How long do other Nannies hang around at the end of the day?

[Anonymous]

Hi Nannies and Parents,

Just wondering how long is considered normal for a Nanny to stay once Mum or Dad come home? Our Nanny is so lovely and it couldn't be a better fit but my only frustration is that she hangs around for a long time in the evenings. We get home by 5pm and she is regularly still there at 6pm. We offer her to stay for dinner often but she always declines, she just seems to want to continue to play with the children. As I do work I do value this time with my children so at times I have felt slightly annoyed. I also find most evenings awkward as they end with me having to (kindly) insist she goes home so we can eat and have baths.

She lives at home still and seems to have a good relationship with her siblings and parents so I don't think she is in need of company.

What do you think?

[Anonymous]

That is a bit awkward. I have no suggestions other than do the bit where you insist she leaves earlier.

With families with whom I have a strictly professional relationship (casual babysitting or maybe we don't really click on a personal level) I stay maybe 5 minutes tops, just to brief them on what we did, exchange pleasantries. With the families with whom I am friends and have a close relationship with I usually stay longer - 15-20 minutes maybe? Chat about the day and all sorts of things. There's one family I babysit for occasionally, and they usually come home a bit buzzed, and they both turn so unbelievably chatty, good god. I have to be very creative to get away after 15 or 20 minutes - and they're lovely people, but at 1am I just want to go home and sleep!

If I'm babysitting into the night and have to wait for a cab, the parents would chat with me until it's there.

There was one awkward family with whom I had guaranteed hours, they paid me from 3-8pm, but the dad would get home at around 6.30-7pm, and I never knew if I should hang around and do something or if I were free to go, because he didn't really do anything with the kids (they were late preteens, so didn't need much doing with to be fair), nor did he say anything to me about being free to go. Maybe that's something that's happening with your nanny, she feels she has to be on all the hours you're paying her for?

[Anonymous]

Is her end time 5pm ? It is weird she stays longer.

I would tell her to leave politely at 5.05pm ...

[Anonymous]

Are you paying her the extra time she stays? If so that needs to stop she might just be staying to make extra money

[Anonymous]

I have a wonderful relationship with my NF. I stay for 5 minutes, if that. Usually longer if we are discussing an issue my charge is having. She should respect the end time you established. After a 9 hour day, I am ready to leave.
I do think it is wonderful that she enjoys your kids so much.

[Anonymous]

He stays 5-10 minutes. A few times he stays longer talking with DH about music or sports or something, but then I tell dh to him go do his own life.

If you want your nanny to leave just tell her you're baking a new goal to spend concentrated time with your kids so that means she really IS off the clock by 5. Some people just don't know how to make an exit. Just pick up one of Yuit kids and say "okay say goodbye, Nanny has to go have her dinner and do her life now." Say things to her like "I don't want to keep you, so have a great night." Hopefully she'll take the hints.

[Anonymous]

I typically stay about 5 minutes sometimes 2 minutes. If it's a casual babysitting job where I don't see the parents often then it could be 15 minutes of casual talking and catching up.

1 hr is crazy

[Anonymous]

I leave immediately. My boss has made it known she wants alone time with the kids. If it's fuzzy because she's home super early from work, she says "ok I can take over now!" Which is my cue.

[Anonymous]

I will hang out maybe five minutes top on any given day just to say hello/goodbye and talk about the day. With my old family I would only stick around longer if DB came home first and wanted to change before taking over.

[Anonymous]

I'm off work at 5:00 and if DB is the one to get home first, I am gone within 5 minutes as he's not a big talker and will tell me "you're all set to go". If MB comes home, I will usually be around for at least 15 minutes as she likes to ask about our day, etc.

I think an hour is very weird. I would start politely giving her the hint to leave BY 5:15.

[Anonymous]

In the last few nanny positions I've had the parents always tell the kids that it's time to walk me to the door and say bye. It's perfect because then I know they are ready for me to leave yet it's in a polite way and it teaches the children good manners. OP, tell your nanny you want to start working on manners with the kids more. Think of at least one other new policy you want to start in regards to manners and ask your nanny to help you.

[Anonymous]

15 to 20 minutes, by the time you have to tell the parents,what you did for the day, what they ate for lunch, their nap schedule as well ad asking how their day at work went.
In the winter I stay a little longer to warm up my car. They also like to hear how I am doing.

[Anonymous]

We have an overnight nanny, her shift ends at 7am- she stays until 1pm!!!!!!!! So annoying!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have an overnight nanny, her shift ends at 7am- she stays until 1pm!!!!!!!! So annoying!

[Anonymous]

My shift ends at 5:30. I stay 10 minutes unless MB or DB wants to discusss anything. They never keep me over 20 minutes. I stay 10 minutes to briefly talk about the day, upcoming events, and so my employers can change. Then I leave when my bus arrives.

On Fridays MB will ask what my plans for the weekend are and I do the same. I would politely tell her that " while you appreciate all her help, you really look forward to that time with your children. Can you please respect that and leave at a timely manner each day".

That is annoying.