The Ultimate Pre‑Trip Checklist for the Savvy Travel Nanny
Have you been asked to join your nanny family for a trip, or have you just been hired as a travel nanny for a job? Congratulations, seeing the world is a perk of working as a caregiver! However, a successful travel nanny trip doesn’t happen on its own. Follow these tips for the best trip ever – for both you and your grateful family!
Confirm the Details: Your Pre‑Trip Travel Nanny Checklist
Before suitcases are zipped, schedule a relaxed – but thorough – chat with the parents. The more you have confirmed and parsed out before the trip, the more relaxed and satisfied everyone will be once you head out.
Questions to ask parents:
Accommodations: Where will everyone sleep? Are you expected to share a room with the children or have your own room? Check in with yourself too. A remote cabin with limited Wi‑Fi demands different expectations (and packing, and comfort with critters) than a suite at a luxury resort. Are you comfortable with the kind of trip the family is looking for?
Daily rhythm & boundaries: Confirm work-related deets, like your on‑duty hours, promised downtime, and how parents want to divvy up responsibilities if you’re all with the kids at the same time.
Routines away from home: To what extent do the parents want to maintain bedtime routines, nap hours, food habits, screentime, etc? What does vacation mode mean to them? Some families maintain strict routines even on vacation whereas other parents think this is a time for everyone to let loose, even if it means going to sleep at ten or eating fries with every meal.
Parent expectations for logistics: Will you be booking car‑seat rentals, looking up kid-friendly activities or meals, confirming cribs at the hotel/rental home? Do they expect you to pack for the kids?
Depending on the destination, it may also be worth chatting about destination‑specific considerations. Are there local dress codes, health advisories, language basics, electrical adapters, etc.?
Confirm Travel Nanny Contract & Pay
Whether you are employed by this family as a nanny or sitter normally, or this is a travel-only gig, having a clear contract helps keep everyone happy and reduces the risk of conflict. Use a concise, written addendum to your nanny job contract or a dedicated travel nanny contract that spells out:
Compensation for travel days & overnights: Set a rate for the hours you’ll be actively working with the kiddos as well as a daily add-on/overnight rate for being away. U.S. law requires payment for all hours you’re working or engaged to wait while traveling with the family. This includes if the kids are sleeping but you are the adult in charge (maybe parents are out for the evening or they want to sleep in so you’re the one tuned in to the baby monitor). Overtime should be paid for any hours worked over 40 hours.
Per‑diems & reimbursable expenses: Parents should cover airfare, all meals and lodging, but it’s also worth going over other expenses. What if you want to rent a beach chair on an afternoon off?
For more about nanny travel compensation, read our guide to parents about traveling with a nanny.
If You Are in Charge of Packing for the Kids…
Some parents want to handle packing on their own whereas others prefer the nanny to be in charge of everything related to the kids’ trip. This is especially common for full-time nannies. Check with your family what they prefer and set aside time during your normal shifts leading up to the trip to wash clothes and pack bags.
A winning travel nanny packing list starts with the children’s non‑negotiables, then your own nanny travel essentials. Work backward from the itinerary and bedtime routine:
Kids’ Essentials
Outfits plus spares (because… toddlers…)
Comfort must-haves: favorite lovey, white‑noise app, night‑light
Entertainment and activities: sticker books, audiobooks, magnetic puzzles
Health kit with any prescriptions, children’s pain reliever, digital thermometer, band-aids
Mess management: stain stick, extra zip‑top bags, all the wipes
Pro-tip: After the trip, evaluate your pack list and fine-tune it, so that next time you’re asked to travel with the family you already have an ultimate packing checklist that works for you!
Helping the Parents: Proactive Travel Nannying
Even when parents are handling reservations, you can earn gold stars and angel wings by quietly verifying a few details ahead of time and confirming who’s responsible:
Flight seating and pre-boarding with kiddos, lounge access, snacks for kiddos and anything you can do to make the airport portion of the trip smooth for the parents
Car seat set-up at the destination
Checking in with the accommodations to make sure there’s a crib, a way to warm milk for evening bottle, laundry access, etc.
Map out nearest market and pharmacy at the destination
Pro-tip: Some parents will love handing over the reins to you, others will feel steamrolled that you’re taking over. A simple, “Would it be helpful if I fill in the blank here, or do you have it covered?” is perfect.
Don’t forget yourself! Schedule micro‑breaks, plan something fun for your off time, lean into the happy vibe of vacation even though you’re there to work. A little bit of nanny self-care goes a long way to help you remain the family’s best travel super power.
The Best Nanny Travel Hack? A Great Support System
Traveling as a nanny can be both challenging and super rewarding. You may get to explore something new but you’re also there to work and help your nanny family have a great, relaxing time. The best thing you can do for yourself, whether it’s your first trip or your fiftieth, is have someone in your corner to support your whole nanny journey (see what we did there?).
As a Smart Sitter, you always have access to our 15+ years of experience with a dedicated team of real people and childcare experts who want nothing but to see you succeed. We can help you with nanny job contracts, setting travel expectations, negotiating conflicts with your nanny family, and so much more.
If you’re a fantastic nanny looking for a new job in a supporting network, we’d love to hear from you. Apply via the button below - and definitely sign up for our newsletter, with all the tips and tricks you need for a rewarding career in childcare. We can’t wait to hear from you, and happy travels!