How to become a nanny: 4 tips

(an exceptional, professional, in-demand nanny)

A lot of us working in the childcare field started as babysitters or camp counselors as teenagers. It’s a wonderful, fun way to earn money and work with children, but it’s a big step up from that to becoming a nanny on a career level. At Smart Sitting, we work with some of the absolute top nannies and babysitters, and we know what it takes to make it as a professional nanny.

We’ve gathered four of our top tips on how to become a nanny below - a few can give even a seasoned caregiver an extra boost.

Remember that being a nanny is a Real Job

It can be tempting to think that babysitting is an easy side-gig that anyone can do and doesn’t require the same parameters as other jobs. Some employers will say they “really only need a warm body” to ensure their kids make it to the end of the day, but when prodded a little further, that’s not what they actually want.

If you take your job seriously, it helps your employer do the same, which paves the way for a longer, sturdier working relationship.

A professional nanny or babysitting job should include:

• Payment on the books where your taxes are taken out 

  • Not only because it’s legally required, but because it also pays into your Social Security and helps you with other benefits

• A job contract, outlining your responsibilities, schedule, etc. 

• Paid time off, sick days, and other employment benefits as you would see in a typical job

Having these details ironed out before you’re hired enables both you and your employer to view the hire as a real form of employment where you both have responsibilities towards each other, which really translates to benefits from each other.

Elevate your childcare skillset

The best way to become an exceptional nanny is really through experience, but when you are new to the profession it can feel overwhelmingly like a catch-22 where you need experience to get the job that will give you experience. If you have very limited experience, consider volunteering at neighborhood childcare centers or maybe a church group.

Consider these non-experience related steps you can take to solidify your skills and become a more attractive hire:

Take childcare or child development classes

If you have the opportunity to take a child development class, as part of your community college or university degree, this is a great way to learn the foundations of how kids develop and what they are capable of at different ages. It may not teach you the tricks of making a formula bottle with one hand while soothing a baby in the other in the middle of the park while carrying a diaper bag, but it will help you understand why children react in different ways and how you can interact with them at different stages of development.

It is also one of the top requests we see from parents, who ask for candidates with a background in child development or education.

Get CPR and First Aid Certified

Taking a class in infant and child CPR and First Aid will help you feel more confident in your ability to keep your charges safe should anything happen. It also signals to potential parent employers that you take child safety and the job seriously. Be sure to take a class that offers certification and includes hands-on training. 

There are other classes in infant care or simply “babysitting certification”, and these may offer a sense of accomplishment or skill when experience is limited. However, be sure you are taking classes from a reputable organization where you truly learn hands-on skill. We rarely see requests specifying babysitting certification or similar from parents.

Think beyond babysitting experience

Previous childcare experience is always a major factor when families are looking for their next caregiver. When thinking about your childcare experience, remember to highlight all your work with children, even if it wasn’t babysitting or nannying. If you have worked as a camp counselor, an arts teacher, or a cruise entertainer running programming for young children, include it in your resume or profile.

If you have worked as a camp counselor, an arts teacher, or a cruise entertainer running programming for young children, include it in your resume or profile.

However, specific experience with childcare is not the only request we see from parents. Parents are also looking for role models for their children and someone who can teach their kids special skills. If you have danced for ten years, absolutely list it. If you lived abroad or speak a foreign language, make sure this is clear in your profile. If you have any sort of higher education, even if it is not in a childcare-related field, this is a huge bonus to families.

You never know quite what is going to be the one special detail a family is looking for, and they won’t know you’re just the right person for them if it’s not clear what awe-inspiring skills you bring to the table. Take the time to craft a solid, thorough resume (and profile, where applicable) with all your training, experience, and interests listed - it really pays off.

Look for nanny jobs in the right places

Often, a job listing itself and where you found it can give you an indication of how serious the job is. A neighbor who asks you to “Pop over real quick and just keep an eye on the kids for a bit” may not view the job as a professional endeavor - even though it can give you some great experience and be a helpful neighborly thing to do. A short note on Craigslist with few details and no clear outline of schedule or job responsibilities hints at a job that will not be a career. 

Instead, once you have gathered all the information about your skills and experience, set up profiles with reputable listing sites or apply to be a part of nanny agencies in the area where you live. This will help you become a nanny candidate who can really integrate the job into a lifestyle that works for you.

Check out How to find a Nanny Job: Listing Services vs. Agencies to get a sense of what you can expect from listing services and nanny agencies. 

Once you feel confident in your ambition to become a nanny and have your resume all in order, it’s time to start looking for your ideal position. Read our helpful tips about how to land your next nanny job. As a childcare agency, we also have continued trainings and meetups to discuss, share, and build on each other’s insights.

Learn more about Smart Sitting and ask questions about being a nanny on our Facebook or Instagram pages. For more tips and valuable information about nanny careers straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.