Do nannies usually combine childcare with tidying and organising duties?

[Panamanian]

Does anyone have a nanny who does both childcare and organisation/tidying? I’m considering getting a nanny for 2 full days, to cover after school childcare but to do things like changing the children’s bedding, organising their toys/clothes etc whilst they are at school. I wouldn’t be using them as a cleaner, but they also wouldn’t only be doing childcare for part of the time since our children are at school. I’m thinking this would be a more attractive option than 3/4 days of just 3-6pm. Does anyone do this? Anything I should be aware of?

organising toys and kids clothes, possibly, most of the ones I know do.
They even do a lot of cooking and baking, and are very popular with the kids because they share with the friends at pick up 😂

Changing bedding? No.

I am sure you can discuss, but no, it's not usual.

If children are at school all day then things like bedding laundry, general tidy may well be something you can discuss that they do.

School holidays less of that would happen as children around. I would typically get some laundry done to keep on top of the endless washing pile that 3 kids make.

Yes, ‘nursery duties’ are a standard part of a nanny’s duties. As long as they’re children-specific. So organising their rooms, toys, clothes, their washing, bedding, preparing meals, running errands for them.

You could also specify in the ad family cooking, errands or bulk out the hours, but this would need to be very clearly advertised and agreed to prior to starting, as some nannies won’t want to do this.

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Changing the children's bedding is a perfectly acceptable chore as a nanny.

I'm always bemused by the answers on threads like this.

Any child related activity - from cleaning, to laundry, to clothes shopping to cooking - is completely normal for a nanny although the scope should be agreed up front so that there's no confusion. And yes, including changing bedding.

It is also perfectly fine to request a nanny who might do other tasks, but again, that needs to be agreed up front. For many nannies who are basically working part time and don't have the children all the time, it can often work as a really useful way to keep their hours up, with one family. Our nanny used to cook meals large enough for the whole family as part of her standard day while prepping for the kids and would load/unload the dishwasher as standard.

A friend's nanny started work at 12: or 13:00 and did things like the family's ironing, unpacking online shopping deliveries, general kitchen tidy up post breakfast and would hang up/transfer to tumble dryer then fold things like towels and bedding that my friend would put in th emachine in the morning.

But, again, key is to be very clear up front so that the person can choose if that's what they're willing to do.

it's not unacceptable

but it's not that common. Then again, many cleaners do it, while others refuse.

You just communicate in advance. It's not unusual for nannies to have to quit because they start a job as a nanny, and the family end up expecting them to become housekeeper.

Changing the CHILDREN'S bedding has always been part of a nanny's jobs. I've been a nanny since early 80s.

It varies so it's worth having this conversation at the interview stage.

You can find someone to do anything if you're paying enough.

Ime anything child related is ok, tidying toys, doing kids laundry (only)

This op. I’ve had Nannie’s for almost 10years on and off and anything child related are most definitely part of their duties. If the kids are in school then this is what they should be doing.

If your kids are at school and you want tidying / cleaning during the day then you need a nanny housekeeper type role.

Thanks so much for your replies. For those who have nannies who work during school hours can I ask what sort of hours they work? Do they take an unpaid lunch break? Thank you!

The ones I knew all just clocked on a few hours ahead of school run - anything from 30 minutes for meal prep to 3 hours for more. But if you want them to do drop off in the morning as well, that might be a bit more complicated.

Not looking for them to do morning drop off just want to offer something substantive in terms of hours.

My friend's nanny started at 12:00 or 13:00 from memory. Gave her enough time to do laundry/ironing/shopping/tidying etc and then she was either rdriving the DC around to activities or helping them with homework/ playing with them etc.

It did make for a lovely calm environment for everyone and I knew the nanny quite well as my DC were friends with the children and we did play dates etc - and it always felt wonderfully pleasant over there. The nanny tol dme she liked it too as the other family she worked for (she did 2 days with my friend and 3 with another family) was a lot more full on!

Nanny’s normally do anything to do with children aka nursery duties

so their washing ironing cleaning bedroom and yes changing their beds /cots , tidying playroom etc

older /dare I say professional Nannie’s often do this.

i find the younger Nannys think it’s beneath them do actually do anything other than childcare

some of the things I read on nanny groups astonish me

I’m in the US so it’s probably different here.

What you want is pretty common here. Generally speaking though it costs more than straight up childcare. So for the hours organizing etc, the hourly rate would be somewhat higher than the childcare hours. (Example here childcare would be about $25, the other stuff about $30).

I know here, it’s all in the negotiation. You say exactly what it is you’d like, and you find someone who’s willing to do it. As long as everyone is on the same page from the outset!

I used to be a nanny. I would do anything that needed doing related to the chicken, including changing their beds and washing their clothes, picking up shopping, cooking meals etc.