I’m still here waiting to hear what the OP and her nanny originally agreed on, lol. Whatever the answer to that question is, it will make it much easier to offer opinions and solutions.

This is slowly divulging into a general thread about what nannies do while their charges are sleeping or in school!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Genuine question. Especially if a nanny cooks for the child, why can't she make extras for the parents, for example? Seems my friends who live outside of the DC area (major cities) all have nannies who cook, do dishes, do laundry, and straighten up the house (not deep clean/wash toilets etc, obviously) while also caring for the children. Of course, they don't cook and do laundry all day every day, but that's just how it's done.

Usually those things become daily expectations, and the nanny turns into a housekeeper just keeping an eye on kids. Btdt, I’m a nanny, first and foremost.

Op here. She does the bare minimum. She will slowly fold load of laundry over like an hr while watching tv. Sometimes she will fold half the load and finish it the next day. No hustle at all. I feel like she is checking the box of doing 1 load of laundry for the week and that’s it. Her only responsibilities are baby related. She has never even vacuumed the play area or her room. She will sometimes unload the dishwasher ( 1-2 times a week). It just feels like she thinks when the baby is sleeping that is 100 percent her time.

That wouldn't work for me. Our nanny used nap time to clean up, eat lunch, do laundry, prep dinner for the baby, play with our dog, look for local activities good for the baby, look for toys for the next developmental stage, etc. Occasionally would nap for a half hour.

It takes 2 seconds to find activities in the area, and once you’ve become familiar with those activities, it’s like second nature, you just up and go. I don’t know any nanny who has child- related responsibilities, only and able to find things to do for 2 hrs each day. If my employer didn’t want me to have down time, I would probably not want to work for them. We are human, and after running around all day with multiple children we need a little break! Especially, if we still have to keeping going after nap. A lot of us work 10+ hour days. It’s okay to ask your nanny to do things but everyday, you will probably burn your nanny out.

Being that we've had the same nanny for six years, I'm not really worried about it.

Anonymous wrote:A happy nanny is a nanny who can use her break the way she wants : eating, watching tv or read.

Let her have that time off or she'll soon be resentful.

Asking for a few tasks to be completed is fine, but really, she needs her break.

Same here I use my break the way I want

I’ve found that employers who may lower wages overall seem to really be the ones who want their “money’s worth”.

They expect a full-time housekeeper and full-time nanny for $15 an hour.

I’ve been there, done that...

Now I can find a job with zero housework for $22-28 without a problem. I wash bottle, do child related laundry, organize playroom, sanitize toys, anything and all things child related. I am usually busy for half of naptime but the other half I relax. It’s not a “break” if I’m on the clock. It’s downtime. I’ve visited countless employers offices with ping pong tables and nap rooms. I know many white collar office workers who spend 2 hours at lunch on Fridays seeing a movie.

I find it funny how the more you make, the more likely you are to get breaks and downtime.

Wow I guess you nick picky bosses are really going to have a problem with me then- I'm paid 40hrs a week but only work from 3:30-7:30 because the kids are in school now. I don't even go to the house until 3:30!! My boss works and needs coverage for sick days and days off school so I'm paid full time even though the kids are in school now full time... I'm currently at home laying in bed!! Getting paid!

This is why I hide in the bathroom for a long time during nap time. Cameras everywhere, mb is always on me about 'being on the clock' and I'm TIRED. The guest bathroom is huge and I spread out a towel, lay on the floor and relax camera free. They probably think I have IBS if they watch the cameras- oh well!!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Genuine question. Especially if a nanny cooks for the child, why can't she make extras for the parents, for example? Seems my friends who live outside of the DC area (major cities) all have nannies who cook, do dishes, do laundry, and straighten up the house (not deep clean/wash toilets etc, obviously) while also caring for the children. Of course, they don't cook and do laundry all day every day, but that's just how it's done.

Usually those things become daily expectations, and the nanny turns into a housekeeper just keeping an eye on kids. Btdt, I’m a nanny, first and foremost.

Op here. She does the bare minimum. She will slowly fold load of laundry over like an hr while watching tv. Sometimes she will fold half the load and finish it the next day. No hustle at all. I feel like she is checking the box of doing 1 load of laundry for the week and that’s it. Her only responsibilities are baby related. She has never even vacuumed the play area or her room. She will sometimes unload the dishwasher ( 1-2 times a week). It just feels like she thinks when the baby is sleeping that is 100 percent her time.

That wouldn't work for me. Our nanny used nap time to clean up, eat lunch, do laundry, prep dinner for the baby, play with our dog, look for local activities good for the baby, look for toys for the next developmental stage, etc. Occasionally would nap for a half hour.

It takes 2 seconds to find activities in the area, and once you’ve become familiar with those activities, it’s like second nature, you just up and go. I don’t know any nanny who has child- related responsibilities, only and able to find things to do for 2 hrs each day. If my employer didn’t want me to have down time, I would probably not want to work for them. We are human, and after running around all day with multiple children we need a little break! Especially, if we still have to keeping going after nap. A lot of us work 10+ hour days. It’s okay to ask your nanny to do things but everyday, you will probably burn your nanny out.

Anonymous wrote:I was a Nanny working 11 hour days with a 1 and 3 yo. When they napped I did nothing except lay on the couch for an hour and a half when they were asleep. I usually started afternoon prep before they woke up but that was it.
Dont begrudge your Nanny that time.

When Dc starts preschool are you going to begrudge paying the 2.5 hours a day twice a week too?

Most nannies do work long hours, and caring for young children is exhausting. I can see them needing about 30 minutes off for each 4 hours. So up to 90 minutes of down time for lunch, relaxing, is no biggie. When it gets to be more than that, say the preschool days, I would expect the nanny to be able to tackle additional kid-related tasks, like more thorough cleaning of the play area, etc during that time. And I would not expect to have to pay more because these chores are an integral part of her duties, just not ones that I placed as much a priority on when she was hands-on with my child for the entire day.

I'm a nanny. Once both children takes their naps, I clean up after them, and then I eat and rest or watch tv. Please note that I do all of these things in front of my boss, so there is no hiding. Most nannies work 9-12 hours a day. We are not robots, try taking care of your children without a break or rest. I only work for families that have the understanding that when my job is done correctly and the children are happy. I'm free to make calls, or relax. My boss that I worked for three years asked me if I saw the last episode of Games of Thorne, I told her I didn't. She said it was really good. That once J*** goes to sleep, I can watch it. I'm still in contact with her, in fact she helped me get my new position. You know what's funny, I find that families that pay you low are the ones that nitpick.

I was a Nanny working 11 hour days with a 1 and 3 yo. When they napped I did nothing except lay on the couch for an hour and a half when they were asleep. I usually started afternoon prep before they woke up but that was it.
Dont begrudge your Nanny that time.

When Dc starts preschool are you going to begrudge paying the 2.5 hours a day twice a week too?

I’m a nanny and in my contract it states that I must clean up after the children (i.e. wash bottles, their dishes and play area). It also says “I’m welcome to use any of their dishes/appliances just to clean up after myself.” I do load and unload the dishwasher, which is not in my contract. However, it doesn’t state that I must do all these things during nap time and it’s never come up.

I think if your nanny has completed all her task, it shouldn’t mattet when, as long as it doesn’t take time away from the children. One of my charges, who is almost 5, actually helps me fold (her) clothes and takes them to her room- she is not home during nap time, so we do this together when she gets home, which is once a week. I’m a planner and have two toddlers all day, so I plan out activities a week before (cut out, prep etc) so it’s really not much for me to do during that time. I’ll read a book, watch tv, eat, participate in a training etc.

I wouldn’t be against taking on other task, however, I would want to be compensated for like a pp mentioned. Also, what could nanny be doing for 1-2 hours, 5 days a week that housekeeping related? I’m not scrubbing toilets (I’m not a housekeeper), cooking for parents (I’m not a chef), wouldn’t be able to run errands etc. I’m not against doing anything child-related but I can’t think of something to do for 5 days a week for 2 hrs when I know o can knock out things in about 30 minutes. But I total understand you not wanting to pay for an hour or two when nanny isn’t physically doing something but we are still checking on your children throughout the duration of their nap time- at least I am.

I agree with the two PPs. When I finally get the child down for a nap, it feels great to take a little lunch break and relax. Then, I feel so refreshed after he wakes up.

Also, keep in mind (before anyone starts spouting off the word lazy) that I would gladly help with other chores if they asked, especially if those extra duties were reflected in a pay raise. I have offered.

Also, doesn’t everybody deserve a couple breaks throughout their workday?

A happy nanny is a nanny who can use her break the way she wants : eating, watching tv or read.

Let her have that time off or she'll soon be resentful.

Asking for a few tasks to be completed is fine, but really, she needs her break.

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are not paying your Nanny to just “watch T.V.”
Your Nanny is being paid for her time & presence.

It is time she is dedicating to your child.
Time that she isn’t meeting a friend for lunch.
Time that she cannot run to Starbucks for a cup of hot coffee on a cool day.

Remember....
Your child will nap less + less as he gets older.
Plus if God forbid there were an intruder, a fire or even a loud noise outside that may prematurely awake your child, she is 120% responsible for your child’s welfare.

No exceptions!!!!

Plus caring for any young child is tough!
Mother Nature has it set up that young children need to nap so that their caretaker (whoever it may be) gets to rest as well.

Stop trying to stretch your dollar.
Let Nanny rest up so she will be at her optimal best for the final part of the day.

How do you know she is indeed doing nothing??
Are you secretly filming her w/a Nanny cam??!

+1 Exactly! I am so thankful for my employers who don’t nitpick and instead appreciate.

OP, you are not paying your Nanny to just “watch T.V.”
Your Nanny is being paid for her time & presence.

It is time she is dedicating to your child.
Time that she isn’t meeting a friend for lunch.
Time that she cannot run to Starbucks for a cup of hot coffee on a cool day.

Remember....
Your child will nap less + less as he gets older.
Plus if God forbid there were an intruder, a fire or even a loud noise outside that may prematurely awake your child, she is 120% responsible for your child’s welfare.

No exceptions!!!!

Plus caring for any young child is tough!
Mother Nature has it set up that young children need to nap so that their caretaker (whoever it may be) gets to rest as well.

Stop trying to stretch your dollar.
Let Nanny rest up so she will be at her optimal best for the final part of the day.

How do you know she is indeed doing nothing??
Are you secretly filming her w/a Nanny cam??!