A nanny is someone who looks after children at home. Their work includes may aspects of childcare like early education, play, social activities, providing nutritional meals, keeping the children’s sleeping and playing areas tidy, and driving the children to appointments being a nanny is an incredibly rewarding job that allows you to form special bonds with children and their families.

The day-to-day activities of a nanny will also vary based on the age and number of children.
Babies and infants require different kinds of care and will have different daily routines compared to school-aged children.

Star Home Nursing has nurses with experience in being nannies apart from their professional newborn and child nursing skills. They can provide one-on-one or inhouse coaching which focuses on practicing the day-to-day life of a nanny which will look something like this:

The Morning

She is responsible for getting the children out of bed, feeding them breakfast, and getting them dressed and ready for the day. If the children are school-aged, her job will also include packing their lunch and school bag.

The Day

For the children that aren’t at school, her day will include dividing her time between playing, teaching, nursing, napping, and quiet time. She’ll most likely use any down time in her day to wash and iron the children’s clothes, tidy their rooms, and prepare bottles and meals.

She will typically have a daily schedule prepared the night before and this might include taking the children on outings during the day. She can take them to the park or to meet up with other children, and she may need to keep track of any appointments they need to go to. In the afternoon, she may need to pick up school children and take them home to help them with their homework.

The Night

Generally, the children’s parents will come home from work sometime between 5pm and 8pm and will want to spend time with the kids. She helps prepare dinner for the kids and or play with them, and eventually put the children to bed if the parents require.

More and more frequently families are seeking help with their “nanny quest” from different agencies. At Star Home Nursing, some of our baby and child care nurses know the nanny world. They worked in the field and being mothers themselves, they are able to understand the unique needs of each family and child ensuring great outcomes. We know that success is ultimately about human behavior, it is the blend of personalities and timing, finding the right candidate for the right family at the right time. Our aim is to ensure that our Nanny Coaching process enhances the lives of families and nannies alike.

Our Nurses tell us their experience with being a nanny:

What is your favorite age to care for and why?
“I can honestly say that I’ve never favored a particular age group over others. I make sure that I have each day planned out based on their needs, personalities and skill levels. For example, in last position I was looking after kids ages 2 and 8. The age difference caused them to be in completely different stages of life, so the parents and I worked out a plan to make sure that each day was stimulating for both children.”
What did your typical day look like in your last nanny position?
“At the beginning of the week, I would go over the week’s schedule with the parents to make sure each day was something they could be comfortable with, I was dealing with children of two very different ages so we worked closely together to make sure that everyone’s needs were being met. I would arrive around the same time their parents were leaving for work. After the kids had finished breakfast, the parents then drop off the older sibling at school and I tend to the one year old. We would do a variety of activities such as go to the park, play educational and stimulating games, vocabulary exercises, etc. During this time I would also be tidying up the house and fixing lunch. Once the eldest child returns, he would work on his homework while the one year old played with blocks in her play pen, I then prepare their dinner. The parents would arrive home around that time.”
Staying Long-Term with a Family
“I believe staying long-term with a family is beneficial for all parties involved. As time passes, I get to know the family more, create a stronger relationship and understand their needs which allows me to do my job better. Additionally, the parents develop a trust in me and feel more comfortable leaving their children under my care and supervision. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, I think it’s crucial that children have a certain level of consistency and don’t have to readjust their lives so keeping the same nanny will allow that.”
What do you like best about being a nanny?
“ My absolute favorite part of being a nanny is the ability to be an integral part of a child’s development. There is nothing more rewarding than watching a child grow and progress while in my care. The fact that I am with the child for a significant amount of the day makes me realize I largely influence them and can impact their lives. It is a huge responsibility, but also an honor and a privilege.”
What is your view on disciplining a child?
“Discipline is extremely ciritical, especially for children of younger ages to learn the difference between right and wrong and to take responsibility for their actions. When disciplining a child, the first thing I do is give a warning to give them the opportunity to change their behavior. The warning is appropriate to the incident and age of the child. If the child continues to misbehave, I make sure the parents are involved in implementing disciplinary measures. I think the morst important things to keep in mind involving discipline are not to debate with the child, to be matter-of-fact in disciplining them and to make sure the consequences fit the action.”