What's the difference between a Nanny, a Babysitter, and a Governess?

The word nanny gets tossed around a lot and is often used in conjunction with the title babysitter. For many caregivers, this distinction is incredibly important, and we're going to share with you why now!

First, the similarities are many, so it's no surprise why anyone would confuse the two. Both a nanny and a babysitter...

• take care of your child for a specific amount of time for a set rate
• have your child's safety in mind
• desire to give your child the best experience while you are apart
• are loving and caring for your child

However, the differences and responsibilities are just as numerous, if not more so! 

A nanny...

• is responsible for full care of the child, including bathing, meal planning and preparation, household chores related to the child, and communication with you.
• plans activities for the children on an age-appropriate level, and takes responsibility for their engagement.
• has longer, more consistent hours with a family, is a household employee, and therefore views his/her job as a career and is committed to it in a similar manner as one would in a business position.
• typically signs a contract or work agreement so that expectations and boundaries are met and respected.
• may or may not have a formal university degree in childhood development or education, but has years of experience caring for children.
• is legally required to be paid a set hourly wage plus overtime for each hour he/she works, regardless of duties. 
• makes a salary that is comparable with their previous experience, location, and education.

A babysitter...

• is not a consistent, regular scheduled employee but instead comes to your home sporadically as needed.
• typically does whatever you or the child desires. This may or may not involve pizza and a movie.
• has the main expectation of safe supervision of the child as they do their regular routines responsibly; very few additional expectations are requested.
• may have very little experience supervising and engaging children, and is using this venue to strengthen his/her abilities in relating to, and caring for, children of all ages.
• may turn down your requests for employment, and is not typically a long-term, reliable caregiver.
• is usually always paid in cash at a base rate with extra dollars per hour for each additional child.

Knowing the commitment, experience, expected duties, and consistent energy that is required of a nanny, it can be easy to see why he/she may recoil when being referred to as a "babysitter." Nannies take their careers seriously, and have a lot of responsibility! A great nanny will take care of your children as if they are his/her own. This includes playing with them, setting limits and daily disciplines to guide them, planning engaging activities, and nourishing their bodies and minds! 

But what in the world is a Governess?

In addition to all nanny duties listed above, a governess...

• is a mature, highly educated person with years of experience as a private care nanny for multiple families.
• has at least one degree from a university in a child development or education background.
• ​is more educationally minded, and may have worked previously as a classroom or private tutor.
• plans the majority of a child's activities and schedules, and keeps track of their education and development.
• may travel with a family more extensively, as he/she is trained to keep children on top of their studies.

If you're torn between which caregiver to hire, we can help you make the distinction and decision today. Feel free to shoot us an email at hello@KithAndKinNYC.com