Desperately seeking advice from other nannies! Toddlers and chores...

[Anonymous]

2 questions. I'm a nanny for an 18 month old, and a 3 year old, and it seems like even when I implement systems for keeping the house as clean as possible, there are periods throughout the day when the house looks like such a mess! Especially when I do more deep cleaning, when I have chairs all moved around for mopping and vaacuuming, and the kids are bringing out all their toys while I clean. I can't help but think OMG if the parents were to walk in right now! But it is feeling impossible to always have the house tidy. Is this true for anybody else?

Also, how long can toddlers play together while I clean? In regards to attention span/patience/emotional development.
I'm trying to work my cleaning schedule around them. 20 minutes seems much too accommodating for them, but I'm not sure if an hour is too long. What does your chore schedule look like?

P.s. Children are always within view and the house is completely child proofed-not a question of safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2 questions. I'm a nanny for an 18 month old, and a 3 year old, and it seems like even when I implement systems for keeping the house as clean as possible, there are periods throughout the day when the house looks like such a mess! Especially when I do more deep cleaning, when I have chairs all moved around for mopping and vaacuuming, and the kids are bringing out all their toys while I clean. I can't help but think OMG if the parents were to walk in right now! But it is feeling impossible to always have the house tidy. Is this true for anybody else?

Also, how long can toddlers play together while I clean? In regards to attention span/patience/emotional development.
I'm trying to work my cleaning schedule around them. 20 minutes seems much too accommodating for them, but I'm not sure if an hour is too long. What does your chore schedule look like?

P.s. Children are always within view and the house is completely child proofed-not a question of safety.

You are a nanny - you said it - you are not a housekeeper. It is crazy the family expects you to do deep cleaning while you are caring for two young children.

[Anonymous]

I agree w/the above poster.

If you are a nanny, then you should only be responsible for caring for those two children.

Were you hired as a Nanny/Housekeeper? If so, I hope you are being compensated accordingly because you have your hands quite full. Why in the world would anyone accept a job where they had to care for two toddlers which is a HUGE job in itself AND to deep~clean a house as well??! You are not Superwoman nor should you strive to be.

You are in the wrong job OP.
Obviously you bit off more than you can chew at this point.

No one in their right mind could do all of this and keep an immaculate home.
If your bosses expect this of you, they must be brain dead. Serious.

With children at such a young age, they need to be supervised at all times. Even though you say the house is safety proofed for children, anything can happen and it can happen in a flash. Your eyes need to be glued on them at all times. You are completely responsible for those kids and are liable should anything ever happen to them while you are there.

The only time you should do any household cleaning is if and when they both nap.

[Anonymous]

I do see what you are saying, yes it certainly is a lot of work. But I am paid very very well, and treated with the upmost respect. And the deep cleaning is spread out, like mopping once per week, laundry once per week. It does get a little nuts at times, but how does a mother do it, if they don't have a housekeeper? So what you're saying is most people only do cleaning while they nap. Well, the 3 year old doesn't take naps, so...idk. I do love how you said "No one in their right mind could do all of this and keep an immaculate home. " So that gives me lots of clarity that it is normal for the house to look like a tornado went through it at time throughout the day! Thanks!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Yes, I clean during naps (kids are 13 months and 3). If the older child doesn't nap I ask her to help me clean - put away toys/books, sort the clean laundry (pull out all the socks and try to match the pairs), sort the silverware, etc. little chores that also help her learn. But, at least twice a day my house is a complete mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do see what you are saying, yes it certainly is a lot of work. But I am paid very very well, and treated with the upmost respect. And the deep cleaning is spread out, like mopping once per week, laundry once per week. It does get a little nuts at times, but how does a mother do it, if they don't have a housekeeper? So what you're saying is most people only do cleaning while they nap. Well, the 3 year old doesn't take naps, so...idk. I do love how you said "No one in their right mind could do all of this and keep an immaculate home. " So that gives me lots of clarity that it is normal for the house to look like a tornado went through it at time throughout the day! Thanks!!!!!!!!!

Wow. You ask for advice. It's given to you, and you act all rude and sarcastic? Nice.

[Anonymous]

I care for two boys (3 years and 6 months) I tend to clean as we go if possible. For example, clean up dishes and wipe down counter while older boy is eating. I clean up our actities immediately after use though, like with playdough, crafts, puzzles (3 year old helps). I do stocking and organzing while they are napping.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes, I close off one or two rooms to the kids. I know those rooms are clean and tidy, so it makes the rest of the house manageable until the parents come home. May be for two hours at the end of the day. There's still plenty of room for the kids to romp and play. And it makes my end-of-shift clean up much quicker.

I wouldn't worry about making messes cleaning or playing during the day. That's par for the course.

[Anonymous]

OP, you need to stop doing that kind of heavy stuff while you're responsible for the children. Most nannies would just put the kids in their cribs if they had to do that kind of labor.

The parents are crazy. Are there two of them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do see what you are saying, yes it certainly is a lot of work. But I am paid very very well, and treated with the upmost respect. And the deep cleaning is spread out, like mopping once per week, laundry once per week. It does get a little nuts at times, but how does a mother do it, if they don't have a housekeeper? So what you're saying is most people only do cleaning while they nap. Well, the 3 year old doesn't take naps, so...idk. I do love how you said "No one in their right mind could do all of this and keep an immaculate home. " So that gives me lots of clarity that it is normal for the house to look like a tornado went through it at time throughout the day! Thanks!!!!!!!!!

Wow. You ask for advice. It's given to you, and you act all rude and sarcastic? Nice.

Wow. You are really touchy. I didn't read that as rude or sarcastic at all!!! Chill ....

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm an MB. Here's my two cents - I do not expect the house to be tidy at all times. That is flat out impossible w/ kids, let alone two toddlers. I like it to be tidy when I get home and I try to make sure it's tidy when you arrive for work. Anything in between is a free for all.

If you are doing any level of deep cleaning at all - god bless you. You make my life infinitely easier and I soooo appreciate it. Whatever schedule or system works for you to make that possible is more than fine with me.

However long my kids are happy playing together without you is great. The more the better. I'd be shocked if they can do an hour, but if they can (and you have eyes on them) that is fantastic.

Also - make them help you. Give the little one a dust rag, give the older one a swiffer. Teach them how to do it, how to help you, make it fun. (Obviously this might complicate things for you and slow you down - if it's too big a hassle then forget the idea.)

Basically OP - I think you're worrying too much. Unless your MB is cray cray you are a gem and she knows it. She also knows all too well the challenges of maintaining the house w/ toddlers.

[Anonymous]

Since when are laundry and once a week mopping considered "deep cleaning"? These, and most other cleaning tasks, can be done in 5-10 minute increments throughout the day. I'm sorry if this comes across as rude, but OP I think you might just have issues with time management and organization. Figure out a way to schedule cleaning into the flow of the day, this really shouldn't be that stressful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since when are laundry and once a week mopping considered "deep cleaning"? These, and most other cleaning tasks, can be done in 5-10 minute increments throughout the day. I'm sorry if this comes across as rude, but OP I think you might just have issues with time management and organization. Figure out a way to schedule cleaning into the flow of the day, this really shouldn't be that stressful.

Perhaps OP didn't list all of the things she does to deep clean.

OP you might already do this, but I will give you an idea I follow. I make a list of what to clean each week depending on our schedule. We all know schedules change, babies do not always take their full nap, and toddlers want to play! My list is more of a guidance. Each morning I look at my list and see what I want to get done. I do the bigger things first and work my way down. If I do not finish a task I add it to the next day. If I finish all of my tasks I see if there are smaller ones for the next day I can tackle. Friday evening if something hasn't been completed I tell MB and DB I just couldn't get to it because of X, Y, and Z.

I also keep a separate log from the children's detailing what I did each day. I know MB will read and see that I have used all my free time to keep up on the household chores detailed in my contract.

[Anonymous]

You are a maid/ housecleaner, not a nanny. Quit and find a job as a nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are a maid/ housecleaner, not a nanny. Quit and find a job as a nanny.

What solid, constructive advice!