Who Is Better: A Live In Or Live Out Nanny

With the increasing number of working parents, there has also been an increase in the type of nannies one engages for the purpose of caring for the children. The main two types of nannies are live in and live out nannies; the choice of engaging any one depends on the lifestyle of the family, with live in nannies being suitable for busy families with multiple children, while live out nannies suit a smaller family with a more organized schedule better.

The best choice for busy families is a live-in nanny, but it is good to note that they should suit your lifestyle and budget; they would require a higher pay and a room of their own in your home. It is also good to note that though they may suit your family schedule, they may not suit your lifestyle.

Here are a few considerations to think about in live in nannies: 

It is best to realize that a live in nanny has a life of her own; she/he will need personal time, days off and a set schedule. Respecting this fact would prevent the development of hard feelings; also acknowledging her own life and setting a schedule you will be letting the nanny know that you appreciate her.

Next there should be a clear outline regarding what is expected of your live-in nanny; it should include daily chores, errands and children’s schedule to prevent confusion and the feelings of regret. Since the live in nanny forms a big part of your family life, she/he should not feel one is taken advantage of.

There should be a clear demarcation of who is in charge and when; a live in nanny needs to know when she is responsible and when she has to address you. This would help avoid stepping on the toe and avoid confusion in the children also.

The live-in nanny becomes a part of the extended family as far as the children are concerned; while it is crucial for the family to have good relationships with the nanny, it needs to be professional between the adults.

Live-in nannies have the following disadvantages:

The first reason for families opting out of live-in nannies is that this nanny will form a strong bond with the children, with the parent seeing the nanny as a competition that is unhealthy for the family.

Next parents may feel that they miss out on privacy by engaging a live in nanny; even those in large homes may find it uncomfortable to share their home with their nanny.

A live out nanny may be ideal:

If a live in nanny does not suit you, you can always opt for a live out nanny who resides in her own home and works for a few hours a week for you. These nannies may happily oblige even when needed overnight a few days in a week.

Suiting parents with a set schedule and shorter working hours, the live out nanny could help in picking up children, feeding them and watching over them for a certain amount of time per day until a parent returns home. The parent remains in charge of things with a live out nanny offering the best of both worlds.

To conclude do carefully weigh the pros and cons of each childcare option by talking over with your spouse to decide the best option suitable to your family schedule and lifestyle.