Nanny for 2 kids, do they do housework and what else?

[Anonymous]

Hi there. I have a 10 month old in daycare and another due in late December. They will be 13 months apart. I love my daughter's daycare but I've been hearing with 2 that a nanny can be super helpful b/c they can also help with some light housework like the kids' clothes, washing bottles, etc.

Anyone switch from daycare to nanny when #2 came along? I know the scope of work is custom and expectations can be set with the nanny herself but what is reasonable to expect in terms of helping with housework from a nanny?

And finally, anyone who went from daycare to nanny have opinions on whether it made life easier?

[Anonymous]

Of course. Nannies deep clean your house once a week,, cook a gourmet dinner every night, do all laundry--not just children's--and, play your cards right and maybe you can find a nanny who is also a wet nurse.

Nannies take care of children. They are not maids and only clean up after children. Hire a maid!

[Anonymous]

Put both kids in daycare and hire a maid, OP. You do not want a loving teacher for your children - you want a maid.

I am being totally honest as a mother with employs a wonderful nanny for my children. I would never ask our nanny, nor would she ever agree, to so general housework! She is one-on-one with my twins - reads to them, engages them, comforts them and loves them. Having a nanny allows my children to nap in their beds, have their own schedules, learn what they are interested in, have quiet time, eat homemade and nutritious fresh food, and not have to be rushed out in cold winter mornings or get sick as often. Our nanny takes care of their laundry and cooks for them - but not for DH and I!

You sound more concerned with what your nanny can do for you than what she can do for your poor children.


Get a fricking maid and stop giving MBs a bad name!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi there. I have a 10 month old in daycare and another due in late December. They will be 13 months apart. I love my daughter's daycare but I've been hearing with 2 that a nanny can be super helpful b/c they can also help with some light housework like the kids' clothes, washing bottles, etc.

Anyone switch from daycare to nanny when #2 came along? I know the scope of work is custom and expectations can be set with the nanny herself but what is reasonable to expect in terms of helping with housework from a nanny?

And finally, anyone who went from daycare to nanny have opinions on whether it made life easier?

You are a Daycare Mother, OP. Keep your kids in daycare and hire someone to help you out with cleaning. You do not want a nanny.

[Anonymous]

What else do nannies do? They lovingly care for and teach your children in your home. If that is not enough for you, OP, stick with daycare and find a good cleaning service.

What do nannies not do? They do not clean your house!

[Anonymous]

Stay home with your newborn and your young toddler and tell me how much cleaning you get done.

You sound like a real piece of work, OP. I have never said this before but you are not the type of parent who should ever employ a nanny. Grateful and happy is the nanny who does NOT take a job with you.

[Anonymous]

I concur OP that you seem like you want a 2+1 deal.

Pay the same price you pay for a daycare yet get childcare for TWO young children as well as a laundress for them too!!

And if she washes your baby's bottles then consider that an extra bonus!

[Anonymous]

Every single PP on this thread is an asshole who has probably never actually worked as or employed a nanny. OP is not asking about anything unreasonable at all. Of course the nanny will do the kids laundry and wash the bottles. For a real response, check your thread in the other forum.

[Anonymous]

I think you're getting a lot of snarky responses because of your title. But most PPs are being outrageous. You shouldn't expect much general housework with 2 babies but child-related cleanup is totally reasonable. Haven't used daycare so I don't have a perspective there, but one big benefit of a nanny is maximizing my quality time with my baby (or DH) instead of spending my evenings and weekends getting through the backlog of baby errands. My nanny does the following:
- Clean baby bottles and other food supplies
- All baby laundry (no adult laundry)
- Clean toys on a regular basis
- Handle baby supplies (opening delivery boxes of diapers, stocking the changing tables)
- Take out the trash as needed (she doesn't go around the house emptying every trash can, but does take out kitchen/diaper bags if they get full during the day)
- Prepare baby food (and occasionally picking up a few items at the grocery store mid-week if we run out of something)
- Keep the baby's room tidy (put away toys and books, rotate clothing as he grows out of them)

We do have a cleaner come once a week for general house upkeep, though. I actually prefer my nanny take the baby out when the house is being cleaned or at least play with her in a room the cleaners don't clean that day. Vacuuming has woken him up a couple of times and I'd rather that she not be using cleaning chemicals while handling my baby. Your kids may not nap at the same time very frequently, so you should think about how much of their awake time you really want your nanny to be spending on cleaning as opposed to giving them individualized attention.

[Anonymous]

When you say "housework" it makes it seem like you are referring to dusting, cleaning bathrooms, bedrooms, laundry, etc. that is related to everyone in the household. If that is the case you will need a "housekeeper!" A nanny's (housekeeping) responsibilities should only pertain to the children (cleaning up their messes- playroom, eating area, laundry (washing, drying and folding), washing bottles, loading and unloading dishwasher).

Working with a toddler and an infant is hardwork and therefore, you definitely shouldn't give your nanny too much additional work, as you don't want to take time away from your babies or burn your nanny out. However, you can ask the nanny during her interview if they have ever did other housework that they were comfortable with and go from there. But if you go in saying "dusting is a requirement" you will not find a nanny and of course ALL responsibilities should be listed in the contract prior to her start date.

Transitioning from daycare to a nanny is definitely beneficial for both the parent(s) and child(ren). For the children, they get to experience the world and have a one-one interaction (park, museums, shows, train rides, etc.). In daycare this is limited as they aren't allowed to ride the bus and ratio issues/staffing-I use to work in daycare as well. Also, the children will be sick less! For the parents, you have someone come to your house, you don't have to worry about getting yourself and 2 children dressed in the morning, putting them in car seats etc. You have someone who can help out with kids laundry and overall come home to a clean house (no toys everywhere or a dirty kitchen). However, your nanny shouldn't come to work to look at a mess in the kitchen! You have flexibility if you're running late from work (please inform her in advance, don't let it happen everyday/week, and compensate for your tardiness).

Overal, us nannies are human and if you wouldn't/couldn't do a billion things while with 2 children under 2, then don't expect us to! Be fair and know we enjoy teaching and loving children and that's why we're in this field. If we wanted to clean all day we would have chose the housekeeping business.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every single PP on this thread is an asshole who has probably never actually worked as or employed a nanny. OP is not asking about anything unreasonable at all. Of course the nanny will do the kids laundry and wash the bottles. For a real response, check your thread in the other forum.

I actually agree with the other PP's and I was a nanny and now employ a nanny! The thread title is very off-putting. And OP never asked about what benefits a nanny will provide for her children - just for herself.

But to answer OP's question: A nanny's responsibility is the care of your child. Therefore a nanny should do anything and everything related to the care of a child - the child's laundry, the child's meal prep and clean up, cleaning the child's bathroom and toys. But NO general cleaning (she should not make your bed or vacuum your bedroom for example).

OP should be more concerned that the nanny is going to narrate and talk to her newborn and play, engage and teach her 13 month old.

[Anonymous]

My friends nannies all do light housework, cleaning up completely after the kids, some light cooking, all kids laundry and other tasks.
There are enough nsnnied who are willing to do all this, and they get paid well. My friends all pay their nannies $20-$22/hour.
We also know nannies who do less, and really "just take care of the kids" They make around $15/hr.

The more valuable you are to your boss- the more they will pay you.
You choose what kind of nanny you want to be.

[Anonymous]

I am a PP & take offense about being called an a-hole.

So much so that my judgement will likely be clouded w/emotion from the PP who went for that cheap shot.

I am of the opinion that any Nanny who has assigned household chores, no matter what they are will have to take a certain amount of precious time away from your children.

And stretching your dollar only benefits YOU, it in no way, shape or form benefits your children.

[Anonymous]

I don't think the previous posters were assholes at all. OP never once asked what a nanny can do for her babies - only for herself. It was difficult for me, as an MB, to read. I think she got what she deserved for such a selfish post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friends nannies all do light housework, cleaning up completely after the kids, some light cooking, all kids laundry and other tasks.
There are enough nsnnied who are willing to do all this, and they get paid well. My friends all pay their nannies $20-$22/hour.
We also know nannies who do less, and really "just take care of the kids" They make around $15/hr.

The more valuable you are to your boss- the more they will pay you.
You choose what kind of nanny you want to be.

I am a great nanny with a degree in Early Childhood Education and years of both teaching and nanny experience. I am not hired for my ability to clean. And I get too dollars (28 an hour for one child) to teach and engage the child. If that is not a value to the parents then they should hire a housekeeper who babysits.

And I don't like OP either based on her "me, me, me" post.