Child Related Duties

[Anonymous]

As a nanny, I expect to do all child related chores - baby's laundry, clean her room, etc.

On Monday mornings, I face a weekend's worth or laundry which I think is fine and part of my job. I also face several dirty bottles from the Sunday feedings which I'm also fine with. However, recently my employers have been leaving me chores that seem unfair to me - like making me clean the car-seat which I never use and a poop covered Bjorn (which I also never use at the MB's instruction) from their Saturday visit to the park. If this is part of my job, I'll gladly accept it but doesn't it stand to reason that I, as a weekday nanny, should generally be responsible for things that occur during my workday?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a nanny, I expect to do all child related chores - baby's laundry, clean her room, etc.

On Monday mornings, I face a weekend's worth or laundry which I think is fine and part of my job. I also face several dirty bottles from the Sunday feedings which I'm also fine with. However, recently my employers have been leaving me chores that seem unfair to me - like making me clean the car-seat which I never use and a poop covered Bjorn (which I also never use at the MB's instruction) from their Saturday visit to the park. If this is part of my job, I'll gladly accept it but doesn't it stand to reason that I, as a weekday nanny, should generally be responsible for things that occur during my workday?

Ugh. I would start looking for a new job. Your employers definitely crossed the line! Or just refuse to do those extra things.. just don't do it!

[Anonymous]

I'm in a similar situation, OP. I expect to do all child related chores as well but where is the line? I do use the car seat and infant carrier so I have no problem with cleaning either but recently my employers have asked me to steam-clean the floors where my charge has recently started crawling upon (outside of his room - I always steam clean the floor of his room). They want to encourage his crawling so they want me to allow him to crawl anywhere he wants - which is the entire apartment save the parent's bathroom. The child looks out of the windows, too, so should I be expected to wash all the windows?

The truth is that even if I accepted steaming all of their floors as part of my responsibilities - I simply do not have the time to do it. My charge takes his morning and late afternoon nap in the stroller on our twice a day walks and the only time I have to do chores is when he is taking his after-lunch nap for one hour (sometimes an hour and a half).

[Anonymous]

OP, to be blunt here your first mistake is thinking that as a nanny it is okay to do the baby's weekend laundry as well as wash her used bottles from over the weekend as well. Once you started being okay with doing all of that, you basically sealed the deal.

Doing the baby's laundry is not a given as a nanny, it is a perk for the family, but it is not something that you should just be expected to do. I have nannied for numerous families of infants and toddlers and many of them have not requested that I wash their laundry, yet I am still considered a professional nanny in my field.

Also, while I do believe that it is common sense as a nanny to wash whatever bottles you use during your shift with the baby, you are not responsible to wash any bottles used when you were not there. For you to do so and be okay with it as you stated was also an oversight on your part as well and also was another nail in your coffin so to speak.

Now the family is assuming that you are willing to do anything for them that they want because you have demonstrated to them that you are able and willing to do things that are not typical nanny duties.

It is obvious that this job is pretty much not going to last much longer.

In your next position, remember that being a nanny is providing childcare for a child. Keeping the play areas tidy and washing up any dishes/bottles used during YOUR stay ONLY is the only cleaning up that should be expected. Any laundry or add'l cleaning duties should not be expected, they should be negotiated separately as these are extra perks for the family.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Do we always have to jump straight to "find another job"? In both of these nannies posts they describe their charges as babies - could this just be a First Time Parent problem that can be resolved with a discussion?

No, cleaning a poopy Bjorn (gross beyond description since they let it sit for two days) and a car seat that you never use are not part of your child-related chores. Neither is steam-cleaning all the floors that the baby might crawl on. I would start by telling my employers that and refuse to do these chores - see where that gets you.

[Anonymous]

Posts like OP's and 7:56 make me understand why so many nannies are so angry and defensive on these boards. You are being taken advantage of and should not have to constantly defend yourselves from this crap from your employers.

[Anonymous]

What's the matter with some of these lazy parents?

[Anonymous]

Both OP and 7:56 have employers who crossed the line BIG TIME. Just say no, Nannies.

The two day old poop-laden carrier really is disgusting and absolutely the height of laziness (and "grossness") on the part of the parents. Since it is also your job to change the baby's diapers, why don't the parents leave the kid in the same diaper all weekend until you return on Monday morning?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both OP and 7:56 have employers who crossed the line BIG TIME. Just say no, Nannies.

The two day old poop-laden carrier really is disgusting and absolutely the height of laziness (and "grossness") on the part of the parents. Since it is also your job to change the baby's diapers, why don't the parents leave the kid in the same diaper all weekend until you return on Monday morning?

Don't give lazy parents any ideas!!!

[Anonymous]

If it is your job, it's your job. Why are you complaining here? Do it happily or quit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it is your job, it's your job. Why are you complaining here? Do it happily or quit.

She is asking if it is her job, Dear. She is not complaining.

If reading comprehension is difficult for you, I'm sure you can find tutoring assistance to help you so you stop embarrassing yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it is your job, it's your job. Why are you complaining here? Do it happily or quit.

She is asking if it is her job, Dear. She is not complaining.

If reading comprehension is difficult for you, I'm sure you can find tutoring assistance to help you so you stop embarrassing yourself.

Her job is to do what the parents ask. If she signed a contract then that governs things, but otherwise we can't tell her what her job is. Everyone keeps thinking nannying is some absolutely defined job. You are being paid by a family to help them out, mainly with childcare. Some families are great and keep it just focused on childcare, other parents try to get a little more help for their money. That's fine, if the nanny doesn't mind and doesn't quit then she keeps getting money and the families get more things done. Otherwise if it is a problem for this nanny, she should do as I said, and quit.

Hopefully that helps you understand the concept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it is your job, it's your job. Why are you complaining here? Do it happily or quit.

She is asking if it is her job, Dear. She is not complaining.

If reading comprehension is difficult for you, I'm sure you can find tutoring assistance to help you so you stop embarrassing yourself.

Her job is to do what the parents ask. If she signed a contract then that governs things, but otherwise we can't tell her what her job is. Everyone keeps thinking nannying is some absolutely defined job. You are being paid by a family to help them out, mainly with childcare. Some families are great and keep it just focused on childcare, other parents try to get a little more help for their money. That's fine, if the nanny doesn't mind and doesn't quit then she keeps getting money and the families get more things done. Otherwise if it is a problem for this nanny, she should do as I said, and quit.

Hopefully that helps you understand the concept.

You still do not comprehend her post, Dear. She is ASKING if this is an accepted part of her job. When one says "child related tasks" what exactly is the accepted definition?

And no one's job - ever, in any field - is to do what the employer asks. Ever.

Hope that helps you, Dear. If not, have someone read the OP's initial post to you. Sometimes hearing the written word read aloud helps people like you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it is your job, it's your job. Why are you complaining here? Do it happily or quit.

She is asking if it is her job, Dear. She is not complaining.

If reading comprehension is difficult for you, I'm sure you can find tutoring assistance to help you so you stop embarrassing yourself.

Her job is to do what the parents ask. If she signed a contract then that governs things, but otherwise we can't tell her what her job is. Everyone keeps thinking nannying is some absolutely defined job. You are being paid by a family to help them out, mainly with childcare. Some families are great and keep it just focused on childcare, other parents try to get a little more help for their money. That's fine, if the nanny doesn't mind and doesn't quit then she keeps getting money and the families get more things done. Otherwise if it is a problem for this nanny, she should do as I said, and quit.

Hopefully that helps you understand the concept.

You still do not comprehend her post, Dear. She is ASKING if this is an accepted part of her job. When one says "child related tasks" what exactly is the accepted definition?

And no one's job - ever, in any field - is to do what the employer asks. Ever.

Hope that helps you, Dear. If not, have someone read the OP's initial post to you. Sometimes hearing the written word read aloud helps people like you.

The accepted part of her job is doing the things the family asks. That could be washing their car, vacuuming the house, scrubbing the floors, staying overnight with the kids, etc. Do you have to do them? No, but if they decide to let you go you will know why. She signed on to do basic childcare for a probably basic rate, and maybe the parents need more of a housekeeper now, or they just don't feel like she is earning her keep, either way she better do a better job or look for a new one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it is your job, it's your job. Why are you complaining here? Do it happily or quit.

She is asking if it is her job, Dear. She is not complaining.

If reading comprehension is difficult for you, I'm sure you can find tutoring assistance to help you so you stop embarrassing yourself.

Her job is to do what the parents ask. If she signed a contract then that governs things, but otherwise we can't tell her what her job is. Everyone keeps thinking nannying is some absolutely defined job. You are being paid by a family to help them out, mainly with childcare. Some families are great and keep it just focused on childcare, other parents try to get a little more help for their money. That's fine, if the nanny doesn't mind and doesn't quit then she keeps getting money and the families get more things done. Otherwise if it is a problem for this nanny, she should do as I said, and quit.

Hopefully that helps you understand the concept.

You still do not comprehend her post, Dear. She is ASKING if this is an accepted part of her job. When one says "child related tasks" what exactly is the accepted definition?

And no one's job - ever, in any field - is to do what the employer asks. Ever.

Hope that helps you, Dear. If not, have someone read the OP's initial post to you. Sometimes hearing the written word read aloud helps people like you.

The accepted part of her job is doing the things the family asks. That could be washing their car, vacuuming the house, scrubbing the floors, staying overnight with the kids, etc. Do you have to do them? No, but if they decide to let you go you will know why. She signed on to do basic childcare for a probably basic rate, and maybe the parents need more of a housekeeper now, or they just don't feel like she is earning her keep, either way she better do a better job or look for a new one.

NP here and you are wrong PP. A nanny's job is far more defined than "what every the family asks". Further, there is a lot of room for adults between "do as you are told" and "or quit". The OP asked a specific question regarding what is generally accepted to be part of child-related tasks. You gave your opinion - now let others give theirs.


TO OP: I would say that cleaning the child's items that are soiled when you are not working and that you never use when you are working is beyond the scope of your child-related responsibilities. I would speak to the parents about it.