I had a family confront me about crayon marks on the sofa which suggested I wasn't watching the kids. It never occurred to them this happened under their watch! I NEVER allowed my charges to play with crayons so I know it didn't occur with me. I was also pissed because the dad texted me one time and said: "Please stop leaving half used cans of coke in the downstairs fridge!" I never would do that and I texted him back saying so...never got an apology. That guy was such an arrogant ass! Still mad about that!

Yikes! If I were you OP, I wouldn't allow other nannies and their charges into your home in the first place. Just too much liability and wear and tear on your home.

I think the nannies just goofed off while they let the kids do their thing. If your nanny wants to meet up with other nannies, I suggest she meet them somewhere else.

I would be mad at the Kool-aid on the rug and the markers on the sofa cushions. Ask her if she knows anything about it and see how she reacts.

A good nanny will take full responsibility and offer to pay to clean or replace the damage. A bad nanny will deny, deny deny.

As for the markings in the child's book, that is pretty much par for the course when you have kids. As a nanny, I wouldn't encourage a child to write in his books, but if he did when I was distracted, I most likely wouldn't think it such a big deal that I would tell the parents.

I think the real question is, has your child ever spilled or damaged something while under your supervision? Can you forsee your child ever spilling or causing "damage" to your house under your supervision. If the answer is yes, you should probably just accept that it comes with the toddler territory.

Assuming it took place on Friday and you noticed it in the daylight of Saturday morning, I would definitely ask your nanny about it. Also reiterate house rules about where to eat, where to color, and what to color on. Toddlers have that year long phase where they actually have to watched. This proves they were not being watched, at least while eating or using coloring utensils all around the house.
My family keeps utensils on the activity table and that's that. And no food outside the kitchen unless a leakproof sippy cup.

Anonymous wrote:Saturday morning we noticed there was red koolaid spilled on a rug, marker scribbles in each page of at least two children's books, and black marker scribbles on three separate sofa cushions.
Our nanny did not say a thing abut this on Thursday or Friday. Our kid does not drink koolaid and we noticed there was a play dates bib drying on the rack.

Not sure how to bring this up to the nanny. Are v disappointed that none of this behavior was prevented (toddlers drinking red juice in the living room, scribbling on the couch and in books) especially when 2-3 nannies were over at the house with their charges. And again, no mention of it at all, equally disappointing.

Three nannies and how many toddler charges?


I am an MB and you are blowing this WAY out of proportion, OP. I doubt your nanny noticed the "damages" if another child caused it.

Nanny here. Bring it up. I would be upset she didn't mention anything. I've ruined a mattress pad and accidentally clipped my charges nail, resulting in a little blood. I told MB when she got home and offered to replace the mattress pad. If my nanny didn't tell me these things, I would wonder if she does things on the job that she isn't suppose to.

Anonymous wrote:You didn't notice it until at least a day after it happened so is it possible your nanny didn't notice it as well? Maybe just ask before jumping to conclusions that she was being neglectful and dishonest.

+1 Why didn't you notice the big stuff (like red koolaid stain) earlier? If the nanny had a play date at your house there is a strong chance she didn't notice the "damage" either and the other kids caused it.

Anonymous wrote:Saturday morning we noticed there was red koolaid spilled on a rug, marker scribbles in each page of at least two children's books, and black marker scribbles on three separate sofa cushions.
Our nanny did not say a thing abut this on Thursday or Friday. Our kid does not drink koolaid and we noticed there was a play dates bib drying on the rack.

Not sure how to bring this up to the nanny. Are v disappointed that none of this behavior was prevented (toddlers drinking red juice in the living room, scribbling on the couch and in books) especially when 2-3 nannies were over at the house with their charges. And again, no mention of it at all, equally disappointing.

How do you know it was red koolaid? And what is a "ply dates bib"?


Anyway, simply ask her about the damage.

You didn't notice it until at least a day after it happened so is it possible your nanny didn't notice it as well? Maybe just ask before jumping to conclusions that she was being neglectful and dishonest.

Saturday morning we noticed there was red koolaid spilled on a rug, marker scribbles in each page of at least two children's books, and black marker scribbles on three separate sofa cushions.
Our nanny did not say a thing abut this on Thursday or Friday. Our kid does not drink koolaid and we noticed there was a play dates bib drying on the rack.

Not sure how to bring this up to the nanny. Are v disappointed that none of this behavior was prevented (toddlers drinking red juice in the living room, scribbling on the couch and in books) especially when 2-3 nannies were over at the house with their charges. And again, no mention of it at all, equally disappointing.