How do you hire a housekeeper who also watches kids?

[Anonymous]

Anytime there is a thread where the parents want more than minimal help with cleaning and cooking, responses all say “that is not a nanny. That is a housekeeper who also babysits.“ Well, how do I hire that? I am a stay at home mom of three kids in elementary and preschool and between school and afterschool activities I don’t really want to outsource childcare. I barely get enough time with them as it is. What I really need help with is folding the massive piles of laundry, chopping some veggies for dinner, And the sweeping and mopping at the end of the day in the kitchen. But it would also be supremely helpful if I could find someone who is willing and able to do one of those tasks while also keeping an eye on one or two kids playing in the playroom while I shuttle the other one or two to an activity. My kids love all of their activities, but with three of them in different things, it feels like they all spend way too much time in the car or cooped up and I would love them to be able to just stay home and play after school if it is not their turn to go to swim practice or something like that. I am sure I could find someone if I were looking for full-time, but I’m really only looking for part-time. Thoughts on where to find someone? My husband is really ramping up at work and our life is getting increasingly crazy.

[Anonymous]

Start with hiring a good housekeeper type who would consider a little sitting, when you want to dash out. Tell her to enjoy some tea (in a covered mug) while you're gone. Hopefully your children are well-behaved. If not, forget it.

If you offer a good hourly rate, you should be good to go.

[Anonymous]

Advertise or look for a housekeeper - then ask if she would consider babysitting from time to time. Do NOT advertise for a nanny - that is not what you want.

[Anonymous]

Post a very detailed and accurate job description and then interview the candidates who apply.
We also have young DCs and found a woman who used to be a Housekeeper but lives kids, she’s happy to do everything you described and it’s such a time saver for me. She does childcare, cooking and light cleaning depending on the time of day
We have a Housekeeper deep clean once a week.
I think there are some very entitled and bitter caregivers who post here
There are also parents who misrepresent the job description and then the responsilities creep up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Post a very detailed and accurate job description and then interview the candidates who apply.
We also have young DCs and found a woman who used to be a Housekeeper but lives kids, she’s happy to do everything you described and it’s such a time saver for me. She does childcare, cooking and light cleaning depending on the time of day
We have a Housekeeper deep clean once a week.
I think there are some very entitled and bitter caregivers who post here
There are also parents who misrepresent the job description and then the responsilities creep up

If you're hired to shuffle papers, would you later be expected to "tidy" the bathrooms? No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Post a very detailed and accurate job description and then interview the candidates who apply.
We also have young DCs and found a woman who used to be a Housekeeper but lives kids, she’s happy to do everything you described and it’s such a time saver for me. She does childcare, cooking and light cleaning depending on the time of day
We have a Housekeeper deep clean once a week.
I think there are some very entitled and bitter caregivers who post here
There are also parents who misrepresent the job description and then the responsilities creep up

I don't think that the nannies who post here are generally entitled or bitter. They are not housekeepers and should not be asked to do anything beyond childcare and child-related tasks like cleaning up after their charge or doing the charge's laundry. You have a wonderful housekeeper who is happy to babysit your children - and that is great - but that is not who I am. I have a college degree and years of teaching experience as well as years of being a nanny and those who hire me know what they are getting.

To OP - I have known many housekeepers who love kids and would love to babysit from time to time. Just advertise for a housekeeper and include your list of requirements. Make sure she has up-to-date CPR and First Aid certification.

[Anonymous]

You simply advertise for a housekeeper who will babysit, OP. Not difficult or confusing.

[Anonymous]

But WHERE do I advertise? We found our current twice-monthly deep-cleaners through word of mouth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But WHERE do I advertise? We found our current twice-monthly deep-cleaners through word of mouth.

You can still use care.com/ Heading: Housekeeper/Babysitter. Or ask other friends' housekeepers. Be prepared to pay cash only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But WHERE do I advertise? We found our current twice-monthly deep-cleaners through word of mouth.

Get this book: https://www.amazon.com/Housekeeper-Cheaper-Than-Divorce-Afford/dp/0967963605

It goes through how to figure out what you want, how to write an ad, where to place one, etc. I personally had more responses to a print newspaper ad than I did online. The tax stuff is outdated, but the rest is very helpful.

[Anonymous]

I went through an agency. I wanted a true housekeeper but also wanted some babysitting. She is wonderful - a mother herself - and loves my boys. She cleans everything, chops and preps meals, does all laundry, bathrooms, etc and will only stop if I ask her to please watch the kids or take the baby for a walk. I was very clear with the agency and with our housekeeper in her interview that I would always ask when I wanted babysitting/childcare help and she should assume all other times that I wanted her to do housekeeping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went through an agency. I wanted a true housekeeper but also wanted some babysitting. She is wonderful - a mother herself - and loves my boys. She cleans everything, chops and preps meals, does all laundry, bathrooms, etc and will only stop if I ask her to please watch the kids or take the baby for a walk. I was very clear with the agency and with our housekeeper in her interview that I would always ask when I wanted babysitting/childcare help and she should assume all other times that I wanted her to do housekeeping.

1. How much did you pay agency?
2. What's her hourly rate?

[Anonymous]

Honestly; I'd LOVE this job. At this phase of my life I'd rather do housework and hang out with the kids for short bursts while SAHM is doing whatever. So long as the expectations were basic supervision and hanging out/playing with me if the kid wants to, I'd be thrilled to not have to tote them to a million activities or have as much responsibility as a full time nanny. Bonus points if the pay rate is a housekeeper rate but I only have to work 30ish hours a week and not arrive at the crack of dawn.

Someone wants this job, I promise. Just advertise it as primarily housekeeping with occasional sitting; but determine how occasional that is. Two afternoons a week? Three? Then work from there. Set the expectations up front and you'll probably have a few great candidates who just are done with the full time plus dragging kids all over town nothing is ever good enough for MB scene.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went through an agency. I wanted a true housekeeper but also wanted some babysitting. She is wonderful - a mother herself - and loves my boys. She cleans everything, chops and preps meals, does all laundry, bathrooms, etc and will only stop if I ask her to please watch the kids or take the baby for a walk. I was very clear with the agency and with our housekeeper in her interview that I would always ask when I wanted babysitting/childcare help and she should assume all other times that I wanted her to do housekeeping.

1. How much did you pay agency?
2. What's her hourly rate?

1. The equivalent of three months pay
2. $24 an hour

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Post a very detailed and accurate job description and then interview the candidates who apply.
We also have young DCs and found a woman who used to be a Housekeeper but lives kids, she’s happy to do everything you described and it’s such a time saver for me. She does childcare, cooking and light cleaning depending on the time of day
We have a Housekeeper deep clean once a week.
I think there are some very entitled and bitter caregivers who post here
There are also parents who misrepresent the job description and then the responsilities creep up

This. I've hired a bunch of people to do these things over the years. Don't hire a housekeeper and then ask her about occasional babysitting. Write a job description for a housekeeper/nanny or housekeeper/sitter, and describe how much of each you expect.