What are Considered Nanny Duties and Responsibilities

Hiring a nanny can change daily life for your family. A professional nanny brings structure, stability and practical support to your household, allowing you to balance busy schedules without affecting your child’s well being. Understanding what is considered nanny duties and responsibilities before you hire makes it much easier to find the right candidate and build a good working relationship.

At Nannies Matter, we help parents find experienced childcare professionals who can support their children’s development and fit naturally into the family home. The guide below explains what a nanny does, the duties of a nanny and what you can expect when you welcome a new nanny into your child’s life.

To speak to someone about hiring a nanny and how a nanny can help you, fill in the contact form or call Nannies Matter on 07736 337065.

What is a Nanny’s Job?

A nanny’s job centres on taking care of children within the parents’ home, creating a safe environment and supporting the child’s development throughout the day. While every family has its own needs, the nanny role focuses on raising children with consistency, practical support and positive guidance.

Many families choose a professional nanny because the position offers more dedicated childcare than an au pair or babysitter. A nanny often has formal training in early years care, previous experience with children of different ages and a paediatric first aid certificate or other aid certification. This allows them to respond confidently to day-to-day situations and keep your child safe and healthy.

Nannies work either as live-out childcare professionals or as live-in nanny staff who stay in the home. Some families prefer a nanny share, where two households employ the same nanny. Whatever you choose, the core responsibility remains the same: supporting children through their daily activities while maintaining a pleasant environment within the home.

Full-time Nanny Responsibilities

There are many tasks and duties that nannies will be expected to perform over the course of an average day, but all are ultimately in service of the same core responsibility: to provide care for the children of their employer’s family, and support their development and wellbeing.
This can involve a number of different daily duties, including:

• Helping children to prepare for school, picking them up and dropping them off.
• Tidying up after the children.
• Laundry, changing bedsheets and other household tasks for the children’s benefit.
• Supervising and assisting with reading, writing and homework.
• Preparing healthy and nutritious meals for the children.
• Organising playdates and other family activities.
• Caring for children who have fallen ill and administering first aid.
• Organising necessary appointments for the children.
• Running basic errands.

In some cases, nannies can take on multiple roles within your home - they may expand beyond childcare duties to fulfil a housekeeping role, too. You can discuss your needs during your initial interview to find out whether a nanny candidate can meet them.

Nannies generally work for up to 10 hours a day for five days a week, with leeway for weekend or evening babysitting work. Depending on your circumstances, you may choose to hire a live-out nanny who commutes to your home on the days they are required, or a live-in nanny who will stay with you.

By working with an agency such as Nannies Matter, you can simplify this process. Provide us with a list of your requirements and leave us to find ideal candidates who will be happy to accommodate you.

What Can You Reasonably Expect from Your Nanny?

A successful working relationship relies on knowing what is realistic and fair for both sides. Below is a clear outline of what you should expect from a good nanny, and what typically falls outside the nanny’s job description.

What you can expect from a professional nanny

Clear communication and understanding: providing the right care for children is a complex task that requires strong communication. You should be able to set out clear expectations and guidelines for your nanny at the outset, and they should be able to work in a way that suits your needs and those of your whole family.

Professionalism and enthusiasm: being a nanny is more than a job; it’s a commitment to working as part of a family and investing love, care and passion into their children’s wellbeing. As such, it is only fair to expect that your nanny will be genuinely committed to caring for your children, and will always give their best.

Mutual respect: the most positive working relationships with nannies are based on teamwork. That’s why the best nannies are real team players who are willing to go the extra mile to support the family and show respect for your position as the parent and employer.
A written nanny contract is an essential part of setting expectations. This outlines agreed duties, schedules, pay and any other responsibilities. It also avoids confusion once the nanny starts working in your home.

What you should not expect from a nanny

• Someone who will do everything: nannies have specific responsibilities to look after the needs of your children, and should not be mistaken for all-purpose maids or cleaners. As such, nannies will not usually be expected to run an entire household - if you require someone to take on additional domestic duties, consider hiring a specialised nanny housekeeper, or a nanny groom if there are horses and other animals to be cared for.
• Taking on duties that were not agreed upon: although nannies are resourceful and caring, there may be some household tasks they are unable to take on. The exact nature of the responsibilities your nanny will undertake should be set out in their contract, and will need to be clarified and formalised before they start working for you.
• Unpaid overtime: nannies are passionate, dedicated professionals who will often go above and beyond to support your family, but if there is a mismatch between the number of hours they are contracted to work and the amount they are really expected to do, it may be necessary to come to a new agreement.

How Long do Nannies Work?

A full-time nanny often works up to ten hours a day, five days a week. Some families require flexible hours, occasional babysitting or support during evenings and weekends. Many nannies are happy to discuss this, but clarity and fairness are essential from the beginning.
Because each family’s schedule is unique, working with an agency like Nannies Matter can make finding the right candidate much easier. We match families with nannies who can offer the support you need, at the times you need it.

Find Out More

If you're ready to hire your next nanny or you simply want a clearer picture of the responsibilities involved, Nannies Matter can help you identify the right candidate for your family.

Read more about our nanny and childcare services to find out how we can help you find the right candidate to meet your requirements. You can also call us on 07736 337065, or fill in our online enquiry form and we will get back to you.