new nanny troubles

[Ponderingprivately]

I am probably being unreasonable but I am finding my new nanny hard to work with. While the children are both young and we are both working we felt this was going to be the easiest type of childcare. I am having some trouble with getting her to follow my rules/routine.

For example, I have asked her not to add salt to their food when she cooks (twice a week). I tasted the food earlier this week and it was very salty, I asked her about it and she said it was 'tasteless without'. I had already specifically asked her not too add it.

Yesterday I arrived home at 1pm, and said I would put the toddler (18months) for his nap, only he caused such a fuss and I tried for an hour before giving up. After I tried and failed, she told me she let him fall asleep 'on the sofa watching teletubbies for 5 minutes only at 12' - so this is obviously why I couldn't get him to sleep again. Also, watching TV is something I've asked her not to do.

A few nights ago, I asked her to bath my children as this night me and DH are both late home from work. When I arrived home DD (4) and DS (18mo) were in the bath alone, while she was folding towels in a bedroom next door. I was very cross about this as I believe it is very dangerous to leave them unattended, and I did let her know.

Having spoken to her she said her last employer was 'fine with TV, and sofa naps'. I actually don't really have a problem with sofa naps, but 5 minutes isn't really enough. I was quite specific that she needs to follow my rules in my house.

Am I being unreasonable or is she not good enough? I am thinking of going to the agency I used and asking for a change of nanny, although I don't want to be petty.

Good luck with the interviews, can you have them work half a day as a trial so you can see how they work? Or maybe 3 hours, just a short time to make sure they bond with your DC?

To some this may sound pedantic, but could you make a binder, if you have the time, with rules for each room/activities. Get them to ask any questions unsure about, then get them to sign to say they've understood?

I would go as far as asking for a mini daily diary / activity sheets. It could be done as a, 'It'd make a really nice keep sake for both you and I. If in nursery they have lots of paperwork to do anyway. The mini diary would literally be 1 minute writing next to 10am blocking till 12pm, went to park.

Also think about forms to notify of any accidents, that way you can keep an eye on what's going on. Neither the mini diary / activity sheets / accident log need to be long winded. In the activity log for going to the park you could have time left, time arrived, period of time asleep plus times, then a brief description of what they did, whether DC liked it or if she got upset. For dinner time she could write made 'this' ingredients were 'this' DC liked it or didn't like it. Plus notes if they liked it or not. In the mini diary nappy changes and feeds could be noted.

You said DC has eczema, if you had a food chart you might pick up on foods that trigger it to flare.

It sounds like a load of hassle, but that way you're up to date with everything, you have records of what your DC have done. Rather than the activity log, cooked meals could be a sheet dedicated to cooking. Just basic ingredients, time spent prepping, time spent cooking. You can identify what I mentioned above with intolerances, plus what's being eaten, how much time is taken away from DC cooking.

I'm not sure if I sound crazy, but at Montessori they'd have their weekly sheets and I loved reading them. If you don't have time I could make some and email across. You don't have to use them, but it's an option if you want to know what's happening.