Nanny and household chores

[Anonymous]

PP here - well I'm probably her last employer so she likely doesn't care about her future employers - and if she wanted more infant or toddler experience, she would have needed to leave a long time ago - of course she could have --- either she likes my kids, likes the job or likes the paycheck or I assume she would leave.

I just post here because there is always just indignation about nanny's doing housework and my nanny does - with her permission, otherwise we really wouldn't need a full time nanny (and we don't need help on no-school, sick or other days- our kids are old enough to stay home alone).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an employer, and we have never assigned duties to our nanny aside from the kids' laundry and keeping play areas tidy. However, our nanny is the type who never sits still, and she does a TON for us while our younger child naps (our older child is in school).

She not only washes the kids' clothes, but the adults' as well. The day our cleaners come, she washes and folds the sheets from our bed. She tidies the house and sometimes vacuums. We always take out the kitchen trash each morning before leaving, but she empties the small cans throughout the house on most days (I would never empty them daily). She makes our bed (we loosely throw the covers over, but she makes it all prim and proper each day). She pulls in our trash/recycling cans after they are picked up. I have even seen evidence of her pulling weeds (she grew up on a farm and loves gardening). She waters our indoor plants. The list goes on.

Would I include any of that in a job description, or make it a requirement? Of course not. But if we were on the market again, I would ask references if the nanny performed duties outside of childcare. We would be looking for the type of candidates who could be flexible as our family's needs change, and stay long-term.

BTW, I used to be a nanny and I took it upon myself to perform extra duties for the family, such as sometimes folding their laundry, dealing with dishes in the sink, unloading/loading the dishwasher, cleaning the kitchen counters, grocery shopping, etc. They were good employers, so I went the extra mile for them.

Absolutely! Let’s be realistic. Family needs change over time as the kids grow older, spend more time in school and the nanny has more time to do a few other things. Very few families can afford a housekeeper and a nanny. If the nanny has extra time (several hours of it) particularly with kids in school why not help out with cooking, laundry and a few errands? It works for the nanny in terms of extended employment as the employers needs change and it works for the employer in terms of keeping a trustworthy person within the family.

[Anonymous]

Well, OP, you sound like such a peach, no wonder she doesn't give a damn. Maids do household chores. Nannies only do child related chores. Hire a maid!

[Anonymous]

I would never ask my nanny to fold any laundry tantvwasnt kid related or do any of my dishes. She’s not a maid.

[Anonymous]

I'm a nanny for a 2 year old with a "solid" 2 hour nap. I clean the kitchen, sweep occasionally, grocery shop/meal prep for the family, tidy the living room, as well as all child-related tasks. I'm also well compensated to do these things and if they don't get done one day (rough nap, not feeling well, etc), no big deal. Some nannies don't want to do that, some (me) would rather spend that 2 hours or so actively doing something and making an extra $5-10/hr to do so. I'll sit and take a breather as needed if my charge is playing nicely (independent play is GOOD at this age) and spend the time that she eats her snacks meal prepping, but I don't feel that it distracts from my care for her and I allow NO screen time. Would I do this for $20/hr? I highly doubt it. You get what you pay for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here - well I'm probably her last employer so she likely doesn't care about her future employers - and if she wanted more infant or toddler experience, she would have needed to leave a long time ago - of course she could have --- either she likes my kids, likes the job or likes the paycheck or I assume she would leave.

I just post here because there is always just indignation about nanny's doing housework and my nanny does - with her permission, otherwise we really wouldn't need a full time nanny (and we don't need help on no-school, sick or other days- our kids are old enough to stay home alone).

This. We have the same nanny for >6 years. At first she only did small things around the house, focused on the babies. We had conversations about how the position may change as the kids grew older. She was eager to pitch in, loved working with our family. I don’t set a schedule or have a sheet with tasks, she is just naturally super neat and organized. We lucked out, yes, but you need to screen for willingness to clean upon hiring and then keep it in the conversation.

[Anonymous]

Majority of families in Va expected their nannies to be housekeepers too. Experienced it and never again!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the above PP. Emptying the dishwasher is one thing, but doing a pot leftover from the night before is how job creep starts. Unless she is live in and eating dinner with you she shouldnt be cleaning up your dinner stuff.

Emptying dishwasher is not a nanny's job. She should only wash and put away dishes that she uses during her time on duty and should only clean areas and put away toys used when she is on duty. The lazy MB is responsible for everything else in her house. She can hire a maid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious how many employers out there ask their nanny to do some minor household chores, independent of child-related responsibilities.
I’m thinking of chores like unloading dishwasher, folding laundry, washing an occasional pot left over from dinner the night before.

I ask because the more I talk to other families I get feedback that their nanny helps out a little around the house.

Our current nanny does not. We pay her $20/hr for 1 child (2-something) who naps for a solid 2 hours everyday.

[Anonymous]

Again, many on this thread are confusing babysitter with nanny.

A nurse isn't a doctor. A dental hygienist is not a dentist. The more professional one doesn't clean the instruments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the above PP. Emptying the dishwasher is one thing, but doing a pot leftover from the night before is how job creep starts. Unless she is live in and eating dinner with you she shouldnt be cleaning up your dinner stuff.

Emptying dishwasher is not a nanny's job. She should only wash and put away dishes that she uses during her time on duty and should only clean areas and put away toys used when she is on duty. The lazy MB is responsible for everything else in her house. She can hire a maid.

+1
I once had employers who tried to sneak in unrelated housekeeping tasks into our renewal contract. I had to tell them no.

"Every time I empty your dishwasher or take out your kitchen trash, it's a favor to you, not the responsibility of a nanny." So they had to redo the contract, as I will never sign my name to housekeeping chores. "Nannies" who do so, aren't really nannies. They're "household helpers" who will do whatever they're told to do. They are nanny wannabes. Getting all the chores done is their priority, not the care of the child. Does anyone care if the toddler had to watch tv for two hours? So sad.