How Does a Nanny Spend a Workday?

Early Morning

A nanny's main role is taking care of children. Some nannies live with the family for whom they are caring, while others live outside the home and travel to work each day. A nanny's day usually begins early in the morning, either before the parent leaves for work or as soon as the child wakes up. If the nanny is living with the family, she will get up to change the baby's diaper, get the baby dressed and feed her breakfast. If the child or children are older, the nanny most likely will help them get ready for school and prepare their lunches, if needed. If the nanny arrives in time for a parent to leave for work, the nanny may be engaged in entertaining the child so the parent can exit without an unhappy scene.

Midmorning

If the nanny is caring for a baby, the nanny might play with the baby for a while or, weather permitting, take the baby for a stroll or to the park. Nannies often will meet other nannies at the park or playground, and friendships are formed among the nannies and among the children as the children play together.
The nanny may have some free time or time to do household chores if the children attend school. Some nannies are required to do light housework in addition to their child care duties. Some nannies do housework related only to the children, such as washing children's clothes and doing their dishes. Most parents and nannies will have agreed on the specific chores the nanny will perform when the nanny is hired.

Afternoon and evening

The nanny might do some grocery shopping if that is part of her job and then return to the home to prepare lunch for herself and her charge. She will feed the baby or young child and perhaps put the baby in a play yard while she does the dishes and cleans up. Some babies or young children will be put down for a nap. If there are older children involved, it is likely that the nanny will pick them up from school, either by walking there or taking a bus or subway. Some nannies are given the use of car to use to chauffeur the children to their various afternoon activities. No matter how the child spends the afternoon, it is the nanny's job to see to it that the child is safe and well cared for.
By evening, the nanny most likely will have bathed the children and either put them to bed or prepared them for bed. Each family has different expectations for the nanny. The nanny's role, essentially, is to replace the parent during the parent's absence.
People hiring nannies are required to pay taxes and follow the laws of employment in the state in which they live. Days off and compensation for extra hours the nanny may be asked to stay and baby-sit will be agreed upon, usually in advance.