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Original poster

Nanny duties

32 replies

Mumofalittlemadam · 12/10/2023 10:04

I have a new nanny and although she's great with my child I feel like I'm not getting what I'm paying for. I live on the first floor and when collecting / returning my child the nanny expects me to go up and down the stairs to help carry the buggy, nappy bag, lunchbox and my child to her car! Should this not be her job to do even if it takes more than one trip up & down the stairs, I don't mind her taking her time but I have other things to be getting on with. I must also mention I am starting physio soon due to bad ankles and this is not helping but I haven't mentioned anything yet. ???

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Blondeshavemorefun · 19/10/2023 13:55

Communication

Actually say to the nanny who if you are doing this legally is your employee

Can you please come up and take the buggy down first then come back and carry child

On your return please bring up my child then go and collect /bring up any belongings

Londonscallingme · 18/10/2023 21:56

Getting ‘stuff’ and s small child down a flight of stairs safely is tough so presumably if you didn’t help, she’d have to take the kid down first, strap them in the car and then go back for everything else? I’d rather help her personally because my kid would go wild if left alone. You could help just by supervising the child in the flat while she got all the stuff down; no extra stairs for you and the child isn’t left alone in the car. Honestly, this sounds like a non-issue, you live on the first floor, it’s just something you need to sort out with her so you have an agreeable solution.

daffodilandtulip · 18/10/2023 21:47

Have you asked her?

chopc · 18/10/2023 20:38

Look these days you can pay for whatever you want - but in order to actually get the service you want, you need to be clear in your instructions. It is not unreasonable of you to say you are avoiding the stairs due to your ankles. It is equally not unreasonable for nanny to expect you to help.

Communication is key

KingsleyBorder · 18/10/2023 19:23

NuffSaidSam · 18/10/2023 19:07

One of the things the nanny has to carry down the stairs is a lunchbox, so presumably they're having lunch out.

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Sorry, I misread the OP’s post that said this:

If I gave her a spare key like a lot of nannies in London and wanted my child to come home to eat their lunch while I was out of the home then there would be no help by myself up & down the stairs. Many nannies go in and out of their families homes with children.

as being I GIVE her a spare key…

It’s weird all round. Nannies who work in the home don’t just have a “spare key” to let themselves in for lunch, they are given their own key and the home is their workplace. OP clearly doesn’t understand how nannies work.

Blondeshavemorefun · 18/10/2023 19:12

She wants nanny out all day

I get the feeling nanny hasn't gone in the flat or if she has it's for mins

NuffSaidSam · 18/10/2023 19:07

KingsleyBorder · 18/10/2023 17:25

I don’t understand- you want your child to be out of the house to be safely away from the the building work, but you also want the nanny to bring her into the house at lunchtime for lunch?

One of the things the nanny has to carry down the stairs is a lunchbox, so presumably they're having lunch out.

3WildOnes · 18/10/2023 17:32

It's not really clear if this is a professional nanny role or more of a casual babysitting role. Either way you could just explain your ankle situation to the nanny.

KingsleyBorder · 18/10/2023 17:25

I don’t understand- you want your child to be out of the house to be safely away from the the building work, but you also want the nanny to bring her into the house at lunchtime for lunch?

Blondeshavemorefun · 18/10/2023 14:49

I find it really weird the nanny is never in the property with the child

Not so bad summer

But as winter cold wet weather appears the. Not so easy to be out all day /lunch /naps

Once building work is finished will the nanny be allowed in the property

NuffSaidSam · 18/10/2023 14:25

It's just a case of clear communication.

It's not unreasonable for the nanny to assume that the parent would help carry the child and their equipment downstairs. I think very many parents would want to assist with this.

Equally, it's not unreasonable for you to need the nanny to sort this herself and not be able to help. You just need to specify that this is the service you need.

As other have said, it's a very unusual arrangement so you can't expect the nanny to somehow magically know that you don't want to help on the stairs, she's probably never come across this situation before.

BobbidyBibbidyBob · 18/10/2023 14:22

Suggest you politely say 'If you don't mind, I am trying to avoid the stairs as much as possible at the moment due to my ankles' I'm sure she wouldn't mind. Have you actually said anything or are you just assuming this person is a mind reader? I expect she is on the receiving end of some delightful pass-agg from you.

DuploTrain · 18/10/2023 14:11

Why don’t you ask her to leave DC with you while she takes the buggy etc and then come back for them?

Or do you want her to leave DC alone in her car while she comes back for the pram?

Blondeshavemorefun · 18/10/2023 14:07

You said you pay her nanny rates so was asking a simple question

Hourly rates vary for age /area /experience so wondered what you pay her

I assume you are her employer and pay her tax out of her wages

So if you aren't happy with her services then tell her to drop off at the door

Original poster
Mumofalittlemadam · 18/10/2023 13:52

@Blondeshavemorefun I don't understand how this is relevant ?

Google nanny rates central London

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Mumofalittlemadam · 18/10/2023 13:50

@autiebooklover she's not a childminder and no not ofsted Registered but is dbs checked / first aid ect.

Like I said I'm undergoing physiotherapy so carrying and up and down the stairs do strain me.

OP posts:
caban · 18/10/2023 13:48

Are you her employer?

Original poster
Mumofalittlemadam · 18/10/2023 13:45

@caban normal ? I know plenty of nannies that always take the children out of the house keeping them busy, doing school drop offs/ pick ups/ afterschool clubs. If I gave her a spare key like a lot of nannies in London and wanted my child to come home to eat their lunch while I was out of the home then there would be no help by myself up & down the stairs. Many nannies go in and out of their families homes with children.

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caban · 18/10/2023 12:00

Is she employed or self-employed?

To be honest as this isn't a normal nanny job and she isn't working in your house, I think she's justified in having the child delivered and collected by you.

Blondeshavemorefun · 18/10/2023 11:27

What are you paying her?
You say nanny rates ?

How many days and hours

autiebooklover · 18/10/2023 09:36

Is she Ofsted registered?
Dbs checked?

I'd help out of courtesy. It's not her fault you live on the first floor and she's not your skivvy

Original poster
Mumofalittlemadam · 18/10/2023 08:25

@Sophiexwilson London

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Sophiexwilson · 15/10/2023 21:13

Where abouts is this x

Original poster
Mumofalittlemadam · 13/10/2023 17:05

I live on the first floor so my main front door is upstairs the downstairs door is just entry to the building. I have before witnessed nannies who collect and drop off children for a family who were living on the 3rd floor and she would never of asked the lady to go up and down stairs helping her with bags and buggys. I will have this chat as I'm paying nanny rates and if I'm required to be hands on helping then I might aswell take my child to the childminders local to me.

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Blondeshavemorefun · 12/10/2023 14:45

Guess you need to weight up the cost of nanny and her coming to you v cm and yin taking the child

Will be a big difference in prices