The Inevitable, Perpetual Evolution of A Long Term Nanny Position

In Western society, traditional careers tend to have an established trajectory. As you gain more experience, you become eligible for a new job title, description and salary range. If you don’t take the new title, your duties and responsibilities can remain the same for years. This isn’t the case in the nanny industry. In fact, in order to keep the same set of duties and responsibilities, most nannies have to seek a new position. Yep, you read that right.

Amber has been a full-time nanny for over 11 years, and is very passionate about uplifting her colleagues and creating a more sustainable working standard for career caregivers.

When seasoned nannies scroll job boards, we’re doing more than reading between the lines; we’re correcting the job description. Things like no driving necessary, no cooking required, no screen time at any time and rest when the baby sleeps are only temporary parameters for working with a family. I’d argue many job descriptions are only completely accurate for about six months from the posting. Yet we take year-long or indefinite contracts and hope for the best. And we know from experience that our day to day is going to look vastly different in a year’s time, whether our bosses acknowledge that fact or not. That eat, play, sleep rodeo of bottles, floor play and nap time becomes the carpool circus of school, extracurriculars and playdates and that’s before you start adding siblings to the mix.

It’s probably important I admit I am a nanny who prefers working with first-time parents, and tiny babies as early as six weeks. So this phenomenon rings especially true for me and many of my colleagues, considering how much change occurs in the first two years. Not only will a baby begin to roll, sit, crawl, speak, eat table food, etc; nannies also have a front row seat to people evolving into parents. In so many instances, I’ve been referred to as the rock or the glue in these households and it makes perfect sense as my presence appears to be the only aspect of their household that remains unchanged.

Amber is a nanny of three kiddos, and has served this family for nearly six years.

The truth, though, is I’m being taken on the ride as well. As time goes on, people change and so do their needs as a family. That means the job description of a nanny is constantly evolving as nanny families’ expectations and sometimes disposition, nanny kiddos’ capabilities and needs, as well as the nanny’s overall function gradually but continually change. These changes don’t seem like much from one day to the next, but every so often I realize I’m having a very different experience than in weeks, months or years prior.

Even with a constantly changing job description, there are significant benefits to working for one family in the long term. The bond grows stronger, the connection becomes second nature and you learn how to navigate different ages and stages of nanny life. To western society, you may appear more credit-worthy and financially established. You may also find your own home life feels more stable when you aren’t constantly changing positions. So how does one cope with these persistently progressing positions?

1. Schedule consistent check ins to clarify any ambiguities or outdated aspects of your contract.

2. Stay up to date with the latest research on developmentally appropriate activities and protocols.

3. Be honest with yourself and the family you serve when you start to feel it’s time to move on.

If you’ve ever felt like you wanted that old thing back, or wondered what happened to the position you signed up for, you are not alone. This is part of choosing nanny life as a career, and assuming the responsibility of being your own human resources department. The best way to manage a nanny position is to regularly reevaluate and communicate candidly. Navigating nanny life can be a rollercoaster of advocating for yourself while supporting the families you serve. Being proactive and anticipating changes is key to making it through the ride.