Many busy parents and working parents often find the need for a caregiver who provides quality care for their children while helping out around the house.
Though nannies essentially do not perform housework, many nannies are willing to help with light household chores, which can be a significant help with the running of a household.
Hiring a nanny in Sydney who also performs a few light household duties while caring for children allows parents to focus on more important responsibilities and spend quality time with their family.
A nanny can provide comprehensive care for your children and family while performing some additional household duties.
However, it is important to understand the key differences between household chores and household duties and whether your nanny can take the responsibility as part of their job description.
Can You Expect Your Nanny in Sydney to Help with Light Household Chores?
The primary role of nanny services is to provide comprehensive childcare, ensuring the child’s development and to support their emotional, physical and educational needs.
Some experienced nannies or specialised nannies, such as nanny housekeepers, will in fact, take on additional responsibilities such as light housekeeping or light household chores.
Mainly, these duties include preparing nutritious meals for the family or children, cleaning up after meals and tidying the children’s rooms and play areas.
A part-time or full-time nanny may be willing to perform a few light household duties in addition to childcare. It is, however, your responsibility as a parent and employer to discuss your expectations and any additional duties with potential nannies before hiring a nanny in Sydney.
Household Chores Vs Household Duties: What Are the Key Differences?
Before considering a nanny in Sydney to help with household chores, it is vital to understand the key differences between household chores and household duties.
Household Duties
Household duties refer to tasks that directly relate to the household, including things such as meal preparation, tidying up and doing laundry.
However, in the case of childcare, these duties mainly involve duties related to children, such as the children’s meals and laundry, and tidying their playroom or bedrooms. Household duties for nannies mainly consist of duties performed for the children’s well-being and safety.
Household Chores
On the other hand, household chores are broader tasks that involve the entire family. Tasks can include cleaning the house, doing laundry, preparing meals, and organising rooms for the entire family. These are duties that go beyond the responsibilities of a childcare provider and are meant for a cleaner or housekeeper.
In essence, most nannies provide light household tasks that pertain to the children rather than the entire household, catering to the family’s unique situation.
Hiring a Nanny Offers Many Benefits
Hiring a nanny in Sydney offers many benefits for your family, especially because most nannies also help with light household tasks while providing childcare.
Here are a few benefits you can expect from hiring a nanny;
They Offer Comprehensive Care and Individual Childcare Support as Opposed to a Day Care
Nannies offer comprehensive care tailored to meet your child’s emotional, physical and educational development. Unlike a daycare, a nanny offers personalised care, engaging in age-appropriate, tailored activities for your child.
Many nannies are qualified in early childhood education and hold formal training that ensures quality professional care for your child. They offer structured support in a nurturing in-home environment for your children.
They Perform Light Housekeeping Tasks
Additionally, some nannies help parents, especially working parents, with light housekeeping tasks. These may include preparing nutritious meals for the kids, light organising and tidying as well as doing the kids laundry.
Nannies also help children with homework and school work, and offer assistance during bath time and nap time.
Nannies Encourage Child Development
A nanny is a professional childcare provider trained in children’s development. This means that they can help with school runs, homework and provide emotional support while encouraging your children’s development through educational activities and a supportive environment.
Flexible Support for Multiple Children
Parents with multiple children find that nannies provide more flexible childcare support in comparison to a daycare. A nanny provides personalised care to meet every child’s unique needs in a home with multiple children.
The Many Benefits of Hiring a Nanny Who Does Household Chores
In contrast to the many benefits nannies bring to the table in terms of childcare, they also provide essential support when it comes to household tasks and light household chores.
A nanny in your home ensures the following:
1. A Cleaner, More Organised Home
Hiring a nanny willing to perform light household chores leads to a cleaner and more organised home. Everything from keeping the children’s rooms tidy to organising play areas and cleaning up after meals helps to maintain a safe and clutter-free space for your children.
2. Safety and Order for the Children
A tidy and well-organised home is safer for your children to play in. With all toys and dangerous household items neatly stored away, and play areas clutter-free and clean, your children enjoy a safe and hygienic environment with less risk for injury or illness.
3. Peace of Mind for Parents
When your nanny takes care of light household duties, it allows you to focus on spending more quality time with your children.
Not having to come home to piled-up chores after a long day of work allows parents to focus more on the time they have with their children and offers invaluable peace of mind.
4. More Time for Family Activities
With your nanny taking care of light household duties, you can spend more quality time with your family. Whether enjoying a meal together or participating in an age-appropriate activity with your children, quality time with your family is valuable and memorable.
5. Efficient Use of Time
When you have limited time on your hands, hiring a nanny to help with light housekeeping maximises your use of time.
Nannies can efficiently manage meal preparation, organise children’s school activities and supplies, and take care of some laundry. This allows you to enjoy a smoother daily routine with some free time for other important tasks.
What Household Chores Can You Expect Your Nanny in Sydney to Perform?
Your nanny’s main role is providing your children with care and support; thus, household chores and tasks are typically additional tasks.
That is why it is important to understand that your nanny is not a housekeeper or cleaner, and you must keep any household tasks to a minimum and mostly for the benefit of your children.
- Preparing Meals – Most nannies assist with meal preparation for children, ensuring that they eat nutritious meals and snacks. This could include packing their lunches for school and making them dinner.
- Cleaning After Meals – Your nanny can clean up after meals, wash the dishes and disinfect meal prep surfaces while supervising the children. However, this is mainly for the children’s meal times.
- Organising Play Areas – Part of a nanny’s duties is to keep children’s play areas and children’s rooms in order. This is necessary to ensure these areas are safe and clean for your children. However, it does not include deep cleaning of these areas.
- Managing Laundry for Children – Many nannies will help with the children’s laundry, especially when there are smaller children, such as toddlers and babies. This usually includes washing and folding children’s clothes, school uniforms and bedding. Nannies can help with laundry, particularly for your children.
- Running Errands – Nannies are often happy to help run errands for the children and parents. Errands such as picking children up from school or going to the grocery store are acceptable. It forms a helpful part of supporting families and children.
Finding the Right Nanny
When hiring a nanny in Sydney, finding the right nanny is someone who first and foremost ensures personalised care for your children and supports your family.
In all cases, clear communication is essential to ensure that the nanny understands what is expected of them.
Consider an Au Pair
An Au pair, though not a permanent solution, can provide comprehensive childcare support and help with household chores. Because they are live-in and sharing the same spaces, au pairs can take on some childcare duties and light household duties, which provides some flexibility for your family.
Final Thoughts
Hiring a nanny in Sydney will provide support for your family and personalised care for your children. You can choose from a casual babysitter, full-time nanny, nanny sharing or a part-time nanny that suits your childcare and additional needs.
