No OP, this is not standard. And for $30/hr your nanny should be providing significant enrichment activities, planned itineraries, have a background in childhood development or college degree or at least 15 years of experience with stellar references.

You are way over-paying for what you're receiving.

In the big scheme of things, I would say this isn’t a dealbreaker or a good reason to find another Nanny.

She sounds like she just needs a little direction…or maybe more.

The next time that she asks you what to give your child for lunch - simply respond that you trust her judgment/choice.
Remind her there are many options in the refrigerator & simply leave it at that.

You can also take a similar approach regarding daytime activities + outings.
If she asks you what she can do that day w/your child, simply suggest if she needs some craft ideas there are specific websites that are good for this.
You may have to suggest a few.

She may also ask you for help in where she can take your child during the day.
How well does she know the area?
If not too well > you may have to suggest a few places that are kid-friendly.

Bottom line:
Leave more of the decision-making to her and tell her that you trust her good judgment.

This could help build not only her confidence, but creativity as well.

Good luck!!

I’d look for a new nanny.

Anonymous wrote:No. Tell her you want her to take the initiative to plan healthy lunches and snacks, put items on a grocery list if they're running low, and you want her to plan activities each day.

21.42 again. I would say that OP needs to define healthy, but otherwise, this.

I don’t think it’s normal but I think if you otherwise like her you can make it work. Write down a few meal ideas for her, maybe come up with a loose schedule with her for a month so she gets an idea of what you want.

No. Tell her you want her to take the initiative to plan healthy lunches and snacks, put items on a grocery list if they're running low, and you want her to plan activities each day.

Not normal at all

No not normal at all nor good for your child.

Is your nanny foreign? How’s her English?

Anonymous wrote:We have loads and loads of art supplies, puzzles, games, plus a backyard with a playhouse and we are walking distance to a playground, library, coffee shop, etc. I also always have on hand easy prep kids meals (Mac and cheese, bread and deli meat, carrots, cucumbers, fruit, cheese, chicken nuggets…)

I informed our nanny of all this but, a few months in, she seems to want way more direction - like, to be told what to give for lunch and what actually to do each day. Isn’t that typically part of a nanny’s job? I don’t want to have to plot out all those details, especially when frankly we already have a lot of options.

We’ve also offered to leave her a car when she wants, she just has to give us slight notice so I can Uber to work instead of drive.

Nanny is paid 30/hour, mostly has one kid except for a few hours in the afternoon when she has my two older kids as well.

Wow. No, that's not normal.

I cook, actually cook, not just microwave.

I not only plan out our schedule, I track the $5 toddler/preschool nature center classes, the free museum events aimed at homeschoolers and little kids, etc. We go anywhere we want, whether that's Clemijontri or the science center.

No. Our nanny makes all the plans, schedules and daytime meal planning. She even has organized a playgroup for DD and takes charge of that. She’s bright and mature.

You have a timid and insecure nanny. If your kid likes her and she’s reliable and prompt. Just take an hour and make a schedule for her. You didn’t get a self starter but that doesn’t mean you can’t make it work,

We have loads and loads of art supplies, puzzles, games, plus a backyard with a playhouse and we are walking distance to a playground, library, coffee shop, etc. I also always have on hand easy prep kids meals (Mac and cheese, bread and deli meat, carrots, cucumbers, fruit, cheese, chicken nuggets…)

I informed our nanny of all this but, a few months in, she seems to want way more direction - like, to be told what to give for lunch and what actually to do each day. Isn’t that typically part of a nanny’s job? I don’t want to have to plot out all those details, especially when frankly we already have a lot of options.

We’ve also offered to leave her a car when she wants, she just has to give us slight notice so I can Uber to work instead of drive.

Nanny is paid 30/hour, mostly has one kid except for a few hours in the afternoon when she has my two older kids as well.