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Original poster

lazy nanny

80 replies

riab · 04/07/2006 13:56

Hi all,

How do you gently tell a nanny she needs to do more?

I have a nanny who looks after my 15 month old 30 hrs a week.

She is a lovely girl but recently I have felt she was getting relaly lazy. She is suppoused to take care of ds things - so washing / ironing his clothes, cooking his food, tidying his toys and making sure they are working, etc.

Now I do the cooking for him and I don't mind that as I'm a nutritionist so i'm quite fussy.

But every night for the past 2 weeks me or dh has got in from work to find otys all over the living room, washing up from tea still in the sink, a pile of his clean clothes (which I washed the night before) not ironed or put away so he had no clean PJ's upstairs. dirty clothing left in a heap with a dirty nappy bag by his toybox, crumbs and food over the rug and his nursery an absolute tip!

I wouldn't even mind if she had been too busy because they were out and about at activities as I have asked her to make sure he is more active now to ensure he sleeps well. But they had spent the morning in the garden and watched 3 episodes of a DVD (1 1/2 hrs).

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Set a reminder
vix1 · 04/07/2006 15:01

Maybe say, I know its so dificult to get house tidied etc. but I really dont mind you leaving name to watch a dvd or quiet play while you get the weekly ironing/washing or tidying done.

It will be easier if you start a conversation about how theres no time to do it etc. so you have had to start doing it at sleep times or whenever.

Failing that, just say it outright!

motherpeculiar · 04/07/2006 14:23

you need an older sibling I am afraid

we had this situation for a while and could never quite bring ourselves to raise with nanny but moaned about it when she wasn't there. Then one morning at breakfast DD1 (almost 4 at the time) pipes up with "nanny's name, why do you always leave the house in such a state when you leave at night and never wash the dishes?" I wished the ground would swallow me up at the time, but it was effective

sorry I couldn't resist that - sounds like you do need to pick her up on this though, otherwise it will start to fester...

vivat · 04/07/2006 14:04

I think that's totally unacceptable for a nanny - you need to talk to her and explain that everything to do with your child is her responsibility ie cooking (if required), tidying up toys (within reason, obviously difficult if he's still playing with them !), certainly washing up should be done, clean clothes ironed and put away. Mine does all this and more ! How long has she worked for you ?

jamsambam · 04/07/2006 14:00

i would do a job decripton too, but make sure she knows it will be reviewd.

MaryP0p1 · 04/07/2006 13:58

How about typing a job description setting down exactly what is expected of her and therefore reclarifying what her expected role is.

Present it to her as we have done this and what to confirm this is ALL you do. Then go through it line by line. She might get the hint then