How a Nanny’s Role Changes as Your Child Ages

Jul 1, 2022 | GTM Blog, Hiring an Employee, Parenting

As your child grows and changes, the role of your nanny follows. These changing needs raise questions for families and nannies alike. What do nannies need to do differently as a child grows? And how do you discuss the changing needs together?

As your child grows and changes, the role of your nanny follows. A nanny’s responsibilities for an infant will differ from their duties nannying a toddler, preschooler, or school-aged child.

For infants and toddlers, the nanny must be attentive to the constant needs of the child. Nannies may have the responsibilities of diaper changes, feeding, putting the child down for naps, and ensuring that they are looked after at every moment.

These tasks continue to change as the child does. For growing preschoolers and children, the needs could shift to creating activities and games to help occupy the child and even completing household chores to help the family when they return home from work.

A family may also look to a nanny to provide transportation for their children’s extracurricular activities, sports, and school events.

These ever-changing needs raise questions for families and nannies alike.

What do nannies need to do differently as a child grows? And how do you discuss the changing needs together?

Begin to plan for and consider long-term or short-term care

The ever-changing role of the nanny raises various questions about the shift. Is your nanny prepared for the long-term and changing support of your child? Or only for a short stage of their life? It is also important to decide what your family is searching for: a long-term nanny who will be by your family’s side throughout these many stages or one with you for a short period in your child’s life.

This should be part of the conversation when talking with nanny candidates about your position.

Take into consideration responsibility changes and discuss expectations

It is important to sit down and discuss the changes and expectations that both you and your nanny may have. As your child ages, changes in responsibilities could include added household chores, meal preparation for the child, and transportation to children’s events. During the school year, a nanny may have the responsibility of driving to these events. If this becomes part of their responsibility, it is worth discussing your nanny’s previous driving records to ensure your child is in safe hands.

Raise any concerns you may have over these changes

Be sure through the creation of these plans that both parties: nanny and family communicate their needs and voice any concerns they may have as responsibilities expand and change.

Although a nanny’s role will shift throughout a child’s life, the primary responsibility remains caring for the child and creating a safe environment. No matter what stage your child is at, a nanny should have all necessary certifications including First Aid and CPR, in case an emergency presents itself.

Navigating these changes begins with a conversation between the family, nanny, and even your nanny agency if you’re hiring through a placement firm. An agency will understand your needs as a family, can help create a childcare plan, find nanny candidates on board with your short- or long-term needs, and be ready to grow with your little one.