"my question is how long is good for the children to play together, or what is a good cleaning schedule AND is it normal for the house to look like a total mess -not "Do I have time management issues." "

MB here...
1. You seem like a very good nanny - willing to recognize you selected a job where a certain level of responsibilities justify a higher pay rate than would otherwise have been offered, AND concerned about how to make sure it's not bad for the kids. Kudos to you.

2. I think a 1/2 hr of play time at a pop is reasonable. An hr seems too long. 2 1/2 hr segments in the day are fine.

3. I find it odd that the 3 yr old is not required to at least "rest" some - i.e. quiet play time in room for an hr. That to me seems reasonable up to age 5 (DC is almost 6 and i still have her do it for my sanity and because I think she does better with some quiet time too). I would ask MB about this unless she's made it clear that she does not want DC to have quiet time. If she's ok with it, that would give you a bit of a rest - which everyone needs, especially nannies (and moms) - and perhaps a bit of uninterupted time then too.

4. They can also do supervised things while you clean like painting/coloring.

5. I would break laundry up. Keeping it going during the week and folding a load at a time while the kids play with/by you seems much easier.

Anonymous wrote:I do see what you are saying, yes it certainly is a lot of work. But I am paid very very well, and treated with the upmost respect. And the deep cleaning is spread out, like mopping once per week, laundry once per week. It does get a little nuts at times, but how does a mother do it, if they don't have a housekeeper? So what you're saying is most people only do cleaning while they nap. Well, the 3 year old doesn't take naps, so...idk. I do love how you said "No one in their right mind could do all of this and keep an immaculate home. " So that gives me lots of clarity that it is normal for the house to look like a tornado went through it at time throughout the day! Thanks!!!!!!!!!

Laundry and sweeping is NOT deep cleaning. Are you doing the whole family's laundry or just the children? I ask because laundry for the children is usually standard in the nanny world.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are responsible for a child like the 3 yr old., who doesn't nap at all during your shift, then it really is not a good idea to assign you any type of household tasks that would divert your attention away from him. Children at that age need constant supervision and just turning your back from him for even one second can have catastrophic results.

If you don't have any downtime during your day, then the most you should be doing is perhaps cleaning up any toys the kids played w/during your stay as well as washing any dishes used and even wiping down counters/tables, etc.

But once a week mopping the floors and doing laundry should not be mandatory.
Your attention should be focused on the child and the child only.

Calm Down helicopter nanny.

LoL

Anonymous wrote:If you are responsible for a child like the 3 yr old., who doesn't nap at all during your shift, then it really is not a good idea to assign you any type of household tasks that would divert your attention away from him. Children at that age need constant supervision and just turning your back from him for even one second can have catastrophic results.

If you don't have any downtime during your day, then the most you should be doing is perhaps cleaning up any toys the kids played w/during your stay as well as washing any dishes used and even wiping down counters/tables, etc.

But once a week mopping the floors and doing laundry should not be mandatory.
Your attention should be focused on the child and the child only.

Calm Down helicopter nanny.

Anonymous wrote:If you are responsible for a child like the 3 yr old., who doesn't nap at all during your shift, then it really is not a good idea to assign you any type of household tasks that would divert your attention away from him. Children at that age need constant supervision and just turning your back from him for even one second can have catastrophic results.

If you don't have any downtime during your day, then the most you should be doing is perhaps cleaning up any toys the kids played w/during your stay as well as washing any dishes used and even wiping down counters/tables, etc.

But once a week mopping the floors and doing laundry should not be mandatory.
Your attention should be focused on the child and the child only.

I highly disagree. The three year old is in the same room as me always, in fact she's pretty much glued to my side if she's not just running back and forth, or playing with her stuffed animals. Their is such thing as childproofing. I couldn't imagine paying a nanny as much as what I am, and not have chores be included.

Anonymous wrote:If you are responsible for a child like the 3 yr old., who doesn't nap at all during your shift, then it really is not a good idea to assign you any type of household tasks that would divert your attention away from him. Children at that age need constant supervision and just turning your back from him for even one second can have catastrophic results.

If you don't have any downtime during your day, then the most you should be doing is perhaps cleaning up any toys the kids played w/during your stay as well as washing any dishes used and even wiping down counters/tables, etc.

But once a week mopping the floors and doing laundry should not be mandatory.
Your attention should be focused on the child and the child only.

This is just so very wrong.

If you are responsible for a child like the 3 yr old., who doesn't nap at all during your shift, then it really is not a good idea to assign you any type of household tasks that would divert your attention away from him. Children at that age need constant supervision and just turning your back from him for even one second can have catastrophic results.

If you don't have any downtime during your day, then the most you should be doing is perhaps cleaning up any toys the kids played w/during your stay as well as washing any dishes used and even wiping down counters/tables, etc.

But once a week mopping the floors and doing laundry should not be mandatory.
Your attention should be focused on the child and the child only.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm an MB. Here's my two cents - I do not expect the house to be tidy at all times. That is flat out impossible w/ kids, let alone two toddlers. I like it to be tidy when I get home and I try to make sure it's tidy when you arrive for work. Anything in between is a free for all.

If you are doing any level of deep cleaning at all - god bless you. You make my life infinitely easier and I soooo appreciate it. Whatever schedule or system works for you to make that possible is more than fine with me.

However long my kids are happy playing together without you is great. The more the better. I'd be shocked if they can do an hour, but if they can (and you have eyes on them) that is fantastic.

Also - make them help you. Give the little one a dust rag, give the older one a swiffer. Teach them how to do it, how to help you, make it fun. (Obviously this might complicate things for you and slow you down - if it's too big a hassle then forget the idea.)

Basically OP - I think you're worrying too much. Unless your MB is cray cray you are a gem and she knows it. She also knows all too well the challenges of maintaining the house w/ toddlers.

I can't thank you enough for your insight. Yes, the children play well together for at least 20 minutes, and I think they're fine for 30-40. I'm always afraid they'll feel neglected-but if you really think about it, if they are tended to alll day long from their parents and me, wouldn't independent free time be good for them!??? And yes-They are always in my view and safe. Yes, the MB always rants and raves about my work. To be honest I've always worked for cray cray MB's, so when I now have met a nice MB who appreciates me, I couldn't tell whether she's being genuine or not. Your post has really helped me realize she's being genuine, and I do worry too much. Thank you!!!

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes, I close off one or two rooms to the kids. I know those rooms are clean and tidy, so it makes the rest of the house manageable until the parents come home. May be for two hours at the end of the day. There's still plenty of room for the kids to romp and play. And it makes my end-of-shift clean up much quicker.

I wouldn't worry about making messes cleaning or playing during the day. That's par for the course.

Thank you! I like your idea about closing off rooms to the kids. It's like common sense that's not so obvious lol. Seriously, Thanks.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I clean during naps (kids are 13 months and 3). If the older child doesn't nap I ask her to help me clean - put away toys/books, sort the clean laundry (pull out all the socks and try to match the pairs), sort the silverware, etc. little chores that also help her learn. But, at least twice a day my house is a complete mess.

Thank you so much for your insight! Seriously, it's so great to know the mess is normal! The 3 yr old helps me here and there too if the younger one is napping. Seriously, thank you.

Anonymous wrote:Since when are laundry and once a week mopping considered "deep cleaning"? These, and most other cleaning tasks, can be done in 5-10 minute increments throughout the day. I'm sorry if this comes across as rude, but OP I think you might just have issues with time management and organization. Figure out a way to schedule cleaning into the flow of the day, this really shouldn't be that stressful.

Time management issues? Since when can a floor be swept and mopped in ten minute increments? Do you know how crazy I would become if I did the cleaning in 5-10 minute increments? And yes, deep cleaning, sweeping, mopping, countertops, vacuuming, changing sheets and laundry. Its not just cleaning up after the kids. I agreed to more work for really good pay. It's not "stressful" and I actually enjoy my job, my question is how long is good for the children to play together, or what is a good cleaning schedule AND is it normal for the house to look like a total mess -not "Do I have time management issues." Wow.that was rude, and your advice was not even for what my question was.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do see what you are saying, yes it certainly is a lot of work. But I am paid very very well, and treated with the upmost respect. And the deep cleaning is spread out, like mopping once per week, laundry once per week. It does get a little nuts at times, but how does a mother do it, if they don't have a housekeeper? So what you're saying is most people only do cleaning while they nap. Well, the 3 year old doesn't take naps, so...idk. I do love how you said "No one in their right mind could do all of this and keep an immaculate home. " So that gives me lots of clarity that it is normal for the house to look like a tornado went through it at time throughout the day! Thanks!!!!!!!!!

Wow. You ask for advice. It's given to you, and you act all rude and sarcastic? Nice.

I see how it came off as sarcastic, but it wasn't at all. I agree that nobody in their right mind could do this and keep an immaculate home. And I don't know what to do since the 3 yr old doesn't nap. And I genuinely wonder how moms without nannies or housekeepers keep their house clean.