Nanny Diaries: A Day in the Life of a Summer Nanny

Curious about what it’s like to be a nanny? Whether you’re considering a career as a nanny or you’re a parent who wants a glimpse into a nanny’s daily routine, we’re taking you through a typical day in the life of a summer nanny.

Keep in mind that this will vary significantly from nanny to nanny and from family to family, as every family has different needs and a different routine for their child. Still, there's a general slice of life as a summer nanny:

Getting to the Family’s Home

Nannies often start their days at an early hour. A nanny will have a specific time she and her nanny's family have agreed upon for her to arrive at the family’s home. This is usually early enough to care for the kids while their parents are getting ready for work so the parents can focus on getting to work on time.

The Morning Routine

When a nanny has arrived at the home and the children have woken up, the nanny gets started with the kids’ morning routine. Depending on the kids’ ages and their independence, the nanny can help them use the restroom, brush their teeth, get dressed, and brush and/or style their hair. The nanny also prepares breakfast for the kids to make sure they’re starting the day with healthy nutrition, along with guiding the kids through any other morning routines the family has.

Morning Activities

After the morning routine is finished, it’s time to have some fun! The nanny sets up an activity with the kids that keeps them entertained and happy, often while also either engaging their minds or getting them active. The nanny might take the kids to a play date with friends, take them to the park, make crafts with them, or play educational games, for example. A knowledgeable and experienced nanny will always have a few options for activities and games for the kids to enjoy.

Lunch

Once those little tummies start to rumble, the nanny will prepare lunches for the kids. In some families, the parents have meals pre-planned, and in other cases, the nanny prepares lunch with the groceries available. Regardless, the nanny will create a lunch that suits the family’s dietary restrictions and preferences and eat lunch with the kids while encouraging polite table manners.

Naptime/Cleaning Time

Depending on a child’s age and routine, a full belly from lunch often nicely leads to a sleepy child who’s ready for naptime. The nanny puts the kids down for their nap and then takes advantage of this downtime to take care of other tasks around the house. She’ll clean up from lunch and tidy up the house after the morning’s playtime. Depending on what the nanny and the family have agreed upon, she may have other tasks to take care of too like managing the family’s schedule, cleaning bathrooms, or doing laundry.

Afternoon Activities

After the kids wake up from their nap, it’s time for more activity time. The nanny can pull more activities and ideas from her bag of tricks. This time of the afternoon is also a popular time for kids to have extracurricular activities during the summer like sports practices, so the nanny might need to keep tabs on these schedules and take the kids to their activities.

Closing Out the Day

As the afternoon comes to a close, the nanny starts to prepare the kids to enjoy time with their parents when the parents get home. She’ll tidy up from the afternoon’s activities and settle the kids into something that doesn’t require a lot of mess. It’s a great time for her to read to the kids, play a board game with the kids, or put on an episode of the kids’ favorite show, depending on the family’s screen time preferences.

When the parents arrive home from work, the nanny fills them in on the day – what the kids did, what the kids ate, and any other observations or updates. Then, it’s time for her to head home and allow the family to enjoy their quality time together.

Welcoming a Nanny to Your Home

A nanny can be an excellent way to give your kids the hands-on, attentive child care they need within your own home. If you’re considering a nanny for your family, we can help! Contact Tried and True Nannies and Sitters, your Nashville nanny agency.