When we hire nannies, we always have a list of things we expect from them. The job description that working moms create of their ideal nanny can sometimes be too much or too little.
What do you expect of your nanny when you hire her?
Would some of your expectations be considered unreasonable?
What do you consider when creating your nanny job description?
What are Unreasonable Nanny Expectations?
Unreasonable or too high nanny expectations are what you expect from your nanny but which is odd for her role such as doing housekeeping, pet care, gardening,
Reasonable Nanny Expectations/Job Description
1. Feeding the Baby is Part of a Nanny Job
It is within the normal nanny’s role to feed the baby all the meals during the time she is with the baby. This means milk and/or formula for infants and solid meals for older kids.
The role includes preparing/cooking and feeding the baby meals if they are spoon-fed. All these are considered reasonable nanny job description.
2. Playing with the Baby is a Reasonable Expectation
It is the role of the nanny to nurture the baby. The activities for growth and development are within the duties of the nanny.
The nanny should hence come up with age-appropriate activities for stimulating and engaging the baby including learning and playing. It includes both indoor and outdoor engagements.
3. Cleaning after Self and the Baby is Expected
It is a normal and reasonable expectation for nannies to clean after the baby. It entails every cleaning related to the baby such as washing dishes after baby and own meals, running baby laundry, folding baby clothes, cleaning/sanitizing toys, tiding the baby room, etc.
The bottom line is that the house should be in at least the same condition that the nanny found it in if not better. It is ok for you to ask this from your nanny.
4. Keeping Baby Safe is a Nanny’s Job
The nanny is responsible for the safety of the baby under her watch. She should ensure that the baby is safe and handles anything that is a danger to their safety.
It includes ensuring safe play, giving medication, eliminating hazard etc. All these are considered reasonable nanny job description.
5. Discipline and Correction is expected of the nanny
Since the baby is spending the bulk of their time with the nanny, it is within the nanny’s job to correct and discipline the baby when the needs arises. It is best for a wrong to be corrected on the spot.
Since the baby spends a lot of time with the nanny it will naturally arise under her watch and it is reasonable to expect a nanny to correct and discipline the baby when it does.
Read: How to Secure your Nanny Commitment for Long Term
How to know your Nanny Expectations are High
- If the tasks/job description you have set for your nanny are not within her role as a nanny, then the expectations are too high
- If you are not compensating the nanny for the tasks, the expectation is too high. Doing any of your housekeeping over the child-related tasks comes with an added cost
- If you are offering your nanny no downtime/time to recharge- your demands are unreasonable. Your nanny needs guaranteed hours and times/schedule, paid vacation, sick days, holiday
Read: Reasons your Nannies are Quitting Too Soon
Proven Expert Tips on Setting Reasonable Expectations on your Nanny
1. Include Only Duties you are Paying
If you are paying your nanny for all the roles you expect of her then it is ok. Such is considered to be a reasonable nanny job description. Let the pay that you are offering guide you into creating the job profile for your nanny.
Only include what you are paying your nanny for. If you are only paying the rate for caring for the baby, do not add housekeeping into the role as this is asking and expecting too much of your nanny. Exclude uncompensated roles on your nanny.
2. Keep Professional and Reasonable Nanny Boundaries
When creating the roles and the tasks for your nanny, keep them professional. Keep the roles as professional as possible and in the line of child care as much as you can. Doing so will help you set up reasonable nanny jobs that is not overwhelming your nanny.
Do not have the nanny do what professional nannies don’t do. It is not the nanny’s job to clean after your bedroom or run the laundry for your spouse.
Read: How to Set your Nanny’s Minimal Requirements
3. Base the Nanny’s Role on the Requirements/Skills
When hiring a nanny, look out for the skills that you want your nanny to have as this is what will be reasonable to ask of her. It ranges from driving or swimming among others. If your hired nanny lacks these skills it is unreasonable to ask her of them.
For instance, if you did not hire out nanny with swimming skills in the description, you are expecting too much when you expect her to take and teach your kids how to swim. If cooking is not her skill, it is a high expectation for her to cook chef like meals.
As such your nanny description should be guided by the requirements that you set out first during the hiring stage.
4. Develop the Nanny Job Description Based on the Age of the Kids
Your nanny roles are definitely shaped by your baby and what will be considered reasonable duties. How old your child is will dictate the kind of tasks and activities that you expect of the nanny.
The job description of an infant nanny is not similar to a school-going kid. They need different levels of care and engagement and have different daytime routines and schedules.
Therefore the nanny job description will depend on the baby and what is reasonable nanny expectations will change as the baby grows.
5. Consider your Routine and Schedule
You probably need the nanny for the hours that you are working. As expected the reason nanny expectations for shifts will differ. If you are working during the day, your nanny’s reasonable expectations stick to baby care and nurturing, cleaning up after self and baby, and light housekeeping if agreed upon.
On the other hand, if you are working during the night shift, the expectations for your nanny change. You are probably looking for someone who will run the bedtime routine for your baby, prepare and feed them dinner, and maybe prepare breakfast for them till you get home from your shift.
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