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What are the Different Nanny Jobs?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

The nanny is a person who cares for children, usually at the children’s home. A child minder cares for kids at the minder’s home, but this distinction isn’t always used. Nannies frequently only work for one family at a time but some jobs have short enough hours that employment with two or more families could be possible. There are many different types of nanny jobs that can have varying responsibilities, hours, and living arrangements.

The standard nanny, once called a nurse, cares for children for the majority of the day and lives in the child’s home in his or her own private accommodations. This is also called a live-in nanny. Since part of the benefit of the job may be having living quarters on site, part of the pay may reflect the fact that room and board are included. Still live-in nanny jobs can be highly paid when people are expected to work very long hours, and there are some specialized live-in jobs that include caring for infants or supporting mothers with newborns, sometimes called postpartum doulas.

Some nannies work part-time, while others are live-in employees.
Some nannies work part-time, while others are live-in employees.

Other nanny jobs do not include living in the child’s home. Instead nannies can come to a home for a set amount of hours each day to provide childcare. This could be done on a regular basis, on an emergency basis or on a daily basis. Some live-out nannies are only present at certain times of the day when parents might most need someone to take over. For instance, nannies might just be needed to get kids ready for school, to transport them to school and to pick them up after school.

Housekeeper nannies do some light housework, like laundry.
Housekeeper nannies do some light housework, like laundry.

Another of the nanny jobs is housekeeper nanny. Though principal work may require caring for children, housekeeper nannies will usually do at least light housework, and some do even more. They might need to prepare meals, take care of kids, grocery shop, and keep homes clean. As virtually every mother and father knows, getting chores and errands done while taking care of kids is difficult work, and housekeeper nanny jobs usually aren’t that popular unless the pay is very high. Making sure kids are adequately watched or entertained so that chores can be completed can make this job hard to perform, but those willing to take on this work may have an easier time finding nanny jobs.

Housekeeper nannies may do some household cleaning, along with taking care of any children in the home.
Housekeeper nannies may do some household cleaning, along with taking care of any children in the home.

Lots of different training exists for nanny jobs, but people entering this field of employment may not have any. It isn’t a bad idea to take some classes in childcare and early childhood education, at minimum, and to have some experience working as a babysitter with references from parents. Those who enjoy working with children and who have a little experience can find many different nanny working arrangements if they’d like to work in this field. Work can be enjoyable and/or demanding depending on each precise circumstance in which a nanny works.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Spotiche5

@heavanet- Your friend is off to a good start to find nanny jobs with her love for children and experience as a daycare provider. She should start her search for a nanny job by getting letters of recommendation from her current employer. If possible, she should also get several parents of children that she has worked with to write reference letters.

Though it is possible to find a job as a nanny without any formal training, you may want to suggest to your friend that she take several child care classes. This type of training would be an added bonus to the experience working with children that she already has.

Heavanet

Does anyone know if working as a daycare provider qualifies a person to work as a nanny? I have a friend who wants to switch from working in a child daycare center to a nanny, but she doesn't have any specific training. She is great with kids, though.

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    • Some nannies work part-time, while others are live-in employees.
      By: Syda Productions
      Some nannies work part-time, while others are live-in employees.
    • Housekeeper nannies do some light housework, like laundry.
      By: JackF
      Housekeeper nannies do some light housework, like laundry.
    • Housekeeper nannies may do some household cleaning, along with taking care of any children in the home.
      By: SkyLine
      Housekeeper nannies may do some household cleaning, along with taking care of any children in the home.
    • In many cases, nannies are responsible for domestic duties in additional to childcare duties.
      By: Brebca
      In many cases, nannies are responsible for domestic duties in additional to childcare duties.
    • A nanny might do household chores as well as taking care of children.
      By: kmiragaya
      A nanny might do household chores as well as taking care of children.