What Kind of Housework would you Expect from a Nanny?

[Applefruitcake]

Any nannies / parents using nannies here - What kind of housework would you typically expect from a nanny?

I usually work with children around 4-8 years which don't sleep during the day, so I've never really done much housework except for the usual tidying up their toys and cleaning mess in the kitchen. But... now I have been approached by a parent to look after a baby (5 months) which obviously would be taking naps during the day. I'm wondering what I would be doing during that time.

Thank you in advance

I’d only expect a nanny to clean up any mess that was made in the course of looking after the baby, and things left as they were found, I wouldn’t expect someone employed as a nanny to do additional housework.

My nanny does EVERYTHING. She basically is me if I was there. DIY, laundry, garden, cleaning, evening meals prepped, any trips to post office, bringing car for service etc. She's frankly the best nanny you could ever wish for. Were incredibly lucky.

My nanny would prepare meals for the baby to go in the freezer, sort out laundry, any clothing that was too small, tidy and clean toys. She still had lots of time to herself as baby had 2x2 hour naps whilst in her care. When a toddler she would prepare activities, craft, art etc.

Babys laundry, keeping babys toys and other equipment in order, maybe batch prepping weaning foods (if they want to do purees), maybe chop/prep dinner ingredients if theres a reliable afternoon nap

I would hope that you’d be able to do laundry that relates to your charge - so washing, drying, any ironing (there may not be any) and putting clothes away; cooking meals for them and freezing any extra, tidying up after they’ve eaten and played; and basically leaving the place as you found it.

Our nanny also changes bedding and puts out the bins and recycling, which I am really grateful for, but I don’t ‘expect’ it so to speak.

A previous nanny would vacuum the playroom after play dates and bake a cake each week for us all to share.

I would expect nanny to look after children and clean up their mess.
If I wanted a cleaner I’d hire a cleaner.

@WellTidy

I would hope that you’d be able to do laundry that relates to your charge - so washing, drying, any ironing (there may not be any) and putting clothes away; cooking meals for them and freezing any extra, tidying up after they’ve eaten and played; and basically leaving the place as you found it.

Our nanny also changes bedding and puts out the bins and recycling, which I am really grateful for, but I don’t ‘expect’ it so to speak.

A previous nanny would vacuum the playroom after play dates and bake a cake each week for us all to share.

Aw shit mine doesn't bake me a weekly cake. Must text her!! Although she did leave some gorgeous apple crumbles a few weeks ago.

The one I had in the past did all the kids laundry, and kept their bedrooms and the playroom clean. She stacked the dishwasher after herself. She was desperate to take them clothes shopping, but the older one was really fussy, so I gave her a budget and let her do it, and she never asked again 😄

Mine does the dishwasher and keeps the place as she finds it. She will cook or sort out toys etc if I ask her, but otherwise gets a 2 hour break when the little one naps. She makes up for it in holidays when the older one’s off school.

I managed somehow when mine were very young to get used as a work placement for student nannies from the local college. I was told that anything related to the children was a reasonable request. So washing drying and putting away their clothes was fine, cleaning their bedroom and I suppose their bathroom if they had their own would be OK. Cleaning the lounge wouldn't be but tidying up their toys would. One of them I ended up paying to come and clean for me because she was just brilliant but that was our own private arrangement.

Thank you for all the replies. Wow! Some of these nannies are impressive! I definitely don't see myself baking cakes or doing DIY 😅

Our nanny folds laundry (that I or my husband have done) and has recently started cooking us dinner twice per week (from meal kits, and I select the simplest option). She also packs school lunches and tidies the kitchen up after she’s done that. We have two older kids and a toddler, so there’s a lot of time for her to fill given the older kids can do a bit independently like shower themselves etc, and I’m there to put the baby down to sleep. She’s initiated some of this herself because she would be sitting around.

Whatever's in the contract.
But, for a household with a single 5 month baby I would expect:
Clean dishes and bottles and dummies
Ironing and folding the family's laundry
Wiping up messes
Putting away toys at the end of the day
Handmade baby food (eg mash)

So some light housework but she’s not hoovering or scrubbing baths.

@Imcatmum Please can you give your nanny my name and tell her I will pay her an extra pound an over what you pay her, then send her over. I have no children but a very long list!!! Does she fit bathrooms?

Erm....don't assume a baby will take long naps! My first born only napped for half an hour (mid morn and mid afternoon) so left me little time to do much other than a quick tidy and maybe grabbing a coffee and a sit down before she woke up. You are entitled to a break!

I certainly wouldn't be setting myself up to fail by promising to launder/cook meals/ full on tidy until you know what type and lengths of naps the wee one will take.

[quote madisonbridges]@Imcatmum Please can you give your nanny my name and tell her I will pay her an extra pound an over what you pay her, then send her over. I have no children but a very long list!!! Does she fit bathrooms?[/quote]
No way @madisonbridges. She's ours and we love her. Part of the family at this stage.

Understandable, @Imcatmum, very understandable...... Um, maybe she has a sister?...
Who has a toolbox? 🤔 😉

I don’t expect any housework that isn’t directly baby related. So, one baby laundry load a week and sheets changed (plus extra potentially if blowouts), hoovering baby’s room and making baby purées.
Don’t forget in 6 months time the baby will be nearly 1 and not napping as much! I’m happy to give my nanny any downtime she can get as sometimes the baby won’t nap well etc and she’ll get a more disturbed lunch than I would like. I figure if I give her a bit of leeway then she won’t object in those cases.

Nannies are not cleaners or housekeepers

Nannies do duties relating to children

So their laundry , cooking , changing their beds/cots , keeping area tidy they use - as long as tidy when arrive in am

Yes as they get older and at pre school U.K. happy to collect parcels : take car to garage etc

But I never cleaned the house and would always ask if have a cleaner

@Blondeshavemorefun

Nannies are not cleaners or housekeepers

Nannies do duties relating to children

So their laundry , cooking , changing their beds/cots , keeping area tidy they use - as long as tidy when arrive in am

Yes as they get older and at pre school U.K. happy to collect parcels : take car to garage etc

But I never cleaned the house and would always ask if have a cleaner

Funny because mums ARE nanny's, cleaners and housekeepers.

I've a cleaner too. But my nanny (never asked or expected) does a way better job than her. My nanny loves the kids and prioritizes them first and foremost. Cares a lot about their homework and takes such pride in them doing well. She's the first person I'd call if any were hurt or sick. She sneakily buys them little gifts even though I always tell her to take it out of petty cash. She's my youngest child's godmother and is in our wills as their guardian if anything happened to DH and I. I was very sick for a period last year and she rocked up on weekends to quietly keep things functioning in our house.

Nanny's do have a job description but I got very lucky because I didn't find a nanny, I found a substitute mum.

She sounds lovely @Imcatmum and sorry you were poorly

But

Nannies are not cleaners

Myself and many others went to college for 2yrs and studied and did observations and Assesments etx to become a qualified nanny

Yeah no, I get that. And I would have been very happy with simply a good nanny. But working mums need so much more than a nanny to equal the playing field. So what I have is what I think people would really wish to hire if it existed.

This is how nannies get exploited. A nanny is a nanny and paid for that role. If you want her to also be a cleaner and a housekeeper, you should be paying double and mentioning it at interview that this is what you require.

When I worked as a nanny many years ago, I would tidy up after ourselves, which may have included doing a quick vac of the lounge or something. Also I’d stack and empty the dishwasher, make meals and tidy the kitchen up. Basically I’d make sure me and the kids had a good time, and that the house didn’t show evidence of that good time after. The parents worked hard enough without coming home to a dump.