Do a performance review for your nanny and let her know you are happy with her overall but would like her to do the child's laundry. I can't see why she shouldn't be able to do it. When I watch my friends baby and need to do laundry I just carry it in a big mesh bag and take the baby with me strapped into his stroller, it's not that hard.

If you're unhappy with your nanny, either talk to her or replace her.

But honestly, I wouldn't clean up after you, either. If you're cooking, you should clean up, not leave it for your nanny to clean.
+1, but most employers are like that, will leave a messy kitchen and expect their nanny to do all the job.

If you're unhappy with your nanny, either talk to her or replace her.

But honestly, I wouldn't clean up after you, either. If you're cooking, you should clean up, not leave it for your nanny to clean.

Anonymous wrote:We had a nanny for a few weeks who quit very early on for family reasons. She was our first nanny and I thought she was great and was really upset when she left - until we found our current nanny. And then I realized the first nanny had really been doing the bare minimum, and although she took good care of DC (she was sweet and gentle and he seemed to really like her), she definitely did not make life easier in any way. Our current nanny takes wonderful of DC (she is MUCH more engaging and dynamic with him, teaches him songs and stories, they do colors and letters, etc.) and also does much more around the house so that when I get home, I can focus on DC and not unloading the dishwasher, etc. And before we hear the refrain "you get what you pay for," we paid them both the exact same salary, on the books, same perks, same job description, etc.

If your current nanny is not giving you what you need, it's okay to move on. However, to be fair to her, I would give her a chance first - talk to her about what specifically you need her to do - child related tasks should have been discussed up front but are absolutely fair game - and give her the opportunity to recover from her trip and meet your needs. But at the end of the day, if you need something different, that is okay. As long as you, you child's parents, are constant in her lives, other caregivers will come and go and it's not going to have a negative impact on her.

Another MB here agreeing with this advice. It can be very enlightening to experience different nannies - in good and bad ways. Your long term nanny should be a solution, not a source of stress. If you have seen that perhaps there are better matches for your needs out there, and you feel that your current nanny is not interested in working, it is perfectly fine to move on.

Good luck.

We had a nanny for a few weeks who quit very early on for family reasons. She was our first nanny and I thought she was great and was really upset when she left - until we found our current nanny. And then I realized the first nanny had really been doing the bare minimum, and although she took good care of DC (she was sweet and gentle and he seemed to really like her), she definitely did not make life easier in any way. Our current nanny takes wonderful of DC (she is MUCH more engaging and dynamic with him, teaches him songs and stories, they do colors and letters, etc.) and also does much more around the house so that when I get home, I can focus on DC and not unloading the dishwasher, etc. And before we hear the refrain "you get what you pay for," we paid them both the exact same salary, on the books, same perks, same job description, etc.

If your current nanny is not giving you what you need, it's okay to move on. However, to be fair to her, I would give her a chance first - talk to her about what specifically you need her to do - child related tasks should have been discussed up front but are absolutely fair game - and give her the opportunity to recover from her trip and meet your needs. But at the end of the day, if you need something different, that is okay. As long as you, you child's parents, are constant in her lives, other caregivers will come and go and it's not going to have a negative impact on her.

Your sub was basically paid more because she was off the books and probably doing a great job because it was temporary.

I'd offer your current nanny an extra $1-2 to do all child related chores that the sub did. However, if you don't want to pay more then you will have to replace her because I doubt she would be willing to do more without extra pay after having such an easy job.

Some parents would be really upset at the idea of their nanny leaving DD alone in the apt while she went down the hall to do laundry, even if DD was sleeping. I'm not sure if that's what the sub nanny did, but I wanted to mention that.

I don't think there's anything wrong with negotiating at a year what duties can possibly change. It's a realistic part of the job.

As to whether or not to find a new nanny: you could always put out feelers to see what candidates you'd attract with the hourly rate you pay and the tasks you want.

To be honest, I'm blown away your nanny doesn't know how to text or send pictures. I know plenty of people in their 60's who know how....is your nanny older than that?

substitute was doing dds clothes not mine. we have a housekeeper for that.

as for not being able to afford a house and therefore not being able to afford a nanny that is just ridiculous to say.

thanks for your input to those who left constructive advice.

This has always been my fear if I have to temporarily leave a nanny position for whatever reason and the family hires someone else to replace me for a few weeks.

What if that person is better than me?

Well, this is a tough call, but you stated that it is a deal-breaker that the substitute does not want to be paid on the books so that pretty much makes giving you advice simple.

Ditch the replacement and stick w/your current nanny.
Sure she does not go above and beyond, but she works on the books and like you said, your daughter LOVES her which is a quality not to be taken for granted.

She may seem a little different now, but it does take some time transitioning back to work after a long vacation.

It doesn't sound like she is not competent to me. She is not neglectful or abusive and she doesn't call in sick every other week.

Why disrupt your daughter's life w/a revolving door of nannies?

I say keep her.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:sub was just doing DD's bed and clothes.

Where was DD while sub nanny was running in and out of the apartment to do all that laundry?

It is possible for children to leave an apartment.

But honestly, if you can't afford a house you can't afford a nanny.

Anonymous wrote:sub was just doing DD's bed and clothes.

Where was DD while sub nanny was running in and out of the apartment to do all that laundry?

sub was just doing DD's bed and clothes.

The substitute nanny sounds great, no doubt (although personally all the texting and photos throughout the day would annoy me, but whatever). My first thought in reading your post was "the sub nanny may burn out quick" and my second was a question. Was the sub nanny changing YOUR bedding, and doing YOUR laundry? Or just the child's?

If you want to change nannies, contact the sub and ask if she's interested. If so, agree on a date and then lay your nanny off.

OP,

Choose a friend whose job involves direct supervision of employees. Ask his or her advice on how to run a performance review. Then have one for your nanny.

Our Nanny went home for three weeks. While she was gone, we had a substitute nanny watch DD. Over that period of time I realized that our permanent nanny while incredibly loving to out daughter, could be doing a lot more.

Our substitute nanny texted me frequently and took photos of dd, cooked, did the laundry (it is at the end of our hall in our building), changed the sheets and made sure our daughter's room was clean. She did this all unprompted. Our current nanny won't cook, does not feel comfortable doing the laundry because she doesn't want to leave dd behind. Our current nanny is also older so she doesn't know how to text or do photos.

To make this more difficult. Our nanny seems even less interested in working since she came back. I'm trying to be sensitive to the fact that she might miss her family. But at the same time her attitude makes my life more challenging. I find that I am getting to work later because I have to do a lot more things in the morning (make lunch for dd, seperate laundry). When I come home the dishes are put away but she rarely cleans any pots and pans I have used to cook DD's lunch. At the same time DD loves her, is healthy, sleeps well at night etc.

We pay our nanny a competitive salary, with paid vacation, sick days and have provided her assistance with some family issues that have come up throughout the year. I feel like we have been good employers from that standpoint.

I would love to hire the substitute nanny but she doesn't want to be paid on the books. So that's a deal breaker for me even if she seems to be wonderful.

I know that part of this is my fault. This is my first child and I've never employed someone before. I probably should have set my expectations higher from the start. I wonder if after a year, it is too late to change things and if I should think about hiring someone new.