Should a nanny clean the house?
Your nanny’s primary focus should be on meeting your children’s physical and emotional needs, rather than housecleaning. It’s reasonable to ask your nanny to perform light cleaning duties directly related to childcare, but not extensive household chores.
1) Should a nanny clean the house?
Nannies are not cleaners. They take care of their employers’ children, and that should be their main responsibility. Nannies should only undertake light child-related domestic duties, such as tidying away activities and toys and cleaning up after mealtimes.
Take care not to overstep these boundaries. Once hired, your nanny should feel able to devote the majority of their time to your children's health and wellbeing. Some nannies will go the extra mile to please their employers, but that can eventually lead to feelings of resentment and nanny burnout.
2) Can a nanny be a housekeeper?
A nanny and a housekeeper are two very distinct roles. Although nannies often carry out light child-related domestic duties, they will struggle to provide top-notch childcare while simultaneously working as housekeepers.
You might be thinking that stay-at-home parents do both of these jobs every day. This might be true, but it still doesn't mean you can reasonably employ one person to meet your childcare needs and keep your home immaculate.
If you need more help around the home, you can hire a nanny housekeeper—someone who focuses mainly on one role or the other but can pivot when needed to meet your family’s needs. For example, a nanny could agree to carry out some domestic duties while your children are at school, or a housekeeper might occasionally step in to care for your children if you have a scheduling conflict.
3) What are reasonable expectations for a nanny?
The best way to set up realistic expectations for your nanny is to ensure that every part of the job description relates only to your children. This covers cleaning up after themselves and the kids, for instance, but not doing laundry for the whole family or cleaning common areas.
It’s important to remember that nannies often don't have scheduled breaks. Don't begrudge your nanny for taking a little downtime if the children are happily occupied. Your nanny likely worked hard to get to this point, so don't expect them to whip out the vacuum or dust cloth the minute the children settle down!
If you're not quite sure what to expect from your nanny, a reputable nanny agency such as Sommet Nannies can offer you thoughtful advice and guidance. Our team has educated hundreds of families on common expectations and standards when hiring an experienced, professional nanny so they can establish a strong and lasting employment relationship.
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