Anonymous wrote:
You might also be specific about what she shouldn't be doing. Some nannies here think it's ok for them to sleep on the job when their charges nap. It's tough to be on call if a child needs her while she's sleeping.

That's what a baby monitor is for.

Television is not exactly a good source of what a professional nanny does.

OP, you definitely should pay for all hours your nanny is responsible for your child, on the books and including OT if applicable.

During nap time, she should get a short break and then do child related cleaning and laundry. You could negotiate other duties if nap time is very long, but be sure you are specific.

You might also be specific about what she shouldn't be doing. Some nannies here think it's ok for them to sleep on the job when their charges nap. It's tough to be on call if a child needs her while she's sleeping.

Being a nanny is caring for a child. Period. No ifs, ands or buts people.

Have you ever seen the comedy show, "The Nanny?" She cared for the children, but didn't clean the house. They had a separate housecleaner who did all of that.

Have you watched "Supernanny?" Did Jo Frost ever clean the house?? Of course not. She was too busy w/those kids.

Nannies care for the kids.

Keeping a child well fed, in a clean/dry diaper, well rested, entertained, educated, clean, safe and happy is a HUGE job.
People need to understand this.

Adding dishwashing, laundry and mopping/sweeping duties to it only takes away from the care one person can give a child.

It's common sense to leave the house better than when you came and wash the dishes the child uses as well as pick up his toys, but to expect to prep the family's dinner or do the laundry is absurd.

Then they are no longer just the nanny. Then they venture into The Cook, The Laundress territory.

Okay enough with the trolling/sock puppet. This is an anonymous Internet forum. You cannot possibly know who is who, so lets stop with the nanny generalizations and name calling. "Nannies" are not low class. Perhaps the PPs are, but for goodness sake stop grouping us all together.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A nanny does child care, not clean your house.

This is so true.

Seems most folks keep forgetting this.

What is it specifically that people are forgetting nannies don't do? No one suggested nannies should be cleaning toilets. The suggestions were for child related tasks so either you are being overly sensitive or you are lazy and don't want to clean up after your charges.

Some of the feedback from the nannies is just low class.

For people with a good attitude and sense of work ethic, they recognize that they are 'on duty' even if the baby is sleeping. Rather than sitting around and talking on the phone or watching TV for 4 + hours of the work day, it is good to see someone willing to do some dishes, prep some dinner, fold some laundry because you know what? Those things make the baby's life better. When the parents come home and the dishes are done and dinner is prepped, they have a sense of calm and gratitude wash over them and can focus their attention on their baby. I am surprised by the frustrated nannies who bully moms on this forum.


15$/hour is average
some nannies will work for $12/hour (and help with running the house!)
Older nannies with 15+ years experience may not take less than $20/hour
Nanny shares with two kids start at $20/hour

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! I just want to somehow make sure I'm not paying the nanny 20 dollars an hour to sit around playing on her phone for 4 out of 8 hours a day! Appreciate the advice on agreeing on the housework.

You say OP that you would be paying your nanny for "playing" on her phone??!

WTF??!!

How can you absolutely guarantee without a shadow of a doubt that your child will sleep for sure those four hours every single time your nanny is there? When if he is ill? When if he has a bad dream?

The nanny is on call to care for your child should he awaken.

Do firefighters not get paid when it's not fire season and there are no fires? Do they just sit around and play cards and make less money when the air is more moist?

I cannot believe some of these statements on this forum!!!!!!!

Anonymous wrote:A nanny does child care, not clean your house.

This is so true.

Seems most folks keep forgetting this.

Anonymous wrote:A nanny does child care, not clean your house.

Are you trying to say a nanny doesn't do children's laundry and other child related tasks or that they don't do deep cleaning? Because no one on this thread as suggested a nanny should clean anyone's house but every nanny I've ever known has done laundry etc as time permits. The ones who don't are babysitters.

A nanny does child care, not clean your house.

Unfortunately, you will. You will pay her The agreed $20/hour for 8-9 hours. As someone mentioned above, While your son is napping, she can not leave your home so she is still on duty regardless of your son sleeping :-/ so she must still get paid. you can ask her to do laundry, wash bottles, but that doesn't take long..

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! I just want to somehow make sure I'm not paying the nanny 20 dollars an hour to sit around playing on her phone for 4 out of 8 hours a day! Appreciate the advice on agreeing on the housework.

Most nannies will do the baby's laundry and bottles, maybe empty your dishwasher. Not scrub floors and toilets, or make your bed.

Thank you! I just want to somehow make sure I'm not paying the nanny 20 dollars an hour to sit around playing on her phone for 4 out of 8 hours a day! Appreciate the advice on agreeing on the housework.

I'm an MB. You pay the nanny for all the hours she is on duty - from the time she arrives and until the time she leaves your house. How long your son sleeps is irrelevant - first, his sleeping patterns can and will change, second, while he's asleep the nanny is still on duty, she can't leave or go buy a sandwich, and third, you and the nanny may agree on housekeeping duties she can perform while he is asleep. In a sense, the nanny is never off duty.

I'm new here and may have posted this in the wrong forum. Please forgive the repeat post. I'm new to being a mommy and was hoping on getting some advice from others who have nannies (not necessarily nannies need to respond as they may have a tendency to be biased).

How do you pay a nanny for an 8-9 hour day with lunches and breaks? How long are the breaks? I would need a nanny for 8 hours a day, but my son sleeps for 4 of those 8 hours (between two naps). Do you pay for an 8 hour day plus you pay them for an hour lunch break, or a half hour lunch break? Or are they expected to take a break during a nap time which isn't paid? I'm just not sure how this works and would appreciate some advice. Thank you.