After weighing up the pros and cons of different childcare choices and deciding that a nanny is best for your family, your next step is to write a nanny job posting that will land you the perfect nanny.
The nanny job description is an important tool in finding the right person for your family. Different markets can be competitive, with nannies in high demand, so setting out a competitive and fair salary can be a huge selling point and attract some great 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.
Writing an effective nanny job posting
Let’s start with the basics: what do you need from a nanny, in practical terms? A trusted adult to stay with the kids overnight while you’re away, or someone to be there with them before and after school each day? Do you have little children who require round-the-clock care or older kids who’d benefit from homework supervision and help around the house?
Once you’re clear on the type of childcare you need, you can break down your job posting into sections, including:
1. Job summary
When drawing up your nanny job description, specificity is key. The job description is an important first step in screening potential candidates: if they don’t feel they’re a good fit, nannies won’t contact you, and if they do, they’re sure to reach out right away.
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 (CV, letters of recommendation, etc.).
- How to get in touch with you.
2. Duties and responsibilities
When it comes to the duties and responsibilities you want your nanny to undertake, again, be specific. Set out expected tasks for them to take care of during their shift in a clear and comprehensive list as part of your job posting. This should include childcare activities as well as any housekeeping you’d like the nanny to do.
Specificity does run the risk of putting off some prospective candidates, but arguably, that’s a good thing. After all, in the long run, you aren’t looking for a huge longlist of nannies to interview, but one person who’s a really good fit.
Every family’s needs are different, so think about what would be most helpful to you and beneficial to your kids. Are you looking for a nanny who’ll roll their sleeves up and get stuck in at playtime, taking part in active games? Or someone who’s willing to sit down and patiently pore over the kids’ homework as they puzzle over the latest exercise? What matters most to you in a nanny: taking care of logistics, making room for creativity and connection—or a good mix of both? Your ad should make it clear what you expect and how your family dynamic tends to operate, so prospective candidates can get a feel for what you’re looking for.
Once you’ve finished listing the prospective nanny’s duties, it’s worthwhile re-reading what you’ve written to make sure what you’re asking is reasonable. It’s important to keep your expectations within the bounds of possibility. As a rule of thumb, if you’d struggle to juggle playtime, after-school pick-up, homework and household tasks in just a few hours, chances are a childcare professional will, too.
3. Qualifications
If you’re looking for specific skills or experience, list them in the job description for prospective candidates. Skills and/or qualifications may include:
- CPR and first aid training.
- A clean driving licence and own transport.
- Three professional references.
- Background checks.
- Childcare certificates, such as infant care classes and water safety certification.
- Second languages.
- Tutoring skills.
Skills that are non-negotiable or especially important to you should be clearly stated in your listing so you can sift out candidates who don’t have the right expertise at an early stage.
4. Parenting style
Another thing to consider including in a nanny ad is your parenting style. This is another good way of attracting candidates who are a good fit with your family dynamic. If you highlight a respectful parenting style in your listing, nannies with a different approach to discipline and boundaries may give you a wide berth, leaving room for professionals with a similar approach to your own to make contact and explore a more suitable match with your family.
Here’s an example of how to include your parenting style in your nanny posting:
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 time-outs, rewards, punishments or harsh communication. We use connection and other tools to manage his behaviour.
Nanny job posting examples
Here are a few more examples of nanny job descriptions:
Example #1
Seeking nanny for a baby and two school-aged children:
We’d like to welcome a nanny into our family from Monday to Friday from 7am to 6:30pm, beginning 9 September. We have a 10-month-old at home. Need pre-K pickup for 5-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 3:30pm. We’d love the nanny to supervise homework and then take the kids to the park or for a run/walk around the local area. We need help with dinner so preparing a meal kit while you feed the baby dinner and the older kids have 30 minutes of screen time would be amazing. We prefer a nanny who has had their flu and COVID vaccinations. Must have current CPR and first aid training, a background check and at least two references. Hourly rate is £15, plus paid holiday (28 days), sick pay and mileage allowance. We’re based in Hackney. 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 Newlands 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 at nursery (Monday to Friday, 8am to 5:30pm) and a live-in nanny is needed to build a strong bond with him so his routine stays familiar when his mum is away overnight (on average 2-4 nights a month) for work. The nanny will need to have a car, a clean driving licence and car insurance. The nanny may have a second job and/or attend college or university when the child is at nursery during the week as long as the nanny is available if there is an emergency or the child falls ill and has to go home.
In exchange for childcare (including nursery pick-up and drop-off, sick days, driving to karate and swimming lessons 3 days a week) and household management (light cooking, laundry, cleaning), the nanny will get a furnished private bedroom and bathroom with all bills included, plus an hourly rate of £12 per hour, as well as 28 days’ paid holiday.
The nanny must have a background check, current CPR and first aid training, at least some further education and/or a childcare or nanny qualification, at least 3 years of nannying experience and a minimum of three references. The ideal nanny will be looking to join our household long term with a minimum of a one-year commitment, beginning 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 Truro area are looking for a nanny to care for our two sons (5 and 10) from Monday to Friday, 12pm to 7pm, starting 20 September. Logistics include picking our youngest up from preschool at noon each day, our oldest at 2:45pm, helping with homework and taking them to any after-school activities they may have. (Youngest plays football, oldest has choir practice).
We’re a very active and outdoorsy family, so a nanny who loves playing outside all year round and doesn’t mind getting sweaty or muddy is our kind of person. There are a lot of parks and leisure facilities nearby, so our kids regularly ride bikes, play sports and swim. Our ideal nanny should love these types of activities too and want to join in. We also need someone who is punctual, willing to pitch in, LGBTQ+-friendly and a decent cook. Hourly rate is £12, plus 28 days’ paid holiday. Must have current CPR and first aid training, a background check and at least two references. If interested, send your CV and references to the ema
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 to and/or message people they’ve previously worked for on the site.
- A nanny agency. Nanny agencies specialise in just that—placing local families with nannies. While nannies registered with agencies are pre-screened, vetted and have plenty of experience, keep in mind: the agencies may charge registration and other upfront fees of their own.
- Nanny websites. Sites and apps, such as Care, are a convenient, streamlined way to find quality babysitters, nannies and everything in between.
