Help and Advice

What is a Nanny?

Typically a nanny cares for one or more children in the parent's own home while the parents are at work or away from the home or in some cases while the parents are at home. Nannies most often live-in with the family, it is also common for families to employ a live-out nanny/daily nanny, or a part time nanny. This depends on the family’s individual care needs.

Choosing the right nanny does not need to be stressful or difficult. For many families, hiring a nanny is a popular alternative to nurseries, crèche or childminding services as nannies provide childcare services that offer personalised care and stability within familiar surroundings of the home.

There are different types of nannies. Consider your family needs and decide which type below suits your family care needs.

• Live-in nannies live in the family home and become part of the family and usually work 10-12 hours a day.  They would usually have the weekends off or work one day on the weekend with a day off in lieu during the week.  A live-in nanny will usually also provide two nights per week babysitting, usually taken Monday to Thursday with weekend babysitting paid for as extra. In addition to caring for children a live-in nanny would also undertake light household chores including grocery shopping, preparing meals for the children sometimes for the parents, doing the children’s laundry, she will ensure the children’s bedrooms and play areas tidy, generally ensuring the home is kept neat and tidy once the children have finished playing, eating or socialising. If more than light household duties are required you may wish to consider a Nanny Housekeeper.
• Daily nannies or live-out nannies are just like live-in nannies only that they do not live with the family. They arrive at the family home in the morning and leave in the evening
• Part time nannies would usually work on certain days of the week or during certain times in the day. E.g. a part time nanny may pick the children up from school, feed them assist with homework, entertain the children and do light chores. Their day would typically end when a parent get s back from work.
• Night nannies are required to support families in certain situations like if the mother is struggling following the birth of the baby. Either because she has undergone a C-section or traumatic birth experience and is having difficulty getting up and down at night to feed baby by breast or bottle. It could be that the baby is colicky and not settling well at night. This could cause parents to be severely sleep deprived. The added modern day pressure of having to wake up early to go to work may mean that the family may need to consider employing the services of a night nanny to help establish and restore calm to night time routine. Parents who work night shifts or very late hours may need an experienced night nanny capable of caring for their children overnight.

If you are looking for a nanny or a nanny job please register for free to start your search.

What is an Au Pair?

An au pair is a young adult who may not have any childcare experience or qualifications, who travels to a foreign country, mostly for cultural exchange, for a defined period of time to live with a host family.

The au pair is considered as a full member of the family during the entire stay. As such, he or she helps the family with childcare and can be asked to assume some light household tasks. In return, the host family provides free accommodation as well as pocket money for personal use. However, the au pair is neither a housekeeper, nor a nanny.

They provide live-in childcare, offering greater flexibility in caring for your children at times that accommodate your family's individual schedule.

If you are looking for an Aupair or Aupair position please register for free.

What is a Nursery?

Nurseries provide childcare on weekdays for children aged from a few weeks old to those about to start primary school.

If you run a nursery please register for free.

What is Nanny-Housekeeper?

The regular nanny position only require the nanny to do “childcare duties” which is everything related to the child or children, such as nursery duties for infants, cooking meals for older children, washing and clearing up, assisting with homework. They are not expected to carry out general housework outside of the children's domain.

Unlike the normal nanny, nanny-housekeepers are hired to do both childcare and housekeeper duties. They can be either live-in or live-out depending on your needs or if you can offer accommodation.

A nanny housekeeper is expected to be able to take charge of all tasks relating to the children’s well-being. This includes washing, ironing, cooking or potty training. They are expected to carry out general housework outside of the children's domain. This is particularly useful for parents who are either at home and like the flexibility of someone around them or parents with full time jobs.

It is becoming common for families to opt for nanny housekeepers as their childcare option. If there is a newborn the role usually starts off as a regular Nanny position. Very often families would employ additional help such as a cleaner, this is so the nanny would focus on caring for the newborn. As the needs of the family changes over time, with children starting nursery or school, the role would evolve into more housekeeping, cooking, shopping during the day, and “nannying” in the afternoon. Because of this flexibility, nanny-housekeepers tend to stay with their employer for many years and become very much a part of the family.

If you are looking for a nanny-housekeeper or a nanny-housekeeper job please register for free to start your search.

See our Help and Advice page on how to find your ideal nanny-housekeeper.

What is a Housekeeper?

A housekeeper is typically responsible for making sure all areas of the home are clean and tidy. The tasks of a housekeeper usually include cleaning the kitchen, scrubbing the bathroom, vacuuming & dusting the entire home, laundry, cleaning floors and changing and laundering linen. Everything needed for the job is provided by the family. Housekeepers usually work within the family home for a longer time than general house cleaners and may have several jobs at the same time.

If you are looking for a housekeeper job please register for free.

To get started, register to create a free profile, browse our directory for housekeepers listed and view their detailed profiles or post an advert detailing your requirements.

Who is a Private Tutor

This is an instructor who gives private lessons e.g. maths lessons, language lessons and music lessons.

If you are looking for a tutor or a tutor job please register for free.

What is a Play Centre?

This is a purpose built play place separate from school or nursery where children can play under supervision. Usually open on weekends and public holidays.

If you run a play centre please register for free.

To get started, register to create a free profile, browse our directory for a list of play centres and view their detailed profiles.

Who is a Private Midwife?

These are midwives who choose to work privately, rather than being employed by hospitals and other institutions. It allows them to be flexible about the care they provide and cater to each woman's needs.

If you are a private midwife please register for free.

To get started, register to create a free profile, browse our directory for private midwives listed and view their detailed profiles or post an advert detailing your requirements.

A babysitter is someone who is paid, usually by the hour, to care for one or more children in the temporary absence of parents or guardians, usually at the parents’ home.