If You Wouldn't Apply for This Job... Don't Expect a Nanny To

Let's be honest-- some nanny job listings sound more like a cry for help than a realistic opportunity. You want Mary Poppins, a Michelin-star chef, a housekeeper, tutor, and toddler whisperer all rolled into one... but only want to pay $17 an hour and offer "flexible" hours (that somehow always mean late nights). Here's the truth: if you wouldn't apply for the job your offering, a professional nanny definetely won't. In this blog, we're breaking down unrealistic nanny job expectations-- and how to craft a role that actually attracts long-term, high quality care.

Imagine Applying to Your Own Job Posting

Let's flip the script.

Job Title: Nanny

Hours: Full time, flexible (which means... not really)

Pay: $18/hour

Duties: Full child development, educational planning, laundry, cleaning, driving to 8 activities, meal prep, emotional coaching, and potty training

Perks: "You're like a part of the family!"

Raises: Maybe... eventually

Sound appealing? Didn't think so. Yet families post versions of this every day-- and are confused when amazing nannies don't apply. The problem isn't the candidates. It's the expectations.

Common Nanny Job Expectations That Push Great Nannies Away

Here's what makes nannies run the other way:

• "We're a laid-back family" (but want military-level structure and daily reports)

• "You'll be treated like the family!" (but no PTO, sick days, or raise after 2 years)

• "Must be flexible!" (but really means: never say no)

• "Light housekeeping" (that turns into scrubbing baseboards and folding dad's laundry)

The red flags aren't always intentional-- but they send a loud message: we value convenience more than your career.

What Great Nannies Actually Want

It's not about spa perks or fancy fridges. Great nannies want:

• Clarity in expectations

• Respect from their professional experience

• Comepetitive wages that reflect the level of care expected

• Paid time off, sick days, and consistent hours

• Space to bond with the children, not micro-management

• Support when boundaries need to be upheld

You get what you give. When nannies are respected, they show up-- fully.

Creating a Role That Attracts Long-Term Talent

Ask yourself:

• Would I apply for this job?

• Would I feel valued, not used?

• Would the pay match the responsibility?

• Would I be treated like the professional or "just the help"?

If you can't confidently answer "yes" to all of the above, it's time to rewrite the role.

Here's a better version of what that job post might look like:

"Seeking an experienced, warm, and engaging nanny for two school-aged children in Nashville. Guaranteed 40 hours/week, paid holidays, PTO, and mileage reimbursement. Responsibilities include: school pickups, homework help, light meal prep, and planning fun activities. Pay starts at $25/hr+ based on experience."

Now that's a job someone will fight for.

Tried and True - Nannies & Sitters Keeps It Real (and Fair)

At Tried and True - Nannies & Sitters, we vet both nannies and families-- becasue a good match goes both ways.

We don't sugarcoat jobs, and we won't let families overload one person with unrealistic expectations. Why? Becasue we care about longevity. About respect. About kids growing up with stable, supported caregivers-- not burned-out babysitters who quit after three months.

Want a nanny who sticks around? Start by treating the role like the real career it is.

Hiring soon in Nashville? Let us help you build a job that makes sense-- for you and for the person who'll help raise your children. Contact Tried and True - Nannies & Sitters today to get started.