10 Common Complaints from Full-Time Nannies

Full-time nannies provide emotional, physical, and intellectual training and support for the children in their care. Unfortunately, nannies sometimes find legitimate complaints about their job. The top ten complaints list common causes of frustration for nannies.

1. Low pay causes many nannies to seek other employment. Due to the high degree of responsibilities and on-call nature of being a nanny, parents must pay competitive wages to compensate qualified and professional nannies.
2. Extra responsibilities in addition to those listed in the contract produce an unfair situation for a nanny. When the parents assign additional tasks, the nanny cannot easily balance the new responsibilities with full-time care of the children.
3. Nannies make rules for the children to follow when they are under her care and supervision. Parents sometimes undermine her authority by giving the children permission to break her rules or by contradicting the guidelines and directions she assigns the children.
4. Nannies frequently complain about parents who do not spend enough time with their children. The full-time nanny tends to the children all day and sometimes overnight. The children may feel a closer attachment to the nanny than to the parents. However, children need their parents in addition to their caring nanny.
5. Rule changes cause confusion and frustration for nannies. When parents change rules for the children or guidelines for the nanny, the resulting confusion creates more work for the nanny as she directs the children in their daily activities.
6. Critical parents make a nannies job more difficult. They hired her to care for the children, they contacted her references, and they know how she performs her duties. When a parent observes the nanny and points out her faults, the nanny feels unappreciated. Additionally, she may hesitate in the future to do her job for fear the parents will criticize her performance or choices.
7. Challenging children give full-time nannies reasons to complain. A disobedient or defiant child pressures the nanny. If the parent refuses to believe her when she shares concerns, the problem grows in difficulty.
8. Limited time off from caring for the children causes stress for full-time nannies. After caring for children, they need a break to pursue educational or social activities. Parents sometimes falsely assume a nanny has no life except to care for the children.
9. Parents who arrive home late show a lack of respect for their nanny. She may have told the children that their parents would be home to say goodnight or she might have made social plans. Carelessness employees with a cavalier attitude toward their nanny cause resentment and complaints.
10. Lack of privacy produces animosity in a full-time nanny. As a person, she makes plans for herself outside of her job. Parents who answer their nanny’s phone, check her mail, or otherwise interfere in her life show disrespect and cross the boundaries of propriety.

Overall, parents remain the greatest source of complaints among full-time nannies. While they love the children for whom they care, nannies deserve respect and support from their employers.