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You can ask for whatever you want. If nanny finds the request offensive she’ll vote with her feet.
I’ve two part time nannies (they work alternate days) and one chooses to change her clothes on arrival. The other doesn’t but she’s always very clean cut/ nicely turned out.
I don’t change my clothes when I come home from work and cuddle my kids (I wash my hands!!) - and for that reason I do not demand my nanny change their clothes either.
(Both my nannies travel subway to work. I go to office daily and ride the subway too. We’re all vaxxed… FWIW)
They’re both only available part time
Pro
We have a no shoes in the house, wash hands when you arrive rule. Nanny is driving herself.
Personally I’d focus more on ensuring good hand washing, checking that nanny has recent covid and TDAP (and flu or will get it soon) vaccines, and be generous about sick days to disincentivized showing up sick.
However, you’re the parents and you can set the rules. It sounds like you’re aware this could make hiring harder. What would you provide - scrubs?
Rising Star
Also..I’m not a covid expert but I don’t think germs living on clothes is the real issue since it’s primarily transported via air/respiratory. So basically if your nanny gets exposed while on the subway, changing her clothes probably won’t help 🤷♀️
Conversation Starter
Seems like a weird and obnoxious request. But you are the one paying so you get to make the rules. It's also up to your nanny to decline or accept.
Rising Star
Hmm this sounds super weird to me but I haven’t had a nanny who commuted on public transit since pre covid. Pre covid I would have found this weird… with covid, I don’t know
Rising Star
Is this something only for covid? Maybe you could ask them if they’d be ok either wearing scrubs or clothes they bring from home? I feel like just during covid it is kinda okay but not necessary since we’ve learned it’s not how it’s transmitted. Are you also still cleaning all groceries before they enter your home, your purse, etc?
To be honest I am quite covid conscious compared to others but this is not the item I’d worry about.
I’d request hand washing upon entry & as the day goes on. and ask how she handles the subway - double masks?, hand sanitizer before and after entry of car & station?
Pro
I don’t think it’s unreasonable. Your home, your kids, your money paying her so I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask her to take a few extra mins to change her clothes. I also don’t touch my kids when I get home until I have showered. There’s more besides Covid that can infect kids so I think it’s just good practice. There’s nothing wrong with being extra cautious to protect your family and don’t let anyone shame you into going against what you are comfortable with
P.S: girl own it, don’t apologize for trying to protect your family during a pandemic no matter what anyone says
Pro
Perhaps just shirt? Baby doesn't really contact pants that much, I think.
Or ask them to wear a light jacket or something over their clothes while in transit, that could easily be removed upon arrival, to give them an option.
My nanny drives herself; on the few occasions where she had to go do something at her kid's school before coming in, she changed before starting work.
Pro
Nothing is unreasonable if the pay is right. If you have non-standard requests you need to compensate for them. This nanny will have double the laundry if she’s changing into *clean* clothes when she enters your house and will likely also needed to have changes available for stains during the day.
I would probably provide a stipend and let her wash it at my house. Kinda like having a uniform at other employers.
If it bothers you, you could provide a hospital like gown. In the NICU, the nurses wore hospitals gowns when feeding the babies.
OPs choice…just provided an example of where I’ve seen caretakers protect babies by covering their active clothes
Rising Star
Had no idea this was normal! Thanks y’all for showing me a new perspective
This is super weird
Conversation Starter
I have a friend who is like this. She isn’t even vaccinated and won’t let anyone hold the baby when they visit. Doesn’t matter what we think about it because it’s her baby so it’s her rules. Your nanny should change clothes if you want her to change.
Rising Star
As others have said, your house, your rules. It’s a bit strange, but I can’t imagine it’s that difficult for the nanny to bring a bag of clothes with her to change into at your house. If it were me, it would not cause me to turn down an otherwise good job offer, especially if these are rules you follow yourself too.
I used to ask that of previous nanny (when my daughter was a baby). She didn’t mind.
Maybe just change her t-shirt and wash her hands carefully.
I do this in my own home, not because of covid but because where I used to live E. coli and actual feces remnants were rmpant on public transportation
This doesn’t sound weird to me. I think it’s understandable that you don’t want outside germs inside. However I would definitely provide them with something to change into or give them an option to keep clothes at your house and throw them in the wash when needed. I’m sure they’d be happy to change if you have them options
A lot of nannies in our neighborhood change into scrubs provided by the family.
Rising Star
Your house, your rules. Our nanny takes public transportation from Jersey to Manhattan and we have no issues with her wearing outside clothes/shoes in the house. She is vaccinated and washes her hands regularly
We made this a requirement for our premature baby.