Anonymous wrote:The housekeeper who worked in the home of one of my former employers, used to tell me about the used condoms she'd have to pick out of the sheets every Monday morning.

Making your bed is like washing your undies.
No nanny will do it.

A lot of nannies do the entire family's laundry. Not saying its right or fair, but it is part of the job for many.

The housekeeper who worked in the home of one of my former employers, used to tell me about the used condoms she'd have to pick out of the sheets every Monday morning.

Making your bed is like washing your undies.
No nanny will do it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My baby and toddler use dishes and silverware, so emptying the dishwasher pertains to them. Also, they need to learn to play somewhat independently - you don't need to watch them right there every second. If you're getting paid that much money it would be great if you were being useful during naptimes too. How hard is it for you to just make a bed?

How hard is it for you to make your own damn bed?

I leave my house at 7am after working out for 45 minutes, walking the dog, nursing two babies, and getting ready for work. So the last thing I need is to add more to that list.

That's not your nanny's problem. She has her own responsibilities outside of work too, and I'm sure she manages to make her own bed every morning.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My baby and toddler use dishes and silverware, so emptying the dishwasher pertains to them. Also, they need to learn to play somewhat independently - you don't need to watch them right there every second. If you're getting paid that much money it would be great if you were being useful during naptimes too. How hard is it for you to just make a bed?

How hard is it for you to make your own damn bed?

I leave my house at 7am after working out for 45 minutes, walking the dog, nursing two babies, and getting ready for work. So the last thing I need is to add more to that list.

Anonymous wrote:If a nanny is using the house for 40 hours, it isn't unreasonable to expect to unload the dishes/load (they are probably using some as well) and help out with other chores. Really, one baby is not big deal. If you were talking 3-4 kid, I would think differently. Funny how a SAHM can do all those things and more and a "nanny" who is paid to replace the mom cannot.

She is paid to replace the mother in matters of childcare only. A nanny should absolutely clean up after herself. This goes without saying.
I have never once heard a nanny dispute this on DCUM ever.
A nanny is not a SAHM. She is an employee who's job is to be involved in every aspect of caring for a child.
This includes hands-on care of the child, activity planning, activity clean-up, meal preparation, meal cleanup, child laundry, organizing of outgrown clothing, restocking of commonly used item (diapers, wipes, etc.)
It does not include making your bed.

This is Webster's definition of a nanny:

a person, typically a woman, employed to care for a child in its own home.

Nowhere does that say employed to make beds and wash adult underwear.
Pay for a flippin' maid!

If a nanny is using the house for 40 hours, it isn't unreasonable to expect to unload the dishes/load (they are probably using some as well) and help out with other chores. Really, one baby is not big deal. If you were talking 3-4 kid, I would think differently. Funny how a SAHM can do all those things and more and a "nanny" who is paid to replace the mom cannot.

MB here. I hate to say it, but maybe you want to try an agency. As a FTM the agency let me know what to expect and look for. I would not have asked a nanny to do the things you described, even though as a kid, my nanny (who yes, was a professional with many years experience taking care of kids) also did the housekeeping.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My baby and toddler use dishes and silverware, so emptying the dishwasher pertains to them. Also, they need to learn to play somewhat independently - you don't need to watch them right there every second. If you're getting paid that much money it would be great if you were being useful during naptimes too. How hard is it for you to just make a bed?

How hard is it for you to make your own damn bed?

For real. If its easy for her to do, it'd be easy for you to do, and since you're a grown capable adult and the one who actually slept in the damn bed, its sad that you can't do it yourself.

Anonymous wrote:My baby and toddler use dishes and silverware, so emptying the dishwasher pertains to them. Also, they need to learn to play somewhat independently - you don't need to watch them right there every second. If you're getting paid that much money it would be great if you were being useful during naptimes too. How hard is it for you to just make a bed?

How hard is it for you to make your own damn bed?

Anonymous wrote:When everyone started calling themselves a nanny vs. what used to be a sitter, and the middle class started to feel entitled to nanny care, you saw a change in the definition. Middle class parents are looking for a deal. What they want is a reasonably qualified sitter, and whatever extras they can get for the deal.

My advice if you don't want to deal with these kinds of parents, become the type of nanny that truly wealthy people (who know how to hire and treat staff) want to hire; have a degree in a relevant field, extensive experience, glowing references, learn a second language, and refine your "product", and work with an elite agency.

I agree with this.

My sister has a lady who comes to watch her kids for date night. Calls her her nanny.
A neighbor has an older teen (18/19) watch her kids on certain days when she needs "her own time" calls her nanny.

Everyone uses the term, sometimes to just sound like they are keeping up with the Jones

My baby and toddler use dishes and silverware, so emptying the dishwasher pertains to them. Also, they need to learn to play somewhat independently - you don't need to watch them right there every second. If you're getting paid that much money it would be great if you were being useful during naptimes too. How hard is it for you to just make a bed?

When everyone started calling themselves a nanny vs. what used to be a sitter, and the middle class started to feel entitled to nanny care, you saw a change in the definition. Middle class parents are looking for a deal. What they want is a reasonably qualified sitter, and whatever extras they can get for the deal.

My advice if you don't want to deal with these kinds of parents, become the type of nanny that truly wealthy people (who know how to hire and treat staff) want to hire; have a degree in a relevant field, extensive experience, glowing references, learn a second language, and refine your "product", and work with an elite agency.

People need to be educated about what a nanny is. It doesn't help when you have people making up terms like "housekeeper nanny". That's like my plumber gardener. Dumb.

Sounds like you have bad employers. I'm a new mom and I don't expect my nanny to do any of that. I don't even want her doing DS' laundry unless he majorly stains something and even then she just throws some Dawn on it and lets it soak in the sink and then puts it in the laundry. Other than that she just picks up after him (doing bottles/sippy cups and dishes, wiping down sticky surfaces, etc).

yeah, just sounds like bad employers but please don't lump all of us first time parents in the same category.

Why do new parents seem to think that "nanny" means "housekeeper"? I have a graduate degree in Early Childhood Development and make clear in interviews that I will do anything and everything that concerns the baby - do the baby's laundry, clean the baby's bathroom, clean the baby's room, wash the baby's bottles, etc. But my number one priority is to engage and keep the baby stimulated and learning when awake and safe when asleep. Maid services are cheaper that I am - so why do all new parents seem to feel that making their bed, emptying their dishwasher and doing their laundry is part of a nanny's job? Don't they want me to have my eyes on their baby at all times? Is their child's health and safety less important than unloading their dishwasher?
Since I specialize in infant/baby care, I am usually stuck with new parents who have never had a nanny before and it is frustrating to know that they will never realize how good I truly am until I'm gone and they can compare me to their next nanny.
So, new parents, if your baby is happy and secure in his/her nanny's care and if your baby is learning and hitting all developmental milestones, be grateful - you have a good nanny. And make your own bed.