“Babysitter” or “Nanny”
Oftentimes, we hear people use the terms “babysitter” and “nanny” interchangeably. Typically, “babysitter” refers to a part-time child care provider who works less than 20 hours a week as a caregiver. “Nanny,” on the other hand, typically refers to a full-time (though maybe not a live-in) child care provider. Do YOU make this distinction when using these terms?
We know of some caregivers who actually hate being called “babysitters,” since they feel it doesn’t imply the same significance of being called a “nanny.” Their preference is more personal than anything.
On Sittercity, however, it’s important for our members be on the same page when it comes to these terms, otherwise a sitter with part-time availability could end up responding to an ad for a “nanny,” thinking it’s no different than a part-time babysitting position. Usually, it is.
But that’s why we want to turn it back to you right now.
Parents, do you ever think about which term to use when posting a job or do you use “babysitter” and “nanny” to mean the same thing? Have you had sitters apply for nanny positions and vice versa?
Sitters, do you prefer to be called one over the other? Which helps you determine which term to use — the feelings you have about either term or the job duties associated with it?
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October 20th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I use both terms in my web advertising, but so does every one else. Personally, I prefer babysitter, even if it’s all day. To me nanny means you’re a servant, and foriegn
October 20th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
for my weekly day jobs where I see the children often and also help out around the house to a certain extent I consider myself a “nanny” whereas when I am watching kids for parents night out type occasions I consider myself a “sitter”
The difference I think is how often you see the children as well as how involved you get with the family. In my “nanny” jobs I generally spend more time getting to know the family than in most of the sitting jobs due to how much more frequently we are around eachother. I consider all of the kids I’ve been a nanny for more like family than anything else since they see me so frequently.
October 20th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
I work for 2 different families, one day a week for each. I consider myself a babysitter because I don’t work full time. Even though I usually work a full day for each family, I wouldn’t consider myself a nanny. I use the term “nanny” as a full time provider, but I don’t know what the correct use of the term is.
October 20th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I work for multiple families all through the week. I consider myself a Nanny for my mornings jobs and for my evening ones I consider myself a Sitter.
October 20th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
We don’t use nanny. I’m a WAHM myself and we only need a babysitter, not a nanny, once a week.
October 20th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Wow, I’m shocked people think “nannies” are only foreign. I know a lot of very excellent American nannies who are very serious about their career choices that would be very sad to hear that. Employers should really visit Nanny.org for more information on what and who a nanny is.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
I put both babysitter and nanny because its just about the same thing only difference is a nanny almost stays with the family, although I wouldn’t beable to stay with them
October 20th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
I personally preffer to be called a nanny expecially when I am working for a family on a regular basis. A parent will never pay a babysitter as much as a nanny even if they don’t admit it. A nanny is a more permanent and significant position and a babysitter is more an on-call, “teenage” thing.
October 20th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I am born and raised in the US, live on my own and am a professional nanny. NOT a professional babysitter. There is a big difference. A babysitter’s main job is to make sure the children are safe and taken care of while the parents are away for short period of time (of course good ones do more than this). A nanny is something that I have worked my whole life to be. It is a career choice, and not something I do on the side to make extra money. A good nanny is a chef, co-parent, nurturer, teacher, nurse, boo boo kisser, and without us, the family would just not be the same. Granted there are all sorts of nanny jobs and all sorts of nannies, but in my opinion, there is a big difference between a nanny and a babysitter.
October 20th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
I’m referred to by both terms nanny and babysitter depending on the situation/family. I work for a family M-F full time and with them I go by nanny. My two charges even call me Nana (term of
endearment), short for nanny. I just
Want to set the record straight too all nannies are not foreigners(and I don’t have a problem with those who are).
I myself am an all American, career nanny and so are
most of the nannies
I know. I also call myself a babysitter when I work for different families occasionally during the evening or on
Weekends.
October 20th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
I prefer both:)
October 20th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I think that a nanny is someone who takes care of the children several days per week and takes the children on outings and participates in other activities with them. I work 2 full days per week for a family and consider myself a nanny at that job. I know the children well and feel like part of the family. I consider my evening and weekend jobs where I just watch the children at their home for a few hours so mom and dad can get out to be babysitting.
October 20th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
It depends on what my duties are. I have worked for families that my duties were pretty much to raise their child for them 13 hours each day. I even took the infant to the doctor’s office on occasion. Other childcare positions are more babysitter type when I am only there for a few hours a day. There is a difference but I have also noticed that some people tend to post ads for “babysitters” when they are actually wanting a nanny type person due to their demands of the job. I tend to feel that the people that do so are trying to play down their job to possibly pay their employee less money. I personally don’t prefer to be called a nanny regardless of my position duties. Even though on occasion I have had to introduce myself as “so and so’s nanny” it just seems like such a stuffy term. I am a laid back person and although I take my jobs very seriously I just can’t get used to the term; it’s much too formal for me. I also have worked for a family who constantly introduced me to people as “our nanny” rather then by my name. I found this offensive as if I was just their servant and that my personal identity was not worthy of them.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:03 am
To the people talking about Nanny being foreign:
I think that you are confusing the term Nanny for an Au Pair. A Nanny is someone who is a full time professional care giver for one/two families in their country of origin. An Au Pair is a care giver from another country.
Right now I am living in Spain as an Au Pair…not a Nanny.
October 21st, 2008 at 8:01 am
I have nannied professionally for more than 6 years now. That is how I introduce myself to families regardless of the position they are seeking to fill. Even my nighttime sitting jobs refer to me as their nanny, because I am the only one who watches the kids besides themselves. I had one family refer to me as the babysitter in front of their 5 year old one day, after I had been sitting for them several times over the previous months, and she quickly told her mom “She’s my nanny…That makes her better than my babysitter”.
I worked many years as a babysitter, and count it an well earned honor to be called a nanny. I think it is more about experience and the quality of care that is provided to a family than about where you are from or how much you work.
October 21st, 2008 at 4:19 pm
I have had this conversation many times with families. What I always sat is that to me a nanny is a full-time employee for the family. You are not only in charge of the child, but you also make their meals, tidy the house, and run errands. You also should have a lot of experience with all ages of children, CPR and First Aid certified and would keep a carseat/base in your car at all times if necessary. Also, nannies generally are offered benefits such as health care/dental, travel with the family, etc.
I believe a sitter is an evening, or part-time thing. Generally you are there to look out for the welfare of the child. You pick up after the child or serve dinner, but you wouldn’t make the meal yourself or do the laundry for example.
Another thing families don’t realize is the pay difference. If you want a nanny you need to realize they are more qualified, and better trained and that their pay is more. A casual sitter doesn’t necessarily have these things, or think they need them.
As a sitter has less duty, there is less pay.
Likewise, the more you need your nanny to do the more they should be paid.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Although it doesn’t really matter to me what I am called, I do not like the fact that alot of people think that a babysitter is not as important as a nanny. Whatever you call your provider, that person is a part of your family and is very important and special. Just because they might get paid less or don’t work as much doesn’t mean that they aren’t as significant as a nanny is. I consider myself a sitter only because I work one day a week for my family instead of full time. But I watch 3 kids, make lunch and a snack, put them down for naps, and sometimes clean the house. And I get paid very well. So maybe I’m a nanny, who knows?
But babysitters are still very important parts of their families lives.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I consider myself a nanny in most cases. I have actually been to a specialized school to become a nanny! I have worked as a nanny for years and there is a lot more work involved. Many times a nanny will actually spend 50-80 hours a week with her children, usually knowing the children like they were her own. A nanny will also get benefits, holidays, and taxes.
Since I’ve had my own kids I have done sitting jobs. I’m still with my children for 40 hours a week, I’m still doing the crafts, projects, activities and educational things. But that’s not ALL my attn. is on. Sitters don’t usually get the extras a nanny would!
Of course all of this depends on the employers! And every family is different and respects their child/ren’s caregiver differently! I think that’s where some of the title can be different too. If the parents just throw money at the end of the night or week at you as you walk out the door. You’re just a sitter! If you’re valued for what you do and there’s a partnership between caregiver and parent then I would say you’re more on the nanny side!
October 21st, 2008 at 7:28 pm
I could not agree more with o16nickie on the “boo boo kisser” section-because to me, that IS a nanny. Nanny is full-time knows everything in and out about the child, middle name, DOB, eye color, weight, etc. I once worked for a family where I would be there before the children woke up and after they went to bed. One morning, one of my triplets woke up with a rash all over her body. I called the mom told her what I saw, said I was taking her to the doctor and did just that. Loaded my three 1 year olds up in the “stretch limo” stroller I called it and walked the three blocks in the snow to the pediatrition. I was their nanny & had a HUGE part in raising them. When someone asked what I did then I’d say “I’m a nanny to triplets”
I work for a family now 1-2 days a week totaling 8-16 hours. I refer to myself as their sitter. If someone was to ask about my job I would respond “I babysit twin boys and their sister”
I’m not saying one is better than the other but there is a difference and it does matter.
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:08 am
I prefer to be called a nanny when I’m working for someone full time, in my opinion a babysitter is someone who comes in for a few hours and plays with the kids and keep them happy. Where as a nanny involves more light house keeping, some disciplinary actions etc and its usually either an all day event, few days out of the week or all week long. I call myself a sitter if that is what the job is requiring but for most of the jobs I take its all nanny positions. I have been called a babysitter when being introduced to other family members at one job and I work for them full time, it drives me nuts I’m like I’m not a babysitter I’m a nanny there is a huge difference between the two. I would definitely ask your “sitter” or “nanny” her preference on what she/he would like to be called.
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I feel the terms reflect your duties. I do use both, BUT my responsiblities are completely different in both situations. I feel as a nanny I am more of a caregiver in ALL aspects, as a sitter there is lax on what I am required to do. For example, as a nanny I have a daily responsibility to the children that include everything and anything and usually the amount of time is extensive week to week, I am raising those kids during the week. But when I go to babysit I’m not expecting to do laundry for the family and I’m only there for few hours. Not to say that at times these roles are not interchangeable. I think it depends on the situation. I do “babysit” for the family I “nanny” for. I think nannies go above and beyond caring for a child. I’m considered a family member, not just a sitter or friend.
October 24th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
i hate being called a “babysitter.” i was a babysitter when i was in middle school and high school. i work full-time now as a professional so i prefer to be called a “nanny.”
October 25th, 2008 at 4:58 am
I think the distinction between the two terms is pretty clear. A babysitter is someone hired for a one time event (usually evenings or weekends) while the parents go out or run their personal errands for example. The sitter is hired with the expectation they will provide limited care and entertainment for the child while maintaining a safe environment. This position requires the least of skill sets and knowledge in childcare.
A Nanny on the other hand is a trained (through “schooling” or a considerable amount of experience) to provide safe and secure care for the child as well as education, nurturing, care of the child’s belongings and surroundings, nutritional meals, administration of medications and emergency care, a time-line report of the child’s day/week, a Nanny Book (which details the parents expectations, household rules, child’s social calendar and school or group calendar, and anything else the contract deems necessary), confidant, disciplinarian, and the list goes on and on.
I do not think a sitter should call (or consider) themselves to be a Nanny without a minimum of a Professional Nanny Certificate from a reputable facility, or at least 5+ years of full time (30+ hours weekly) experience as a child care provider and the necessary training and certification in Adult & Infant CPR and First Aid. To do so would put you at risk of being sued for false representation if there was ever an incident involving harm to the child (whether intentional or accidental) that resulted in the parents pressing charges.
Some sitters think because they sit for a child full time that they should be considered and allowed to claim themselves to be a Nanny. This is Not True and parents should be cautious and complete a thorough interview and check to confirm there references and credentials prior to hiring.
Just because you are good at listening to someones problems and offering them advice does not make you a Psychiatrist! There is a reason that facilities and private schools offer Nanny Certification courses!
I believe that parents request Nanny Services as a way of saying they want someone very capable and thoroughly experienced to care for their child. More often they use the term to suggest the position includes other household duties that would normally fall under a housekeepers duties, but they expect the Nanny to provide instead.
I can see this as possible if the child being cared for is an infant that still sleeps several hours at a time , several times each day, allowing for time to execute the housekeeping duties, but impossible for a Nanny watching a child that is over a year old.
I say this because it is while the child is napping that the nanny has time to tidy up from the child’s previous activities and prepare a snack or meal for when the child awakens. Then there is the time necessary to journal/document the child’s day for the parents to review, setting up the afternoons activities, planning the child’s social calendar (things to do!) for the upcoming day/week, and generally doing the paperwork aspects of the position.
I know Parents think it’s easy, as they do it themselves on a regular basis. But the difference here is, if they are “doing housekeeping duties” when their child gets hurt or is in danger due to lack of supervision, they feel guilty and irresponsible. But if the same scenario where to take place, while the Nanny is on duty, there can (and will) be serious repercussions against the care provider, especially if the incident requires seeking medical or legal assistance (hospital ER or Police investigation) on the child’s behalf.
Like it or not we live in a “Sue Happy” world, and if a child gets injured while in the care of a Nanny or Sitter there will be legal intervention, usually sought by the child’s parents. I would not blame the parents for seeking justice if the caretaker was found to be negligent. And if the child is injured while the caretaker was distracted by the housekeeping duties expected, the parents are not going to “understand the situation”, they are going to hold the caretaker accountable to the fullest extent, because their child was injured and that is all that matters to them!
Both Parents and caretakers would be wise to seek out, and be sure they fully understand, the laws governing childcare providers in their area. It never hurts to be forewarned!
Parents also need to set up a clear and concise Scope of Services WITH the caretaker they choose to hire, and keep in mind just how important the care of their child is and what they should and should not expect of the
caretaker in addition to caring for the child.
Being a Nanny is more than a “preference”, it is a PROFESSION! And a profession requires a thorough education and proof of knowledge and ability, before receiving the title!
A Nanny is not a housekeeper, animal care provider, family chef, laundress, errand runner, or surrogate wife, they are a NANNY and should be respected as such!
Miss Khaki
October 25th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
i use the term nanny even though i work for three different families a week, each part-time. i use the term nanny because i do use the jobs for a full-time job, and because i feel that a nanny has more responsibilities. a babysitter can come and watch the kids, but a nanny is willing to take the kids to the park or the grocery store.
October 26th, 2008 at 12:16 am
I prefer to call myself a nanny, even though I work part time. In fact, I usually say I’m a part-time nanny. I’ve been working with children for over thirteen years and have a lot of experience and “know how”, so I feel a bit degraded calling myself a babysitter, as I consider that a term for teenagers and preteens who watch children.
October 26th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
I nanny and babysit and there is certainly a difference. I nanny a sweet little boy in his home 20-40 hours a week. I may also do sitting jobs from time to time, or “babysit” for the family that I nanny for. I see my nannying job as the day-in-day-out regular care throughout the week that I provide for my main family, which involves basic care and safety as well as activities/crafts and possibly outings. I don’t begrudge a little housekeeping at my nannying job (although I certainly am not a housekeeper and will not ever do full blown housekeeping), like sweeping, cleaning up the kitchen/dishes, and some laundry. When I babysit for them I usually will do more housekeeping than I would for other families, because these are usually the times that I come for an evening and put the little one to bed and then do a bit of cleaning once he’s asleep. For families that I just “babysit” for, I will see them maybe once a week, maybe once every few months, and provide a few hours of care, in which I do a lot of interacting with the child, just as I do with my nannying charge, but a lot less attention is paid to housekeeping, although I do tend to tidy whenever I have a chance if the little one is asleep.
I see the difference between a nanny and a babysitter as this: A nanny is involved regularly for a good portion of each week in a family/child’s life. They know their charge and watch them grow, and can thus better provide specific enriching activities and interactions to assist them. They are usually more experienced and possibly trained (I am a 3rd year student studying Early Childhood and Elementary Education and have been babysitting for 10 years, about as long as I possibly can have been). Babysitters, while special and often very important to families/children, provide more sporadic/less care, which may not allow them to get to know the child’s ins and outs as a nanny would.
October 26th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
and yeah… while I see nothing wrong with being a babysitter and definitely call myself one in some occasions, it has gotten on my nerves a bit when a previous family would introduce me as their child’s babysitter. I much prefer how my current family has introduced me, as their nanny and helper.
October 27th, 2008 at 3:42 am
I agree with the last post. I do not like to be called a babysitter. Babysitting was something I did in Junior High and High school. I was a full time nanny for three and a half years. I loved the family. I think that babysitting is something that you do on the side at irregular intervals and usually for short periods of time. I hated it when people would refer to me as a babysitter, because to me being a nanny is like being a teacher and a secondary parent. You don’t ever take the place of the parent but you treat the kids like they are your own and make sure the progress and develop as they should. I equate babysitting with playing a few game, reading some books and basically just making the kids don’t kill themselves while their parents are gone.
It is kind of frustrating on here because I have been looking for a serious nanny job and I hardly ever see them posted here. I wouldn’t answer to a babysitting post because I don’t think of it as a serious position.
October 27th, 2008 at 3:54 am
In addition, I don’t think of nannies as being foriegn. I am an American and very proud of being a nanny. I think maybe some people are thinking of au pairs, they come from other countries as a kind of cultural exchange and are usually payed very little. As a nanny I would expect a salary just like any other hard working individual, but au pairs are usually only given a pittance and room and board and money for their necessities.
November 1st, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I am both a babysitter and a nanny. During the week I work full time as a nanny for one family. But in the evenings and weekends I baby sit for other families. My understanding is a nanny has a set schedule and a sitter is someone you use for date nights or every once in a while care. I don’t really like the name babysitter because it makes me think of a teenager watching TV as the children play. Nanny makes me think of someone very loving and nurturing.
November 6th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I use both for different types of jobs. I have one family I take care of every week, certain days, certain times, always the same deal. I call myself a nanny for that family if I’m talking about them, because its much more official set of duties. However, whenever I get a random job, I call it babysitting, because its more casual. I do the same activities, I charge the same rate, it doesn’t vary much else.
Of course, whenever I want it to sound more official, I go with nanny, because when people here that I babysit for a living, they have no idea how its possible for me to make enough money that way!
November 7th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Lovingkindess - I prefer nanny for families I work consistent days for
Babysitter - occasional - “watches” kids; replaceable
Nanny - regular care (even if only one or two days a week) - teaches, plays, guides, hugs, and may even be involved in special occasions in the children’s lives; considerably more involvement in family and emotional lives of kids
November 7th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
i prefer caregiver. i care and give.
November 11th, 2008 at 10:27 am
At the job I currently have, the family refers to me as the “after-school nanny”. I only work around 20 hours a week, but I think it’s still okay to be called that.
November 30th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
To me a babysitter is a part-time or occassional, usually teenage person, watching children. I think that a nanny is someone who takes care of children and does all the housework around the family’s house. Sometimes foreign (as in the au pair aspect) and sometimes not. Sometimes the nanny lives with the family and some do not. I prefer the term caregiver being that I watch children from my home on a regular basis, as in a daycare setting.
December 8th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I consider myself a nanny. A nanny does not just provide a child sitting service, but they clean, cook, and contribute to the childrens moral and mental learning. A nanny is someone who almost takes the spot of the mom or dad while with the children. A nanny is with the children several times per week.
I consider a sitter an occasional one time session of child care. ( ex. a friday night) usually younger.
December 8th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Actually I wasn’t sure what the difference is. Now I do agree that a full time or even part-time on a daily basis should be considered a nanny. Occasional nights, weekends and days should be considered a babysitter.
This is how I will define my services from now on. I can be both.