Nanny not efficient - how can I talk with her about this or just let it go?

[Anonymous]

We hired a new nanny about a month ago, I think she is really wonderful, but I'm a little disappointed in how inefficient she is with baby-related tasks. For example, her start time is over 30 minutes before my daughter wakes up and during that time, she is supposed to get two meals ready and packed up (DD eats these meals outside the home). They are simple meals requiring very little preparation on her part, such as today's:

Meal 1: chicken strips, 1 yogurt cup, half an apple
Meal 2: infant cereal (the powder kind), steamed broccoli, 2 fish sticks

The chicken strips & yogurt were already prepped and in their containers so the only things she needed to do were: peel & chop apple; measure out cereal; steam broccoli; stick fish sticks in toaster oven. Everything gets put in its own container, then everything including water & milk thermoses & utensils put in lunch bag. In the 20 minutes the fish sticks are cooking, I would get all of this done easily, plus do some clean-up. Today, it took her over a half hour, or about 45 minutes after her start time. At the end of her work day, she has an hour to do baby-related cleaning during which I watch the baby. I've asked that at a minimum, she clean up DD's dishes and treat stains (not a full washing) on DD's clothes from the day and she will do just that, but with an hour, she has plenty of time to get to other things, but she won't.

I think it boils down to two things: 1) she doesn't think being efficient and keeping time are really important. She lives a 10 minutes' walk from us, but regularly arrives 5 minutes late. She takes DD to music class late (literally a 5 minute walk from us) and when she recounts their day to me, I'll often hear things like, oh I gave her dinner late because our play date ran over. I've told her being on time is important to me, but I know some people are just not programmed to keep time. 2) I get the sense she doesn't take ownership of the baby-related cleaning. She does what I ask her to (i.e., clean baby dishes & treat stains), but won't look around to see what else she can get to. I don't think I should have to ask her to do something that is obvious (e.g., fold & put away baby laundry that is hanging from the drying rack).

What's even more frustrating is that she asked for a minimum # of hours and so I gave her the extra 1.5 hours/day to do the baby cooking & cleaning. I often find myself at the beginning of the day doing some of the cooking for her so DD and she aren't late to class or whatever and at the end of the day doing the cleaning that I feel she had time to get to. I really like how this nanny engages DD, so would like to keep her. I would really appreciate some advice on how and what to communicate to her so that she does a better job with her ancillary baby-related duties.

[Anonymous]

I can understand a number of your concerns, but you have to mindful that not everyone or anyone for that matter will do things exactly as you would or in the timely fashion that you deem appropriate. If it takes her 45 min and you can do it in 30 Minnesota then kiddos to you. However, it sounds like you are micro-managing her. It is difficult to see someone do something not in the manner or time in which you would do it.

As far as the arriving late to your residence or to activities, that is an issue and should be addressed.

[Anonymous]

You are crazy. Way too much to expect this. What is wrong with you, other than laziness, that you cannot prepare lunches the night before? I did.

[Anonymous]

Have her watch you do it one morning. She might be doing each food item in order and not realize which things can be multitasked. Leaving and arriving late should be nipped in the bud immediately.

[Anonymous]

Some people are terrible time managers. If this is something that is important to you, you need to address it, and if it stresses her out too much to watch the clock, you might not be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can understand a number of your concerns, but you have to mindful that not everyone or anyone for that matter will do things exactly as you would or in the timely fashion that you deem appropriate. If it takes her 45 min and you can do it in 30 Minnesota then kiddos to you. However, it sounds like you are micro-managing her. It is difficult to see someone do something not in the manner or time in which you would do it.

As far as the arriving late to your residence or to activities, that is an issue and should be addressed.

I am mindful that some people are faster or slower than others, which is why I give her plenty of time to get things done. Our kitchen is open to the living room and I saw that she just spent 45 minutes washing the few dishes from DD's two meals today. It would take me 15 minutes! I'm not the model of speed and efficiency, I'm probably middle of the road when it comes to clean-up speed. She is just plain slow.

[Anonymous]

Is she Latina? She may just go with the flow too much. And yes, you may be enabling her. But she needs to get her act together in the morning and last hour. Maybe she is passively resisting meal making or cleanup? Is she a prima Donna?

Finally, if you are paying for a class or preschool, she needs to be early, not late. Tell her that again, it's important.

[Anonymous]

It's always challenging when combining certain duties along w/the actual CARE of a young child.

When a Nanny is expected to perform specific duties & have said duties done within a certain time frame, it can be like having more than one job.

A Nanny's primary focus should be on your daughter only and ensuring that she is the sole focus on keeping your daughter safe, well-cared for + engaged while you work.

If she has to have things done in the exact amount of time that it takes you to do the same thing, then that is being unreasonable in my opinion.

Everyone has their own way of doing things and to expert her to do all that you do in the same time frame is not fair to her.

I understand that whatever dishes/cups are dirtied during her shift should be washed as well as any toys/books all picked up prior to your arrival home.
If there are crumbs on the counter or tables, then of course they need to be wiped up, etc.
But pre-treating her clothing is a little much.
So is automatically assuming that she should do other chores.

You sound like you are more focused on the food prep + household duties vs. having a happy, well-cared for daughter.

And truthfully, that makes me very sad for her.

[Anonymous]

I don't think this is something you can teach, but FYI there are tons of nannies out there who are on top of everything and won't struggle to accomplish basic tasks.

[Anonymous]

Why does DD eat 2 meals a day outside of the house?
Your whole system seems bizarre to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think this is something you can teach, but FYI there are tons of nannies out there who are on top of everything and won't struggle to accomplish basic tasks.

This. Efficiency and timeliness and seeing things that need to be done and doing them are often innate. We have a great nanny who manages to get so much done when the baby naps. She just multitasks and used time very very efficiently. Dishes are washed right after a meal while baby sits in high hair and plays with a you or claps. They make a game of it for less than 10 minutes. I told her to relax and not worry about things except the baby and baby things like heating up food and bottles and baby laundry every couple days. But she's very energetic and doesn't like to sit still. I thank her for all the extra tasks every day (she manages to mop and vac every day) and try to let her go home early with pay at least once a week in return.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can understand a number of your concerns, but you have to mindful that not everyone or anyone for that matter will do things exactly as you would or in the timely fashion that you deem appropriate. If it takes her 45 min and you can do it in 30 Minnesota then kiddos to you. However, it sounds like you are micro-managing her. It is difficult to see someone do something not in the manner or time in which you would do it.

As far as the arriving late to your residence or to activities, that is an issue and should be addressed.

I am mindful that some people are faster or slower than others, which is why I give her plenty of time to get things done. Our kitchen is open to the living room and I saw that she just spent 45 minutes washing the few dishes from DD's two meals today. It would take me 15 minutes! I'm not the model of speed and efficiency, I'm probably middle of the road when it comes to clean-up speed. She is just plain slow.

Again, just because you would do it faster doesn't mean that she should. My concern is that you are sitting there watching her and you can easily do it yourself. Maybe that is why she is taking her time, you are supervising her. No one including yourself wants someone hovering over them while they attempt to work, it's both creepy and frustrating. I couldn't work for someone like yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think this is something you can teach, but FYI there are tons of nannies out there who are on top of everything and won't struggle to accomplish basic tasks.

This. Efficiency and timeliness and seeing things that need to be done and doing them are often innate. We have a great nanny who manages to get so much done when the baby naps. She just multitasks and used time very very efficiently. Dishes are washed right after a meal while baby sits in high hair and plays with a you or claps. They make a game of it for less than 10 minutes. I told her to relax and not worry about things except the baby and baby things like heating up food and bottles and baby laundry every couple days. But she's very energetic and doesn't like to sit still. I thank her for all the extra tasks every day (she manages to mop and vac every day) and try to let her go home early with pay at least once a week in return.

You most likely aren't the micro-managing type. It sounds like she got into a routine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's always challenging when combining certain duties along w/the actual CARE of a young child.

When a Nanny is expected to perform specific duties & have said duties done within a certain time frame, it can be like having more than one job.

A Nanny's primary focus should be on your daughter only and ensuring that she is the sole focus on keeping your daughter safe, well-cared for + engaged while you work.

If she has to have things done in the exact amount of time that it takes you to do the same thing, then that is being unreasonable in my opinion.

Everyone has their own way of doing things and to expert her to do all that you do in the same time frame is not fair to her.


I understand that whatever dishes/cups are dirtied during her shift should be washed as well as any toys/books all picked up prior to your arrival home.
If there are crumbs on the counter or tables, then of course they need to be wiped up, etc.
But pre-treating her clothing is a little much.
So is automatically assuming that she should do other chores.

You sound like you are more focused on the food prep + household duties vs. having a happy, well-cared for daughter.

And truthfully, that makes me very sad for her.

+1 sounds like OP is not allowing the nanny to do things her own way or get into a routine of her own.

[Anonymous]

oP has a nanny that does kid stuff without the kids in the beginning of the day and at the end. Most nannies could accomplish that lickety split.