If you are interested in having someone take care of your kids, then you’ve probably considered hiring a nanny. Nannies are different from babysitters because babysitters are usually hired on a case-by-case basis while a nanny will be present daily. Their primary job is to take care of your children, but what else is a nanny expected to do?

What does a nanny do?

When you hire a nanny, you are basically hiring an in-home childcare provider that will have a close relationship with you and your children. Nannies offer live-in support, and they play a large role in the lives of the children they take care of. A nanny’s main job is to take care of anything involving the kids, including cooking for them and cleaning up after them. It also includes setting boundaries and teaching them values. 

When you hire a nanny, it’s important to make sure both you and the nanny are on the same page with how much work they are expected to do. Some nannies will do a little bit of outside housework, such as helping prepare meals, a few loads of laundry, and general cleaning while caring for the children. However, most nannies do not consider themselves housekeepers.

The best way to ensure that you and your nanny are on the same page with expectations is to discuss it beforehand. For example, your nanny may not mind making food for the children, but they may draw the line when it comes to making food for the adults.

A nanny is an in-home caregiver for your children, who will eventually develop a close relationship with the children and the rest of your family. Nannies are not housekeepers or personal chefs, but they will tend to all of the children’s needs. The best way to make sure that you and your nanny are on the same page with expectations is to discuss them in the beginning.