What is a nanny? What does a nanny do? What are nanny responsibilities? Ask any parent and the answers can vary, so we’re here to set the record straight.
Understanding the basics
A nanny is someone you hire who specializes in child care and provides personalized care for your children in your home. These child care providers are most commonly between the ages of 20-60. Most families hire them for full-time work with consistent hours, around 40-50 hours per week. Other common arrangements are part-time or a nanny share.
The nanny may live with the family or live in their own home. Often, they will have specialized skills (i.e., language development, toilet training, newborn care), additional training, and certifications.
For most families, both parties sign a contract stating what the expectations are for the job to make sure everyone is in agreement on the responsibilities.
The best caretakers love children and have a genuine interest in their happiness and development. In addition, they play a bigger part in the children’s lives — the longer they work for the family, the more involved they become in the development of the child.
What is a nanny responsible for?
First off, the nanny’s main responsibility is providing excellent child care and looking after the well-being of your child. They follow through on responsibilities outlined in the contract and job description or discussed verbally. In general, the child care provider is responsible for anything involving the children. This includes duties such as food preparation, planning educational activities, and supervising extracurricular activities.
What do nannies do besides child care?
Beyond child care, they may also handle tasks like housework (kids’ laundry, tidying up), pet care, and grocery shopping/meal preparation for the entire family. However, it’s crucial to discuss what the nanny will do in advance and include it in the contract to avoid issues. For example, some do not mind doing extra laundry or letting the dog out, while others may prefer not to.
Understanding the preferences and limitations of your childcare professional is essential. Here are some common responsibilities to get you started.
Common responsibilities
- Care of children
- Do minor household chores
- Take the child to/from school or other activities, such as music lessons or soccer.
- Change diapers and help with potty training
- Meal (or bottle) preparation and feeding
- Plan & prepare meals
- Organize daily activities and supervise play dates
- Keep them safe
- Organize the toys
- Wash the child’s laundry
- Bath time routines
- Nap time management
- Planning daily schedules
- Other responsibilities as discussed with the parent
Types of roles:
- Full-time nanny
- Part-time nanny
- Live-in nanny
- Night nanny
- Newborn nannies
- Nanny housekeepers
- Maternity nanny
Related: The Ultimate Nanny Guide for Parents
What do you look for in a nanny?
- Reliable
- Trustworthy
- Actively listens
- Loves children
- Ability to problem-solve
- Patient
- First aid skills
- Communication skills
- Emotional intelligence
- Understanding of child development
What are the main benefits?
- Personalized attention for your child: One-on-one attention and schedules are created around your child’s nap and mealtimes.
- Flexibility: They may be able to come early or stay late.
- Develops a strong bond with your child: The longer they are employed by you, the more a part of the family they become.
What are limitations?
- Social Interaction: If they do not take the child out much or set up playdates, the child may not have a lot of interactions with other children.
- Cost: The hourly rate is more than a babysitter.
- Childhood Development: May not be trained in early childhood development.
How much does a nanny cost?
The average hourly rate is $19.31. Keep in mind there are other nanny costs to take into consideration, such as taxes, paid leave, insurance, etc.
What other types of child care options are there?
In addition to a nanny, there are many child care options to consider: day care, babysitter, au pair, mother’s helper, and more. Not sure what’s right for your family? Explore these articles for more helpful info!
Choosing Between a Nanny, Daycare, and Au Pair
Which Babysitter is Right for My Family?
What is an Au Pair?
Nanny vs Daycare – The Pros and Cons
Nanny vs Babysitter – The Pros and Cons
