How much should I charge for this nanny job? Am I getting cheated?

Question

I am getting paid 13 an hour to watch 3 boys. Ages 4 1/2, 2, and 11 months. I watch them 60 hours a week from 7-7ish or 8. When I walk in the door in the morning there are dishes with food on them left over from the night before, I have to do laundry, fold it and put it away, make their beds, and clean there toy room (which took me 3 hours to organize last week and is a huge mess the next morning). It is A LOT to deal with, especially since the kids have no discipline or boundaries when the parents are home. I live in Pittsburgh by the way. Thanks for your help!

I also have to drive them to lessons and activities, which is understandable as a nanny. but is so hard to balance when you have all the other cleaning to do. During there nap time is when I try my hardest to get most of it done, but I end up balancing both most of the time. Is this what all nannies do? I can understand picking up after the kids, but not messes after I leave.

Answer 1

Ask for more money you're not getting nearly enough for all that you do.  And you should not have to clean the mess from the night before either.

Answer 2

I absolutely would not clean the messes that the adults made the night before.....especially there dirty dishes from dinner!  You are not the maid........you are the nanny.  I would say that you turn the house back over to them in the same conditions you found it that morning.  That just seems ridicuous to me.  I understand you having to clean the kids room, if they make a mess during the day.  

But I say.....light cleaning/picking up if it doesn't interfere with the care of the kids.   Because the kids come first!  And those are hard ages that you have been delt!  4 2 and almost 1!!  Yikes girl...I am suprised you would even find time to clean the parents dirty dishes!

Answer 3

I pay our nanny $13/hour (only 10 hours a week) but she does not do any of the cleaning or laundry. She does pick up after the children, but the playroom is usually fairly tidy when she arrives (the children have to help me tidy up before they go to bed - they are 2-1/2 and nearly 4) And she cleans up after their meals.

You should at the very least be getting overtime for any hours over 40 a week.

If I were you I would talk to the parents and let them know that you cannot be a good nanny to the children if you have all these other chores to do.

Answer 4

Just be clear as to what you are willing to do. There is no reason to get upset. If you agree that $13. and hour is good for watching three kids, that is up to you, but you need a contract to spell out exactly what that covers. Considering what you have said, I would suggest that another $5 would be given for anything other than general cleaning, and I would leave it for them to do.

You may find that you will just need another job. Or they may suprise you. SO ask yourself the question, how much could they give you for what they expect you to do, that you will not complain to them or about them? Set your price, and walk away if they are not willing to meet you where you need to be.

Please let me know how it turns out, I am soooooo  curious.

Answer 5

Your not a babysitter you are their maid XD