The question of whether a nanny cleans the house is a common point of confusion for families seeking professional childcare. While a nanny’s duties often extend beyond direct supervision, they typically stop short of general domestic housekeeping. The nanny profession is centered on the child, not the home. The answer depends almost entirely on the specific arrangement negotiated between the employer and the caregiver.
The Primary Role of a Professional Nanny
The baseline expectation for a professional nanny focuses squarely on the safety, development, and well-being of the children. A nanny’s function is to be dedicated to providing nurturing, stimulating, and age-appropriate care. This role involves managing the child’s logistics, schedule, and immediate needs, acting as an extension of the parents while they are away.
A professional nanny prioritizes activities that support growth, such as educational play, reading, and organizing outings and appointments. This focus means the nanny’s time is primarily dedicated to direct interaction and supervision. The purpose of the position is to deliver high-quality, personalized childcare, which is distinctly different from a general household service role.
Cleaning Duties Included in the Nanny Role
The cleaning tasks that fall within a standard nanny’s job description are strictly those related to the children, often termed “nursery duties.” These tasks are necessary to maintain a clean and safe environment directly surrounding the child’s activities. A nanny is expected to manage the clean-up of any mess created during their shift by the children or during the course of their care.
Specific responsibilities universally considered acceptable include:
- Washing and sterilizing bottles, sippy cups, and dishes used for the children’s meals and snacks.
- Tidying the children’s bedrooms and play areas, ensuring toys are picked up and surfaces are wiped down after use.
- Handling the children’s laundry, including washing, drying, and putting away their clothes.
The expectation is that the nanny restores the children’s space to the condition it was in at the start of the day. This includes emptying diaper pails, wiping down high chairs, and organizing the supplies needed for the child’s care.
Household Tasks That Fall Outside the Nanny Scope
A standard nanny contract generally excludes any cleaning or domestic work that benefits the entire household rather than just the child. Tasks such as deep cleaning, scrubbing bathrooms, or vacuuming the entire home are outside the scope of the profession. These responsibilities would consume time dedicated to the children’s care and development.
A nanny is not expected to perform tasks such as doing the parents’ laundry, cleaning adult living spaces, or washing dishes left by the parents. General household maintenance, like cleaning the master bedroom, running errands unrelated to the child, or managing pet care, is typically not included. Asking a nanny to take on these duties can detract from their primary focus.
Defining Hybrid Domestic Roles
The demand for comprehensive domestic support has led to the creation of hybrid roles that combine childcare with general household tasks, commanding higher compensation.
Nanny/Housekeeper
This role balances a set amount of childcare with significant domestic responsibilities, often focusing on whole-family laundry, general tidying, and family meal preparation. This arrangement is suitable for families with school-aged children, where the care responsibilities lessen during the school day, allowing time for housekeeping.
Household Manager
This position involves minimal direct childcare and focuses more on logistical and administrative tasks for the entire family. Duties include managing household vendors, coordinating schedules, grocery shopping, running family errands, and light organizational projects. This role shifts the focus from child-rearing to home operations, requiring strong organizational skills.
Mother’s Helper
This is typically a part-time position designed to assist a parent who is present in the home. The duties often involve a combination of light childcare and basic housework, such as watching a sleeping baby while the parent manages another task. This role is distinguished by the caregiver working alongside the parent rather than taking sole charge of the children. These hybrid roles require clear differentiation and an appropriate increase in salary to reflect the expanded workload.
The Importance of a Detailed Work Agreement
A written work agreement is the most effective tool for preventing confusion and ensuring mutual understanding regarding a nanny’s duties. This contract must clearly outline every expected task, including all child-related cleaning and any agreed-upon household chores. The document establishes a professional framework for the working relationship, safeguarding both the employer and the employee.
The work agreement should specify details such as whether the nanny is responsible for all children’s meals or just snacks, and whether the children’s laundry includes ironing or only washing and folding. If a hybrid role is established, the contract must detail the exact hours dedicated to childcare versus household tasks, and how compensation reflects this expanded scope.