Just employed nanny - some questions for old timers!

[alittleteapot]

What happens about lunch? I pay if she's out, but what if she's at home - do I leave something for her? Or just say she can help herself to whatever?

How much direction do you give to her day - i.e. how she spends time with your child or do you leave it up to her?

What does she do while your little one is asleep? She'll sometimes be in charge of a baby who sleeps for up to two hours midday. Can I ask her to do other jobs e.g prepare a meal or two for the freezer?

Obviously all of the above is for me to discuss with the nanny but interested in what people do...

Thanks

Normally the nanny will eat with the children at lunchtime - or help herself to sandwiches/pasta etc. Be clear with her what she can help herself to and what she can't (things you're saving for dinner for example).

How much direction is up to you really, but an experienced nanny won't want to feel micro-managed. Decide what's important to you - if you want your child to go to a particular class, be taken swimming once a week, a walk in the park every day - but also leave her time to organise her own activities and playdates. Be upfront about any rules you might have about playdates, eating out, kitty budget - saves misunderstandings later.

Nannies will normally do nursery duties - cooking (including for the freezer), children's laundry, cleaning bedrooms and playrooms. Put all this in the contract. The nanny can have a lunch break while the baby sleeps and then get on with nursery duties - an experienced nanny should be able to organise her own time though.

Thanks, that's helpful. So I should just have a range of stuff around that she can eat...

In my view, Nannies are to be provided with food whilst on duty. If a nanny chooses to eat out, then it comes from the weekly-kitty or their own pocket... I tend to do a 50:50 split on that if eating out (such as say after swimming).

Nannies should in my view be able to cook simple meals, so leaving some ingredients around is useful. Ask your nanny what sort of things they feel would be useful and add to shopping list if reasonable. Nanny where possible should be eating the same food as the children. With babies that is harder, though can often be very similar food especially if doing Baby Led Weaning.

You are the boss so you can give her direction to do certain things during the day if you so wish. However you may find it easier to just go with the flow for a while and see what happens. She may well know of groups to take your child/children, places to visit, activities to do at home that you may not have thought to do.

Your little one sleep's! I find that children's sleeping patterns can often change when in the care of someone else. So while your LO may sleep for you, they may not for your nanny. When children do nap during the day, that is a time when nanny gets a cup of coffee, gets to go to the loo. Also a good time to get a few household chores done, such as the washing, sweep/vacuum the floor, clean the high-chair. Bake some cakes without babies help, start cooking an evening meal.
Keep in mind that a nanny often works long hours without rest... so if there is a period of time during the day when children are asleep, then your nanny can take their 20 minute rest break, thus may result in them not working more than 6 hours without a break. Domestic servants are excluded from Working Time limits - see here - though good practice to try to give the right amount of breaks if possible. You don't want a stressed out nanny!

Missus makes a good point about saying what food can and can't be used. Label food or leave a note if you don't want your nanny to use something.

You could ask your nanny to menu-plan. I've had essentially the same weekly menu for the last year to 18 months. Works quite well, though isn't followed exactly all the time due to limitations in food supply (seasonal variation). Tuesday for example is usually Macaroni Cheese (or some other pasta dish). Menu planning can help if keeping to a strict food budget. Can get a bit boring but does make it easier not having to think very much about what to cook. Pros and Cons. Could have a weekly or bi-weekly cycle.

show/tell your nanny where pasta/soup/bread/jacket pots are

if i go out for lunch with children then mb pays

i have a credit card which i put everything on, i do have a cash kitty, but credit card easier for day to day things like shopping/petrol/food/dry cleaning etc

my mb leaves up to me what i do each day, tho having 3, i do have set routines of school/nursery/swimm lessons/tumbletots to agend to

my mb has always made it clear that when children are alseep,that is my time to sit down/have lunch/go on lappy etc - however i dont do any nursery duties, but if the child sleeps 2hrs a day then should easily be possible to cook some food one day, wash clothes another and still have an hours rest

Thanks all, really helpful.

Oh, another question. If your nanny babysits at night do you ask her to do anything while the children are asleep? Mine will be doing an evening a fortnight not having worked for us during the day.

tbh i wouldnt want to bs on a day i dont work

but no i dont do anything, i sit on bum (after tea/bath/bed) and watch tv

what did you have in mind?

I don't. Babysitting = sitting on bum watching TV as Blondes says.

I might catch up on ironing or something if I haven't had time during the day/week, but I don't do extra jobs.

Agree with Blondes. In reality I may unload the dishwasher, hang up some washing on the indoor airer but I don't have to do that.

Thanks. I should have said, my nanny is v part time, two days plus one evening a fortnight so poss a bit different to the situation if full time. But thanks all for really helpful advice.