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Original poster

Nanny duties

54 replies

emmerdale · 31/05/2005 10:12

I am new to this game and need some guidance. I am going to employ a nanny because I am unable to find suitable chiildminding facilities within my area. My four children are of school going age and I made my decision for various reasons but mainly that they could be taken care of in their own home which I think would be important to them during school holidays and also there is less pressure on me to have them up and out during school holidays when they don't have to be up so early.

This is where my dilemma, if you will, comes in. I need a full time nanny for times such as school holidays, days off etc... During term the earliest my children will be home is 2.30pm and nanny should be busy from this time until I get home at 5.30ish with homework, getting dinner for the children and activities.

So Nanny will be there from 9.00am to 2.30pm (or so I am thinking) without any charges. Childrens rooms are always tidied by myself in the morning, playroom is generally tidy too, kitchen is left clean. A force of habit, if you will.

So what can I reasonably ask Nanny to do during those hours. I know that the main scope is to keep childrens areas clean and tidy but what constitutes the childrens areas - is it all areas used by them? They obviously use the kitchen for homework, meals ect..., the under stairs loo is used by them, plus the sitting room and playroom. So would it be reasonable to ask Nanny for instance to keep kitchen floor clean as in wash it, to wash the under stairs bathroom floor, to dust the sitting room, to hoover the house ect...

The suggested contract by the Agency includes Light Housekeeping duties.

Would like to know what other Nanny's would constitute as Light Housekeeping duties and what would be unreasonable to request.

Any guidance would be very much appreciated - thank you.

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hatsoff · 31/05/2005 11:27

I think it all comes down to negotiation - but you might find that she would be willing to do an evening or two baby-sitting in return for being off completely 9am-2.30 a couple of days. Then you could ask her to do some of the jobs mentioned here on say 3 days. personally I'd struggle to find enough for her to do 5 days a week, so would find some baby-sitting more useful.

Earlybird · 31/05/2005 11:25

Yes, she drives her own car. I contribute to petrol costs, but she pays everything else as she prefers to drive to work instead of using public transport.

Would think with 4 children it would be a huge advantage to have a nanny who could drive if needed. Though having said that, don't know many nannies who have a car that could accomodate 4 children!

Original poster
emmerdale · 31/05/2005 11:18

Earlybird does your nanny drive. The nanny I am looking at doesn't.

OP posts:
Earlybird · 31/05/2005 10:54

I'm not a nanny, but my immediate thoughts are that you could ask her to wash/mend/iron the children's clothes. She could also do things like organise/tidy clothing drawers, closets, shoes, sewing in name tapes, etc. Also she could do cooking for children - both for evening meal and to freeze so that you have food available on weekends. My nanny also is happy to do a bit of gardening (not talking heavy stuff). She doesn't do much cleaning because I have a cleaner who comes every week for a few hours. Your nanny could also organise playdates, doctor appointments, school activities, and birthday parties/gifts. She might be willing to do some food shopping for the family.

Those are my initial thoughts, but others may have more suggestions....