Nannies provide unwavering pillars of support for working parents, nurturing, educating, guiding, and loving their children as they grow through some of their most precious formative years. While that role alone would surely be enough, nannies also empower parents to maintain their careers, which contributes to economic growth and evens out the playing field between genders. And yet, nannies are too often overlooked or marginalized.
While families know that caregivers are unsung heroes, the work is often treated like a side gig, and in turn, society fails to recognize it as a valid career path. Many nannies, as well as other types of caregivers, such as senior care providers, are notoriously underpaid and lack the employee protections and benefits that tend to be offered to people who hold full-time corporate positions. But with one-third of families relying on nannies for childcare, it is clear that we must collectively champion caregiving as a respected, well-supported career path, which will only serve to bolster families’ access to quality care.
With that in mind, for our celebration of National Nanny Recognition Week this year, we talked with several nannies to uncover what fuels their drive as child caregivers and we also spoke with families who know just how special caregivers are.
What nannies love about caregiving
“Kids are my joy”
“Kids are my joy. I don’t have any, but from the age of 15, I feel like I was a mother taking care of every little kid in the neighborhood. It keeps you young, active, intelligent,” says Marlene B., who has been a nanny for 30 years. “I keep learning every day. All my kids teach me.”
The children Marlene has cared for have taught her schoolwork, boosted her confidence in her ability to accomplish her goals, and even empowered her to face her fears, she says. “Every day I go home, I smile because, even if the day goes wrong, I can feel joy because of my job.”
“I find it very gratifying to help others”
Ana D., who has been on Care.com since 2008, says she likes working as a caregiver, because she enjoys what she does and finds it “very gratifying and essential” to who she is at her core. It’s also “very satisfying” to her to help others.
She’s also passionate about showing children “how to love themselves and be more independent.”
“I love educating”
“Working as a caregiver is special because I get to take care of children and play with them every day, and for me, that’s the greatest experience,” says Deserie T., who has been a childcare provider for more than 35 years. She’s especially motivated to educate children in a “way that’s fun.” But there’s a serious side to the career path, as well, she points out. “Being a professional child caregiver is not a hobby,” says Deserie. “Just because I smile and I enjoy it does not mean that it’s a game. I take it very seriously.”
“You get to watch growth happen”
“Every day is a learning process for a kid,” notes Toby M. who has been a caregiver for 15 years. “Every day is a new lesson. Every day is some new habit being formed. And you get to watch that live. You get to watch that growth happen. It’s not as slow as something like a flower growing. It happens almost as fast as a fire burning.”
“Babysitting is a real job”
Kimberly H. who has been a caregiver for four years, shares that her favorite thing about being a caregiver is seeing the children grow as they develop new skills that they’ve learned from her. She also recalled a memory that made her laugh when a child she was caring for asked what her job was and she tried to explain that babysitting is her job. “He couldn’t understand that babysitting is a real job,” she said.
What parents say their nanny means to them
From becoming an essential member of the family to pitching in during some of life’s most challenging transitional moments, nannies are indispensable and the parents we spoke to couldn’t imagine life without them. Here, several ways nannies have made a heartfelt impact for parents and children.
They support and strengthen the whole family
For some parents, a nanny who spends most, if not all, days of the week with their children easily becomes a new member of the household.
That’s the case for Amy Smith, a mother of two, who describes her nanny as an indispensable “extension” of her family. “Our children have developed strong emotional bonds with her, which has enhanced their sense of security and stability,” she says. Last summer, Smith’s nanny stepped up by taking her youngest child to doctor appointments and stayed overnight to comfort her when sick while Amy was preparing for a major product launch at work. “That week, she was more than a nanny; she was a beacon of support and strength for our entire family,” says the mom of two.
They make it possible to balance work and play
When Christian Miller, a father of two, and his wife were struggling to juggle home and work responsibilities, they decided to hire a full-time nanny.
In addition to providing Miller’s children with invaluable care and attention at home, Christian’s nanny also traveled with the family to Disney this past summer. “We were so nervous about bringing our two kids on an eight-hour flight and navigating the parks with them,” he recalls. “It was like having another mom or aunt with us during those long days.”
Similarly, without a nanny, many parents would miss out on social plans. In a Care.com Babysitter Survey conducted earlier this year, the majority of parents (89%) interviewed noted that they’ve had to cancel or decline plans within the last six months as a result of struggling to find care, which, in turn, has been detrimental to their mental health and their relationship with their partner. Missing out on opportunities to take a valuable break could also lead to burnout.
For instance, without her nanny, Amna Razzaq, a mom of five, would not have been able to travel to her sister’s wedding. “My sister got married when my youngest was barely 2 months old, and the wedding was in Las Vegas,” she recalls. “[Our nanny] Ana traveled with us and was a huge help in freeing me up to participate in my sister’s wedding fully.”
At home, Razzaq’s nanny also allows her to be even more present as a parent. “The biggest impact a good nanny has is mom’s sanity,” she says. “We are not paying for a nanny; we are paying for our own time. When Ana is home, I am relaxed and focused on my work or my personal time. And when I am back with the kids, I am not overly exhausted or agitated. The time with kids is then quality time.”
They make it possible to move through transitional moments
Nannies can also be a rock for parents during particularly sensitive times. Sarah Hollingsworth’s nanny helped her through the vulnerable time of postpartum recovery, bringing her daughter to her when it was time to nurse and cooking her nutritious meals.
“Her nature is to show up when people are in need,” says Hollingsworth. “That’s who she is at her core. She is an angel, and I’m so grateful to her every single day.”
They double as educators
Nannies may also introduce children to different cultures and traditions. Whitney Richardson, a mom of one, says her nanny teaches their newborn Spanish through conversations, songs, and activities. In addition to introducing her child to a second language and aiding in overall language development, Richardson’s nanny’s presence offers the family “peace of mind” and, by creating a nurturing environment, enhances their overall well-being.
How caregivers support children’s well-being — and society
While it is clear that nannies are drawn to their profession by a deep-seated passion for helping raise and nurture young people, even they may not fully realize that their selfless dedication extends far beyond the individual families for whom they work. The early childhood caregiving workforce’s impact resonates throughout society.
High-quality care plays a pivotal role in shaping a child’s ultimate success. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the first eight years of a child’s life lay the foundation for their long-term health and achievement. At the same time, research has shown that early childhood experiences affect the development of brain architecture which will set the stage for future learning, behavior, and well-being, and early stress can lead to lifelong learning and behavioral challenges. By nurturing children throughout this highly impressionable time, caregivers play an integral role that has long-lasting effects for children themselves and society.
Caregivers also support parental success in the workforce. According to Care.com’s 2023 Future of Benefits Report, 80% of employers report that childcare supports have a positive impact on productivity, and 78% see a correlation with talent retention. From subsidies to backup care access to on-site daycare, there are a wide variety of ways employers may choose to support working parents, but ultimately, without access to quality caregivers, parents simply can’t work.
For at least 51% of people who are living in childcare deserts, where there are not enough daycare slots available for the children in the area, in-home childcare — specifically, nanny care — is a must-have for families. In-home care offers a lifeline to parents, especially those who are working hourly, shift-based jobs or as independent contractors or entrepreneurs, by granting them the flexibility to work when they need to.
It’s time for a round of applause
The personal stories of nannies who pour their passion into their work and the families who hold them in the highest regard make it clear: It is time to step up, acknowledge and celebrate the unwavering commitment and dedication caregivers put into helping shape the next generation.
This National Nanny Recognition Week, Care.com extends an invitation to parents to take inspiration from the stories shared above by honoring the invaluable work of nannies. Whether through a bonus, a heartfelt homemade gift, an appreciation post, or a simple and sincere “thank you,” we would all do well to demonstrate that we deeply appreciate the incredible work nannies do and show them how valued they are.
