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Original poster

Nanny and housework

29 replies

BonaDea · 11/01/2014 19:15

We are about to employ our first nanny to care for our DS (9mo). I know that most nannies state they are happy to do nursery duties (wash baby's clothes and bed linen, change his sheets, keep his room tidy), keep play room tidy (in this case out living room) and tidy up after themselves in the kitchen after making meals. Are there any other tasks which are basically seen as standard?

We have a cleaner 4 hours per week so heavy duty cleaning like floors, bathroom etc is covered and of course a nanny is employed to look after DS not clean.

But when I'm at home looking after him myself I keep on top of things like running the vacuum round the living room, giving the kitchen floor a sweep most days, emptying the bin etc. Is this stuff a no no for most nannies and / or would we have to be explicit or even pay more if we need her to do this?

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Lucylouby · 11/01/2014 22:11

When I was a nanny I swept the kitchen floor, emptied the dishwasher, put a load of everyone's washing into the machine, then drier, ran the hoover over, emptying bins etc. nothing major but just helping out around the house, the children used to help too. I believe if children never see these chores being done, they think the fairies do them, which does them no favours in later life. It's just a normal part of being at home and growing up. My boss's never expected it, but were grateful for the help. Since joining mn I realise I am in the minority though.

Bloodyteenagers · 11/01/2014 21:55

Hoovering once a week? Can people get away with only hovering once a week? How?

Anyway.. I would say the nanny clears up any mess that's theirs or that of the child during their care. But also some common sense things, like if the bin needs doing, rather than just adding to it, if the dish washer needs doing.

Karoleann · 11/01/2014 21:40

I would include emptying bin, emptying dishwasher and you wouldn't need to pay more for this. I don't think any of our nannies have hoovered, but I'd ask them to sweep the kitchen if there was a lot of mess (we had a very bad moon sand phase).

I generally expect nannies to do less housework than I would if I were at home.

OutragedFromLeeds · 11/01/2014 19:30

They are all things that are outside of 'nursery duties' imo.

Floor sweeping - If nanny and DS have made a mess I would expect her to sweep, but otherwise no.

Bin emptying - nappy bin; yes. General kitchen bin; not really, how much rubbish are a nanny and a baby going to produce?! If she fills the bin, she should empty it, but you shouldn't allow it to be overflowing when she gets there on a Monday/in the morning. I wouldn't expect her to need to empty the bin.

Hoovering - again not unless she and DS have made a mess. Some nannies consider hoovering the children's bedroom/playroom as a nursery duty, ime most don't. Any other hoovering, definitely not. I wouldn't think the living room needed hoovering more than once a week? Do you have animals?

If you want these things done, that's fine, but you need to specify in your ad, at interview and in your contract.