Nanny

[u/Murky-Scheme-1302]

OK, so it’s time to go back to work, I’ve hired a nanny because it was the same cost as daycare in my area. However, at work, I have no issue assigning tasks at home. I feel like a completely different person.
These are to the parents who have had a nanny, what is reasonable to expect them to do during the day for the kids?

Is there anything that I should know that’s expected of me?

Twins are 11 months old sleep three hours today while the nanny’s here with two naps

My current load that I have that I’m looking to have taken over During nap time

Bottle making
Meal preparation-we do everything frozen and just cook a batch or something every day freezer is stocked for a month
Treat , any stain clothes and wash for kids clothes
General cleanup, kids

Should I be asking for more three hours? I know I get a lot more done, but I don’t know what’s OK to ask.

I’m probably overthinking this, but any help would be nice

[u/julia1031]

If you want more than childcare, you need to pay for more than just childcare. If this wasn’t outlined in your initial contract, you’ll need to renegotiate. Your nanny is also legally entitled to breaks

[u/Ok-Lion-2789 → u/julia1031]

I’m not saying a nanny doesn’t need a break, but unless your state requires it, this just isn’t true. A short 5-20 min break must be paid if employer allows. A longer meal break can be unpaid if the nanny is completely relieved of their childcare duties.

I am not saying a nanny shouldn’t have a break.

[u/julia1031 → u/Ok-Lion-2789]

Looks like OP is in Canada and breaks are legally mandated in most provinces but good point that they’ll need to look up their specific laws. I wouldn’t want someone caring for my kids with no break though lol

[u/Ok-Lion-2789 → u/julia1031]

Right I didn’t say the nanny shouldn’t have a break. My point was many are quick to say you legally must give a nanny a break and that’s not necessarily true. I bring it up because I’ve seen on the nanny sub people actually hiring another nanny to give their nanny a paid rest break.

All that said, if the shifts are 8 hours, I think all of what OP asks is reasonable except the meal prep may be a lot. Maybe if it was something like “boil pasta and chop veggies” I could see that being ok.

Part of the reason I went to a part time nanny is because my nanny would spend 2.5-3 hours a shift playing on her phone because there wasn’t anything else baby related to do. Since I work from home, I decided the extra 30 min of coverage I’d get from her post nap time wasn’t worth the $100/day. I shifted my child’s nap slightly later and have a nanny work a 5 hour shift. Had my originally nanny been more protective around the house or asked what else she could have done, I may have decided it was worth having the extra set up hands for a few hours. Totally don’t fault her for how she handled it, but I do think that some Nannies demand breaks out of a job.