lunch for nanny/sitter?

[Anonymous]

I have a nanny/sitter starting soon - part time (two full days/week) for about six weeks only. Should I provide lunch for her? She's caring for my infant only, it's not as though she's feeding lunch to children and I could just buy a little more of the same for her. Thanks for any advice!

[Anonymous]

Providing lunch is generally not necessary but letting her know she can help herself to snacks and drinks is a nice gesture.

[Anonymous]

I don't get nothing,no food no water,OOOO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Providing lunch is generally not necessary but letting her know she can help herself to snacks and drinks is a nice gesture.

We do this. Our nanny prefers to cook herself large meals rather than bringing in her lunch, so she generally stocks some of her favorite treats and supplies at our house, labeled with her initials.

[Anonymous]

You can ask her if you like. I feel very warmly toward families that offer to buy me things I want on hand or tell me to help myself, even though 9/10 times I bring my own meals.

You're not required/obligated/it isn't necessarily standard to provide meals for a nanny (it is for a babysitter) though. If you don't keep a lot of food in the house that is a perfect excuse. If you do...she will probably be a little offended but will get over it if you ask her to bring her own meals but let her know she can help herself to drinks and snacks.

[Anonymous]

Every family has always asked me to add to their shopping list. They don't want me to starve, lol. Am already pretty thin.

[Anonymous]

I would keep some basic lunch supplies and snacks on hand as well as drinks.

[Anonymous]

I am a nanny I bring my lunch, though the family offeres me.

[Anonymous]

I am a nanny I bring my lunch, though the family offeres me.

[Anonymous]

I usually just eat some of whatever I make the kids. They are very good eaters though. Yesterday we had lentils with veggies mixed in.

[Anonymous]

Yes, OP, you invite her to have some lunch when she's there at lunchtime.

[Anonymous]

OP I WAS IN YOUR SHOES!! I have a p/t nanny and wanted to make sure she was happy while taking care of my infant, and I offered her to help herself to our food. Well needless to say this has become a major problem. She is eating all of our most expensive grocery items and even though she's p/t (16 hrs/week), you would think we have another grown adult living with us when looking at the grocery bill. groceries are expensive, and I can barely afford my nanny nevermind feeding her all of our food.. she's also been eating my kid's snacks, so i'm running out in the middle of the week to replenish everything. my DH wants us to find a new nanny because it's costing us so much more than we anticipated.

Anyway, if I were to do it over again, I would have offered specific snacks and drinks/water.. she's only p/t and last time I checked, people don't normally get paid lunch at their normal jobs. HTH!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I WAS IN YOUR SHOES!! I have a p/t nanny and wanted to make sure she was happy while taking care of my infant, and I offered her to help herself to our food. Well needless to say this has become a major problem. She is eating all of our most expensive grocery items and even though she's p/t (16 hrs/week), you would think we have another grown adult living with us when looking at the grocery bill. groceries are expensive, and I can barely afford my nanny nevermind feeding her all of our food.. she's also been eating my kid's snacks, so i'm running out in the middle of the week to replenish everything. my DH wants us to find a new nanny because it's costing us so much more than we anticipated.

Anyway, if I were to do it over again, I would have offered specific snacks and drinks/water.. she's only p/t and last time I checked, people don't normally get paid lunch at their normal jobs. HTH!

Is she maintaining her original weight or gaining weight on your dime?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I WAS IN YOUR SHOES!! I have a p/t nanny and wanted to make sure she was happy while taking care of my infant, and I offered her to help herself to our food. Well needless to say this has become a major problem. She is eating all of our most expensive grocery items and even though she's p/t (16 hrs/week), you would think we have another grown adult living with us when looking at the grocery bill. groceries are expensive, and I can barely afford my nanny nevermind feeding her all of our food.. she's also been eating my kid's snacks, so i'm running out in the middle of the week to replenish everything. my DH wants us to find a new nanny because it's costing us so much more than we anticipated.

Anyway, if I were to do it over again, I would have offered specific snacks and drinks/water.. she's only p/t and last time I checked, people don't normally get paid lunch at their normal jobs. HTH!

This is a very common experience. I have not found any families who provide the nanny with lunch and are happy with the arrangement. There are always misunderstandings about what is fair game, frustration about ingredients for a dinner having been eaten by the nanny for lunch, and surprise about how much it costs to keep a nanny supplied with her favorite foods. Nannies will say that you should label anything that is off limits, but why should parents have to do that in their own home?

[Anonymous]

For an infant no I wouldnt ... You can maybe mention Shes welcome to an Apple or the sandwhich fixings.