Within the in-home childcare industry, there are several types of childcare providers. Each type of childcare provider operates in a specific role and undertakes specific responsibilities. When seeking employment, it’s essential that you determine the type of position you wish to secure. Doing so helps ensure that you’re matched with a family seeking the type of services you are willing to and interested in providing.
Nannies are hired by parents to provide private, in-home childcare and are responsible for creating a safe and nurturing environment for their children in their care.
Typically, full-time nannies work between 40 to 60 hours per week, although some nannies do work part-time hours. While a majority of nannies live-out and commute to work each day, some nannies live in their employer’s homes.
When nannies join a family, they become a parenting partner. Parents expect their nannies to ensure their children’s safety and well-being and to meet their physical, emotional, intellectual and social needs in their absence. Parents trust their nannies to make decisions based on their preferences and childrearing philosophies. For this reason, nannies must exercise sound judgment.
Some nannies are full-charge nannies and have the freedom to plan the children’s day and activities at their discretion, while others are more closely managed. It’s essential for nannies to determine the type of management they work best under. If a nanny enjoys taking the children in outings but the parents prefer the nanny doesn’t transport the children, the work relationship will be strained.
Since parents depend on nannies so that they can work or fulfill their personal obligations, nannies must be responsible, trustworthy, dependable and reliable. Since nannies spend a great deal of their time with children, they must also be nurturing, patient and kind.
Nannies take on all tasks related to the care of the children. This includes preparing meals and snacks, bathing and dressing the children, changing diapers or toilet training, supporting hygienic habits and disciplining the children in their care. Nannies also provide opportunities to engage the children in age-appropriate activities and take them on age-appropriate outings. Nannies also typically do the children’s laundry and keep the children’s areas neat, clean and tidy. Nannies are not responsible for general housekeeping tasks, unless a specific agreement to undertake those tasks has been made.
Newborn care specialists exclusively care for newborn babies. Newborn care specialists have extensive experience and often have specialized training in infant and newborn care. Most newborn care specialists work 24 hours shifts, though some may work 8 or 12 hour shifts. Newborn care specialists typically work short-term assignments ranging from one week to several months in length.
Newborn care specialists serve as a parent educator as well as a caregiver. They help parents learn to care for their baby and create a soothing and nurturing environment for their baby to thrive in. Newborn care specialists typically maintain a log of sleep times, feedings and diaper changes, prepare and sterilize bottles, sleep train infants and help parents learn to create a healthy routine for their baby.
In 2005, as a result of a law that makes it a felony for non-registered or licensed nurses to use the term nurse, the term baby nurse was replaced with newborn care specialist in the in-home childcare industry. Today the term baby nurse refers to a registered or practical nurses working as newborn care specialists.
Mother’s helpers provide an extra set of hands to mothers who stay-at-home. Mother’s helpers help care for the children and may also assist with other domestic related tasks. While mother’s helpers may care for the children independently for brief periods of time, they do not typically care for the children for extensive periods of time on their own.
Babysitters provide short-term, occasional childcare. Unlike nannies who are responsible for the daily care and well-being of the children, a babysitter’s main responsibility is to keep the children safe and to meet their immediate needs in their parent’s absence.