I'm an employer, and we have never assigned duties to our nanny aside from the kids' laundry and keeping play areas tidy. However, our nanny is the type who never sits still, and she does a TON for us while our younger child naps (our older child is in school).

She not only washes the kids' clothes, but the adults' as well. The day our cleaners come, she washes and folds the sheets from our bed. She tidies the house and sometimes vacuums. We always take out the kitchen trash each morning before leaving, but she empties the small cans throughout the house on most days (I would never empty them daily). She makes our bed (we loosely throw the covers over, but she makes it all prim and proper each day). She pulls in our trash/recycling cans after they are picked up. I have even seen evidence of her pulling weeds (she grew up on a farm and loves gardening). She waters our indoor plants. The list goes on.

Would I include any of that in a job description, or make it a requirement? Of course not. But if we were on the market again, I would ask references if the nanny performed duties outside of childcare. We would be looking for the type of candidates who could be flexible as our family's needs change, and stay long-term.

BTW, I used to be a nanny and I took it upon myself to perform extra duties for the family, such as sometimes folding their laundry, dealing with dishes in the sink, unloading/loading the dishwasher, cleaning the kitchen counters, grocery shopping, etc. They were good employers, so I went the extra mile for them.

Anonymous wrote:Just curious how many employers out there ask their nanny to do some minor household chores, independent of child-related responsibilities.
I’m thinking of chores like unloading dishwasher, folding laundry, washing an occasional pot left over from dinner the night before.

I ask because the more I talk to other families I get feedback that their nanny helps out a little around the house.

Our current nanny does not. We pay her $20/hr for 1 child (2-something) who naps for a solid 2 hours everyday.

No, our nanny does not do household chores. She does anything and everything related to my child - meal prep, laundry, grocery shopping, cleans my child’s room - but she would never (nor would I ever ask her) to do housework.

The idea of the housekeeper/nanny is outdated. Our nanny has a college degree in Early Education and years of experience as a teacher. She is not a house cleaner.

Anonymous wrote:The thing to do is discuss up front with your nanny because ot is very hard to change expectations. Just as you wouldn’t be happy if your nanny asked for a raise 6 months in for no extra work just because her friends make more, nanny is not going to take it well if you ask her to do extra work for no more pay because your friends’ nannies do.

+1

I could not have said this better myself! I really like the way you worded that.

I completely agree, obviously. I’m not saying that jobs are totally inflexible and conditions don’t EVER change. For example, work schedules can change, and a whole bunch of stuff changes as the child grows! This just seems like the kind of thing that’s unnecessary and could cause resentment.

If you really feel that your family needs more help around the house, you do have options. You could definitely attempt to renegotiate with your nanny. Please realize, though, that if you ask her to do more work for no extra pay, she is going to be resentful. She may agree to do the chores, and stay silent because she needs her job, but she’ll probably contemplate looking for a new one. I’m just being honest. That’s how I would feel, anyway.

If you’re going to ask her to do more, you’re going to have to add a little more pay to it, as the original agreement between you was $20 for the care of one child and child-related chores. How much that is would be up to you. I’m sure some posters here would be happy to shed some light on a fair upgrade.

There’s also the option of adding a housekeeper, but this would be phenomenally more expensive.

The third option is to hire a whole new nanny, but this would be a trying process, I’m sure. Best to avoid it.

TL;DR
1. PP makes a great point!
2. Original duties at original pay, extra chores for an increase in pay if that’s what you want.
3. Extra duties for no extra pay will bring a resentful nanny, even if she agrees (she might really need to keep her job). Also it’s pretty unfair.
4. Try a housekeeper if you’re loaded!
5. If all else fails, a new nanny?

I think that about covers it!

Wash your own pot! Nanny should only engage in CHILD household work! That includes cleaning the dishes the CHILD uses, cleaning areas the CHIlD messed up, washing the CHILD’S clothes and linens. Your are an adult and are fully capable of cleaning up after yourself don’t have another adult cleaning up after you that’s isn’t your spouse. Come on.

Anonymous wrote:I would no more ask a nanny to do housework (other than that pertaining to child(ren) than I would ask house cleaner to babysit. Nannies ARE NOT maids!

Exactly.

Anonymous wrote:This varies widely between nannies. Some nannies really don’t do anything but they focus on the child and never use screens and are super attentive. Some nannies are great at the household stuff but end up leaving kids in front of a tv or awake in the crib for longer than parents would like because they have to tackle their chores. Occasional rockstar nannies can truly juggle both well, and occasional dud nannies don’t help with household stuff OR pay much attention to the kids. It’s so widely varied.

The thing to do is discuss up front with your nanny because ot is very hard to change expectations. Just as you wouldn’t be happy if your nanny asked for a raise 6 months in for no extra work just because her friends make more, nanny is not going to take it well if you ask her to do extra work for no more pay because your friends’ nannies do.

You can have the conversation with her but my guess is you will need to hire a new nanny and screen for being proactively helpful up front.

FWIW, I am a nanny. I care for 2yo twins and I do a weekly grocery run with kids in tow, handle all kid laundry, cook all food for the kids and make family dinner four times a week, unload dishwasher daily, and while they eat family dinner I am still on the clock to do the washing up and sweep the kitchen and wipe down counters. I also run other errands one morning a week with the kids (costco run to stock up on diapers, post office, dry cleaner, etc.)

Wow..
PP you do quite A LOT.

I could never go grocery shopping w/two young children in tow.
You couldn’t pay me enough to do that!!
Did it when my own kids were young.
Never again!!

I think you are definitely more than a Nanny.
Your duties entitle you to be labeled a cook, house manager, laundress + errand runner.

My boss has started doing serious job creep. Asking me to meal prep then leaving me ALL the cooking dishes. Must be nice not to have to chop veggies and then leave the mess for someone else to clean! I used to wash the pans before this meal prep nonsense, but now I just move the pans to the second sink and leave them for the housekeeper who comes twice a week. Not my problem!

I've never asked our nanny for more than child related things (including dds laundry, making some food and cleaning up her olaysoaces). Our nanny was with us for almost 3 years and cleane and vacuumed the house once a week with the kiddo in tow, scrubbed the kitchen nearly every day, washed our towels with the baby's sheets. I thanked her for everything. I made it clear nothing was expected and we always left a clean kitchen, no dishes for her etc. she also raked leave during naps. She was just full of energy and could not sit still and dd napped 2.5 hrs a day solid heavy sleep.
She got generous holiday and birthday bonuses and was just an amazingly conscientious and hard working person.

We've had the same nanny for six+ years and the only non-child related two tasks we ask is that the nanny keep an eye on the dog's water bowl and refill if it's empty or near empty, and to receive packages/deliveries. I might have groceries delivered when the nanny is there and ask the cold items to be put away. The rest can be left out for DH or I do deal with.

I would no more ask a nanny to do housework (other than that pertaining to child(ren) than I would ask house cleaner to babysit. Nannies ARE NOT maids!

This varies widely between nannies. Some nannies really don’t do anything but they focus on the child and never use screens and are super attentive. Some nannies are great at the household stuff but end up leaving kids in front of a tv or awake in the crib for longer than parents would like because they have to tackle their chores. Occasional rockstar nannies can truly juggle both well, and occasional dud nannies don’t help with household stuff OR pay much attention to the kids. It’s so widely varied.

The thing to do is discuss up front with your nanny because ot is very hard to change expectations. Just as you wouldn’t be happy if your nanny asked for a raise 6 months in for no extra work just because her friends make more, nanny is not going to take it well if you ask her to do extra work for no more pay because your friends’ nannies do.

You can have the conversation with her but my guess is you will need to hire a new nanny and screen for being proactively helpful up front.

FWIW, I am a nanny. I care for 2yo twins and I do a weekly grocery run with kids in tow, handle all kid laundry, cook all food for the kids and make family dinner four times a week, unload dishwasher daily, and while they eat family dinner I am still on the clock to do the washing up and sweep the kitchen and wipe down counters. I also run other errands one morning a week with the kids (costco run to stock up on diapers, post office, dry cleaner, etc.)

I agree with the above PP. Emptying the dishwasher is one thing, but doing a pot leftover from the night before is how job creep starts. Unless she is live in and eating dinner with you she shouldnt be cleaning up your dinner stuff.

The “solid” two-hour nap is not really so.

Your child may have a bad dream, hear a loud noise or just outgrow his nap.

Unless your Nanny can get those two free hours guaranteed solid every workday, then she is on-the-clock & technically still working.

She is on-call should your child need her during this time.
Sure, she should wash any dishes used during her stay as well as clean up any crumbs the child leaves.
Also toys should always be picked up + put back in their place so the parents can come home to a calm vs. chaotic household.

Let her use any downtime to relax.
Mother Nature has it set up that younger children nap more since their caretakers are obviously doing more work thus needing more rest time.

Try not to stretch out your dollar to the point that your Nanny is assigned little “chores” here + there.

It wouldn’t be fair to her and your child will have a worn out & possibly resentful provider.

I am a nanny and I do not do household chores. I do empty the dishwasher if it needs it when I’m at work; I also use the dishwasher. I do any and all child related chores as well as food prep for the children. I’m not folding your underwear or cleaning your house for you. I clean the children’s spaces, do their laundrty, etc.

Just curious how many employers out there ask their nanny to do some minor household chores, independent of child-related responsibilities.
I’m thinking of chores like unloading dishwasher, folding laundry, washing an occasional pot left over from dinner the night before.

I ask because the more I talk to other families I get feedback that their nanny helps out a little around the house.

Our current nanny does not. We pay her $20/hr for 1 child (2-something) who naps for a solid 2 hours everyday.