Anyone who’s had a nanny knows that they do a lot around the house. But there’s a big difference between the housekeeping that naturally comes with caring for children and the housekeeping that belongs on a completely different job description.
It’s not always easy to understand where one ends and the other begins. If you’ve been wondering how much is actually reasonable to expect when it comes to nanny housekeeping duties, this is the place to start.
1) What Nanny Housekeeping Duties Actually Look Like
A nanny’s main job is caring for children. Everything else comes out of that. So when it comes to housekeeping, the guiding question is always “is this related to the children?”
On a day-to-day basis, families can expect their nanny to prepare light meals and snacks for the children, tidy up play areas and children’s bedrooms, clean up after activities, lightly straighten the bathroom after bath time, and do a basic kitchen tidy after mealtimes. These tasks are a natural part of keeping the children’s environment clean, and most professional nannies handle them without a second thought.
Over time, those duties may expand a little. Many nannies take responsibility for regularly disinfecting toys, keeping play areas dusted and vacuumed, and managing the organization of children’s bedrooms and closets. Seasonally, they might go through children’s clothes, flagging items that no longer fit. They’ll often track essentials like diapers, wipes, and formula and let you know when things are running low.
2) What Nannies Aren’t Expected to Do
Nannies aren’t housekeepers, and it’s not reasonable to expect them to function as both.
Assuming you hired a nanny and not a nanny/housekeeper hybrid role (which everyone should’ve known about and agreed to ahead of time!), general household cleaning, scrubbing bathrooms, mopping floors, deep cleaning the kitchen, doing the family’s laundry, or maintaining areas of the home unrelated to the children aren’t typical nanny housekeeping duties. If those tasks are part of your household’s needs, you’d want to consider hiring a separate house cleaner whose role is designed to cover a broader range of tasks.
This distinction matters practically, too. Childcare is a full-time job. A nanny who spends a significant portion of their day on general housekeeping has less time and energy for the children.
3) When It’s Okay to Ask for Additional Duties
Some families ask their nanny to handle meal planning or grocery shopping for the whole household, run occasional errands, or manage light household organization projects. These can work well when the nanny has the bandwidth, is genuinely interested, and is compensated appropriately for the added scope. This is also a conversation to have either before making a hire or once your family’s needs change, and duties and compensation are being discussed. It should not be assumed that your nanny is comfortable with non-childcare-related tasks.
If you’re expecting your nanny to do significantly more than child-related housekeeping, that should be reflected in their pay and discussed before the position starts or when discussing your family’s current needs and the duties you’d like your nanny to take on.
4) How to Set Expectations in the Hiring Process
The best way to avoid confusion is to be completely clear from the beginning.
In your job description, list the general tasks you’re expecting your nanny to handle. “Tidy children’s play areas daily” is more useful than “some light housekeeping.” If you want them to handle grocery shopping or manage the kids’ laundry, say so. This will ensure you attract candidates who are actually interested in the work at hand and can help drastically with retention.
In the work agreement, outline nanny housekeeping duties in writing. This isn’t about distrust. It’s about making sure both parties have the same understanding of the role so there are no surprises after the hire.
Responsibility creep is one of the most common frustrations in nanny-family relationships. It happens when expectations expand over time without any formal discussion or adjustment to pay. Being clear from day one, or as soon as your needs change, protects everyone.
It’s also worth thinking honestly about your nanny’s workload. If you have young children and a full daily schedule, your nanny’s day is already packed. Adding significant housekeeping on top isn’t just unreasonable. It’s a recipe for burnout and turnover.
5) A Great Nanny Is Worth Protecting
Nannies work incredibly hard for the families who employ them and play a genuinely meaningful role in children’s lives. Being thoughtful about what you ask of them, what should be compensated additionally, and what’s better handled by someone else is one of the most important ways you can show respect for that work.
At Westside Nannies, we help families think through role expectations before the search even begins. If you’re not sure how to structure a position or what’s reasonable to include, we’re here to help.
6) Frequently Asked Questions
a) What nanny housekeeping duties are standard?
Standard nanny housekeeping duties can include all tasks related to the children, such as tidying children’s play areas and bedrooms, cleaning up after meals and activities, lightly straightening bathrooms after use, tracking children’s supplies, and maintaining organization in children’s spaces. These tasks are directly related to caring for the children and are a normal part of most nanny roles.
b) Can I ask my nanny to do general housekeeping?
General household cleaning isn’t typically part of a nanny’s role. If you need help with broader household tasks, a family assistant or separate house cleaner is a better fit. Expecting both full childcare and full housekeeping from one person without adjusting compensation and workload isn’t realistic.
c) Should housekeeping expectations be in the work agreement?
Yes. Nanny housekeeping duties should be listed in the job description and outlined in the work agreement. This prevents confusion and ensures your nanny isn’t surprised by a longer to-do list than they signed up for.
d) How do I know if I’m asking too much of my nanny?
Ask yourself whether the tasks you’re expecting leave adequate time and energy for quality childcare. If your nanny’s schedule is already full, adding significant housekeeping on top is unreasonable. If you need more support, consider adjusting the role or adding a second hire.
e) Should I pay my nanny more if they take on extra housekeeping?
Yes. If your nanny is taking on tasks that go beyond standard child-related housekeeping, that additional scope should be reflected in their compensation and discussed before the position starts.
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