Nanny Vs Babysitter: What Are the Differences?
For parents, there’s nothing more valuable than their children’s happiness and well-being, and it’s only natural that, when looking for a caregiver, they want the best for their kids. However, it can be challenging to determine which option is the right fit – a babysitter or a nanny. Are these terms interchangeable, or is there a distinction between them?
In this article, we will explore the differences between babysitters and nannies. We will also explain what their responsibilities, qualifications, and areas of expertise are so you can decide which of the two options is best suited for your family’s needs. Let’s jump right into it.
What Is a Nanny?
A nanny is a person who provides childcare as her professional career. It’s also the person who is expected to have spent at least a few years caring for children of all ages and/or bringing up children of their own. Because a nanny is a profession, they usually only work long hours and, most often than not, they tend to work for one family for a long term.
When it comes to qualifications, they would typically hold a childcare certificate. If not, they would be able to prove their experience with a long record of references from satisfied clients.
Speaking of responsibilities, the scope of work that nannies cover encompasses a whole lot of aspects associated with childcare. This often includes helping kids with personal care, transportation, household chores, and educational support. They also play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of children and supporting their development.
Quite often, nannies become part of the family they work for, staying with them for years and seeing their children grow up from infancy to adolescence.
In general, the areas in which nannies specialize can be divided into the following:
- Live-out. They don’t reside in the family’s home and work on the agreed schedule;
- Live-in. In contrast to live-out nannies, live-in caregivers have their own private room within the family’s home and are provided with meals and other basic essentials;
- Night nannies. As the name suggests, they typically work during the night and take care of the child’s needs, such as feeding, changing, and soothing them back to sleep;
- Newborn nanny. This is a specialized type who provides care for babies from birth to three months and is often hired to help young moms on maternity leave;
- Educator nanny. Also known as a governess or tutor nanny, they focus on providing educational support and guidance for children.
What Is a Babysitter?
A babysitter isn’t the same as a nanny, despite the fact that some of their duties overlap. Unlike a nanny, a babysitter isn’t a profession, which means most people do it as a casual role, working evenings or weekends.
In addition, babysitters are usually not certified in childcare. Instead, they use recommendations from other clients as proof of their experience.
The duties of a babysitter are less varied than those of nannies and mostly focus on the supervision of children’s play. They can also cover for you when you need to be away for a while, but usually, they don’t do any work around the house or help with after-school lessons unless they have been asked to help with that.
Hourly Rates of a Nanny and a Babysitter
The cost of a nanny is always higher compared to a babysitter. This is because they have more experience working with children and provide a wider range of services. Besides, the cost also includes pay for sick leave, vacation time, and medical insurance. An average hourly rate of a nanny in a city like New York or Los Angeles can start at $25 and go up to $44.
In contrast, babysitters are paid minimum wage. You can expect to pay from $14 up to 30$, depending on the length of a shift, the area you live in, and the responsibilities required from a caregiver. No additional perks like holidays or sick leave are included.
What Caregiver Is Right for Your Family: A Nanny or a Babysitter?
As you can see, the roles and responsibilities of a nanny and a babysitter differ in significant ways. So, the choice of the right caregiver for your child would totally depend on your family’s specific needs.
If you are looking for someone who can do a full-time job while you’re away, you’re definitely better off hiring a professional nanny. A nanny not only will look after your kids, making sure they wear a neat and clean uniform, have their breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and do lessons after school but also help you with meal preparation and cleaning.
In case your children have certain health conditions, you’d also need to look into hiring a nanny. Unlike babysitters, they undergo training, allowing them to gain the skills required for caring for kids with special needs.
On the other hand, if you only need someone to cover for you on occasion, then a part-time babysitter may be a better choice. While they may not take on as many household chores as a nanny, they can still provide a safe and reliable environment for your child while you’re away.
Conclusion
To recap, despite the similarities that the roles of a babysitter and a nanny share, they are not interchangeable terms. While a babysitter can be anyone, as long as they’re happy to spend a few hours with your children while you’re away, a nanny is a qualified caregiver who covers a wide range of duties and is hired to work for one family in the long term.
At the same time, you shouldn’t judge by the title of an applicant’s description only. When making a choice, always consider the skills and expertise of a caregiver and hire the one who ticks all the boxes on your personal list.