u/basic-nugget

Am I being unreasonable here? When interviewing our nanny, I specifically mentioned that I have a no perfume/fragrance preference and she agreed to it.

Recently she has started wearing a body cream that has a very strong scent. She says it's not perfume, and technically she's right, but the smell is just as strong as perfume and lingers. I don't think she's doing anything wrong intentionally, but the original concern was about strong fragrances in general, not just products labeled as perfume.

How would you bring this up politely? Would it be reasonable to ask her not to use that body cream while working, or am I being too picky?

Edit: Thank you all for the advice and perspective. I checked the agreement, and it only mentions perfumes (updating immediately!). I won’t assume things in the future. Also, I should add that I asked if she was wearing perfume, which is why she said it wasn’t and explained what it was. I’ll use this as an opportunity to clarify other points rather than make assumptions. I was just worried I was being too much.

First‑time mom here with a 2‑month‑old, and I’m looking to hire a nanny for about 3 days a week (8‑hour shifts). For anyone in MA (not Boston), I’d love advice on where to even start. What sites or agencies did you use? What’s the average hourly rate in your area?

I’ve Googled a bunch, but honestly it feels like a lot of info and I’m not sure what’s actually required vs. optional. If you’ve hired a nanny in MA, what were the must‑do steps (taxes, contracts, background checks, etc.) and what was simpler than it looked?

Any tips or real‑world experience would be super appreciated.