks for the tip!

Lol, I'm not a nanny. But I am somebody who overheats, gets sick, and passes out. So I'm not somebody who would spend time in the sun when it's 90+ degrees out. You would do much better to give someone autonomy over their own body and decide for themselves if they will be too hot on any given day to walk over a mile.

Again, someone like you would not be right for this job. You have autonomy over your body by never applying for a job that would require you to walk 1.2 miles when it is 91 degrees outside.

I would have no problem with it. Have done it and probably will do it again this summer

[Anonymous]

Also, bear in mind that in LA, there are an average of 21 days of the year (per NOAA data) where it exceeds 90 degrees. OP is in one of the coolest parts of LA, so on some of those days, it won't even break 90 where he/she lives. And presumably at least a few of those days are on weekends. The weather part is not a big deal.

We had a nannyshare for two years where the nanny took both kids almost everywhere by stroller, rain or shine. (She did drive and had seats installed for the kids, but only opted for the car when the weather was really awful.) The rest of the time they walked, anywhere from 1-2 miles roundtrip. We had a good double stroller that the nanny picked out at the start of the share. Everybody seemed happy with the arrangement.

I do agree that you should put this in the job description, though. My experience was that most nannies working in walkable neighborhoods in our city walk most of the time (if for no other reason than parking where we live is insane, especially for school dropoffs/pickups).

[Anonymous]

Nannies and parents who live in a city like NYC or Chicago do this all the time and in all weather. Be clear about the expectations of the job, OP, and you'll find someone energetic and fit.

[Anonymous]

That's perfectly reasonable especailly since you will do alt. transportation when it rains. It's great exercise for your little one and her.

[Anonymous]

I would have no problem with it! Just be upfront with it in the job description and interview.

[Anonymous]

Slightly different angle here, but since I'm a bit sick today:

Suppose the nanny isn't feeling too well --recovering from the flu or whatever. That is, she is well enough to drive/bus to work and do her in home duties (with some additional rest periods) but not strong enough for a mile plus walk. Would you prefer that she call in sick or would you be able to arrange this alternative transportation on those days as well? I could imagine this occurring maybe 10 times a year with an older nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Slightly different angle here, but since I'm a bit sick today:

Suppose the nanny isn't feeling too well --recovering from the flu or whatever. That is, she is well enough to drive/bus to work and do her in home duties (with some additional rest periods) but not strong enough for a mile plus walk. Would you prefer that she call in sick or would you be able to arrange this alternative transportation on those days as well? I could imagine this occurring maybe 10 times a year with an older nanny.

? I am a much older nanny (62) and I easily walk three miles a day and haven't been sick once in the last 12 months. I run after a two-year-old ten hours a day, five days a week.

Nice ageism there, PP.