Anonymous wrote:I have a feeling our nanny is going other places besides the classes in our car. It seems like we go through gas quickly and they always seem to be gone too long. Do you think she would notice if I set the trip odometer to zero before they go anywhere? I'm almost tempted to pop in at the library to see if they really are when she says she is. Thoughts?

Just ask her to keep a logbook of where they go, mealtimes and nap times. This is quite common. also, having a schedule is good for young toddlers/kids as well, not taking a nap at 12 or 1 or 2 depending on when nanny gets back from her lunch at Montgomery Mall.

and unless you have a gas guzzling SUV, your kids are most likely going 4-8 miles roundtrip to get places so that barely uses a gallon of gas a week!

My wife does this too. I know that she works from 8 till 4. It's only a 15 minute drive but she leaves at 7:25 most mornings. What is she doing with the unaccounted for 20 minutes???!?! Then in the evenings, sometimes she doesn't come home until 5. That is a whole hour unaccounted for!!



Do you see how dumb you sound?


If your nanny is trustworthy, maybe she is going to get a few groceries, or picking up her prescription. Let it go.

Anonymous wrote:Leave a notebook. Ask her to write down where she went during the day. If you think she is lying, fire her.

Wow... firing on suspicion alone... ballsy.


I am a caregiver for 2 children on the weekends. We go to kid centered places and we also go to somewhere that I may need to go to. For example, we may pop into the grocery store if I need to get a few things. We go to lunch and the library and sometimes to the mall to meet the kid's friends. OP, if you're in DC, your nanny may be spending a lot of time in traffic as well.

Leave a notebook. Ask her to write down where she went during the day. If you think she is lying, fire her.

Get a GPS tracker for the car. http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=n%3A15684181%2Ck%3Agps%20tracking%20device%20for%20cars

She should be telling you where they went and there is a big difference between going a few miles and that much gas.

Well that depends. Did you tell her not to go anywhere else? Maybe they stopped for a snack or stayed late talking to other families or kid fell asleep in the car and she drove around. Or maybe she got lunch since she was out and she can't just go out for lunch like a regular office worker. I don't get the issue exactly - where do you think she is going, and if you find she drove 20 miles instead of 15 what are you going to do with the knowledge? How do you even know for that matter - does she have to check in when she leaves and returns?

Anonymous wrote:I have a feeling our nanny is going other places besides the classes in our car. It seems like we go through gas quickly and they always seem to be gone too long. Do you think she would notice if I set the trip odometer to zero before they go anywhere? I'm almost tempted to pop in at the library to see if they really are when she says she is. Thoughts?

I'm a nanny and I don't think you should say anything to her.

You should, however, pop in on her unexpectedly. Like pp said, they are your kids and the nanny promised a certain level of care when you hired her, so you have every right to make sure she is providing what she agreed to provide. If they are not where she says they are then I would calmly call her and ask her where they are and then let her sweat a little bit about not doing what she said she would do. We are paid to do scheduled activities and take care of the children. If you as the mother or father do not know where the nanny is with your children, then there it is probable that it has nothing to do with the upholding of their development or safety so it can be deemed as unnecessary if she is making extra stops along the way. I wish parents would check in more so the incompetent nannies could be busted and exposed for what they are. Childrens' safety and wellbeing is nothing to mess around with.

Ask her. Pop in on her anytime you want - they are your children and you have the responsibility to make sure they are being well cared for.

But don't be a jerk and come on this board just to accuse your nanny of some real or imagined wrongdoing. Be a grown up, MB, and address your concerns with your employees as your boss would with you.

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you have serious trust issues with your nanny.

You could be right about her however your idea has serious flaws in it.

Why can't you simply approach your nanny and ask her outright if she is going anywhere else than where she is supposed to go?

See how she responds. If she is lying to you, then in all honesty her time should be up as your child's caregiver.

I wouldn't want my child in the company of a blatant liar.

Why don't you just write down your odometer reading if you are so concerned about your nanny noticing?

You sound really paranoid and controlling. I'll bet she just drives around to keep her sanity.

I agree with a PP - is she not allowed to go other places? Is this the relationship you want with your children's caregiver?

My dad did this to me when I was about 16. Is this how you really want to treat the person you have hired (and presumably trusted) to care for your children? I think this says volumes more about you than it does your nanny...

It sounds like you have serious trust issues with your nanny.

I think you should just ask her before you do that. Is she not allowed to go elsewhere? Most nannies are allowed to go to places, within reason.

I have a feeling our nanny is going other places besides the classes in our car. It seems like we go through gas quickly and they always seem to be gone too long. Do you think she would notice if I set the trip odometer to zero before they go anywhere? I'm almost tempted to pop in at the library to see if they really are when she says she is. Thoughts?