After weighing up the pros and cons of a nanny vs. day care and deciding that a nanny is best for your family, your next step is to write a nanny job advertisement that will land you the perfect nanny.
The goal of your nanny job description should be to attract the right nanny for your specific family. Depending on the area you live in, finding a nanny can be tough, so including—and being able to pay—a competitive and fair salary can make a huge difference in attracting suitable candidates.
Of course, salary shouldn’t be the only thing you cover when writing a job description for a nanny. Here’s what else to include, according to experts.
Writing an effective nanny job advertisement
According to one expert, parents should start by determining their childcare needs and build from there. Every family is unique, and so their childcare requirements will also vary. While some families might need daytime help for young children who are still at home, others might need before- and after-school care. If both parents are working and travel is involved, they may even need overnight care.
Once you’re clear on the type of childcare you need, you can break down your job advertisement into sections, including:
1. Job summary
According to a veteran nanny of many years, it’s best to be as specific as you can when writing a nanny job description, since this serves as your best initial screening tool. If a nanny doesn’t match your needs, they won’t get in touch with you. On the other hand, if they think the job summary sounds like a good fit for them, it’s very likely they’ll feel excited about the opportunity to fill the position and will apply as a result.
Here’s an overview of what to include:
- Start date.
- Your area (for commuting).
- Wage range.
- Benefits offered.
- Number/ages of children.
- Brief description of your family.
- Brief description of your parenting style.
- Required qualifications.
- Brief description of the type of nanny that would work best with your family.
- Documents required (resume, reference letters, etc.).
- How to get in contact with you.
2. Duties and responsibilities
When it comes to the duties and responsibilities you want your nanny to undertake, again, be specific. Make sure you provide them with a list of the tasks they’re expected to do during their shift and discuss any household chores you’d like them to do, like cleaning out the nappy bin or sterilising bottles.
Include a section in your job advertisement where you list all the activities and tasks that need to be completed by the nanny. Doing this may leave you with less applicants, but this way you’ll weed out those who aren’t a good fit for the position from the get-go, and only have people applying who are suitable for your family.
Every family’s needs are different, so think about what would be most helpful to you and most beneficial to your kids. In addition to logistical details, such as driving the kids to soccer training, it’s also a good idea to include some information about your family dynamics and expectations, which will help you find the right candidate for your family.
If you want an active nanny who plays fitness-oriented games with the kids, then list that in the description. The same goes for if you want a nanny who can help the kids with their homework after school.
And when you’re done listing the duties, it pays to go back and re-read it to make sure what you’re asking is reasonable.
If you can’t toilet train, help with homework, cook dinner and get the washing done in two hours, then it’s safe to assume that neither can your nanny. While you want to get as much help as you can, you need to make sure that the job and your expectations are reasonable and fair.
3. Qualifications
Next, if you want the nanny to have specific skills or experiences, list them. Skills and/or qualifications may include:
- Certification in CPR and first aid.
- A valid driver licence, reliable transportation and clean driving record.
- Three professional references.
- Childcare certifications, such as infant care classes and water-safety certification.
- Second languages.
- Tutoring skills.
Basically, you should include any skills that are important to you in your listing to avoid wasting time interviewing nannies that aren’t the right fit.
4. Parenting style
Another thing to consider including in a nanny ad is your parenting style. This is a good way to find candidates who gel with you. Let’s say you have a respectful parenting style listed in your job description—nannies who think that’s another way of saying “no boundaries” will skip over you and keep looking elsewhere. On the other hand, if they love your approach and practise it themselves, they’ll immediately get in touch with you, and will have a much better chance of being the right nanny for your family.
Here’s an example of how to include your parenting style in your nanny job advertisement:
We believe in and follow a respectful parenting approach. We’re definitely not perfect, but we’re committed! When Sam is upset, we give him the space and support he needs to share his feelings with us. We work with him to help him manage big feelings that come up and talk about how he can handle things differently moving forward. We don’t use timeout, rewards, punishment or harsh communication. We use connection and other tools to manage his behaviour.
Nanny job advertisement examples
Here are a few more examples of nanny job descriptions:
Example #1
Seeking nanny for infant and two school-aged kids:
We’d like to welcome a nanny into our family Monday to Friday, from 7am to 6:30pm, starting 9 September. We have a 10-month-old at home. Need kinder pickup for 4-year-old at 12pm, so you will need to have a reliable vehicle. Afternoons include lunch, rest time and meeting our 7-year-old at the bus stop at 3:45pm. We’d love the nanny to oversee homework and then take the kids to the playground or for a run/walk around the neighbourhood. We need help with dinners, so it would be amazing if you could prepare a meal kit while you feed the baby dinner and let the older kids have 30 minutes of screen time. We prefer a nanny who’s had their flu and COVID jabs. Must have current CPR and first aid, pass a background check and have at least two references. Hourly rate is $XY, plus sick leave (accrued), four week’s paid annual leave and petrol reimbursement. We’re in the Camberwell area. If interested, please send your CV and references to the email address listed above.
Example #2
Looking for live-in nanny for 20+ hours a week, including some overnight stays
A single mum in the St Kilda area is looking for a non-smoking, live-in nanny to work 20+ hours per week to help care for a 4-year-old boy and help manage the household. The child is in day care (Monday—Friday, 8am to 5:30pm) and a live-in carer is needed to build a strong bond with the child so that the routine stays familiar when mum travels overnight (on average, 2–4 nights a month) for business. The nanny will need to have a car, driver licence, car insurance and a clean driving record. The nanny can have a second job and/or go to uni/TAFE when the child is at day care during the week, as long as the nanny is available if there is an emergency or the child becomes ill and is sent home.
In exchange for childcare (including day care pickup/drop-off, sick days, driving to karate and swimming lessons 3 days a week) and household management (light cooking, doing the washing, cleaning), the nanny will get a furnished private bedroom and bathroom with all utilities, plus an hourly rate of $XY per hour, as well as four week’s paid annual leave.
The nanny must pass a background check, have current CPR and first aid, at least a tertiary qualification and/or a childcare or nanny certification, at least 3 years of nanny experience, as well as at least three references. The ideal nanny will be looking to join our household long term with a minimum of a one-year commitment, starting 1 October. For those who like pets, we have a cat. If interested, please send your CV and references to the email address listed above.
Example #3
Looking for adventure-loving nanny to care for two active kids
Two mums in the Yarra Valley area are in search of a nanny to care for our two sons (4 and 10) Monday to Friday from 12pm to 7:00pm, starting 20 September. Logistics include picking our youngest up from kinder at noon each day, our oldest at 3:30pm, helping with homework and taking them to any after-school activities they may have. (Youngest plays soccer, oldest cricket).
We’re a super-active and outdoorsy family, so a nanny that loves playing outside all year round, and who doesn’t mind getting sweaty or muddy, is our kind of person. We live close to a lot of bike tracks and natural areas, so our kids regularly ride bikes, go horse riding, swim in the river in summer, and go tobogganing in the mountains in winter. Our perfect nanny will love that stuff too and will want to join in with the kids. We also need someone who is punctual, is willing to contribute, is a decent cook and is an LGBTQI+ ally. Hourly rate is $XY, plus four week’s paid annual leave. Must have current CPR and first aid, pass a background check and have at least two references. If interested, please send your resume and references to the email listed.
Where to post your nanny ad
Once you’ve drafted a solid nanny job description, there are a number of places where you can post your job. Here are a few to consider:
- Social media. Local parenting and childcare groups on Facebook are a great place to advertise for nanny help. There’s also a good chance you can chat and/or message with people they’ve previously worked for on the site.
- A nanny agency. Nanny agencies specialise in just that—placing local families with nannies. While all nannies through agencies are pre-screened, vetted and chock full of experience, keep in mind: there’s usually a placement fee.
- Nanny websites. Sites and apps, such as Care, are a convenient, streamlined way to find quality babysitters, nannies and everything in between.
