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You are here: Home / Careers / Babysitter or Nanny? (And Does It Matter)

Babysitter or Nanny? (And Does It Matter)

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Babysitter Or Nanny? (Is There A Difference)

Let me introduce to you Sarah Kinghorn, a Sydney based professional career nanny specialising in infant and travel care. Sarah is making her debut on NANNY SHECANDO with a piece about what’s really in a name, and does it matter if one calls you a babysitter or nanny? To see more of Sarah, you can click here.

________

“What do you do?”

“I’m a nanny.”

“Oh, you babysit for a living?”

This statement is like adding bi-carb soda to vinegar and detergent – major internal fizzing.  So many thoughts rush through my head.

>>> If I said I built cars for a living, would you equate that to working at the car wash?

>>> Of all the terms to describe being paid to care for children, how is “babysitting” the one that gained traction?

>>> I tried sitting on babies, but the baby bit me and I called it quits.

I catch myself, though.  After all, I am so fortunate to have found a career where the work feels like play, where I contribute to the wellbeing of individuals and to the wellbeing of society, where love is a valid and integral part of my working day.

I remind myself that because I found my dream career early in life, I did not have to experience jobs that would not suit me, corporate jobs big on ambition and low on appreciation, medical jobs where one slip could cost a life, legal jobs where I may have to put aside my beliefs and values.  This means I do not understand what other jobs are like, what other job titles mean.

I once worked for a psychiatrist.  It took time for me to cement in my mind that she was a psychiatrist and not a psychologist, because although I knew there was a difference, I had no experience with matching the correct label to the correct career.  If I ever used the wrong title when talking to her, I certainly meant no offence.

So I breathe.  I smile.  I say:

“I’m so lucky to have a career I love. Nannying is very rewarding”.

I ask what they do, and try to learn a little more about the mysterious other jobs that involve tea breaks instead of tea parties.

Often, I find they ask more questions about what I do.  My job is exotic to them, though perhaps not a job they would want for themselves.  I take each question as it comes and try to answer it honestly.

My working day can be filled with mess and chaos and the absurd, and pretending otherwise doesn’t do the nanny industry or the industry of childhood any favours.  I defend my bosses from accusations of laziness and disinterest and pomp and praise their efforts both inside and outside the home.

In fact, I make a mental note to give my bosses this praise directly the next time I see them, and to thank them for respecting me as a professional.  I hug the baby I care for extra tight, for seeing me not as a babysitter, not even as a nanny, but as one of the cornerstones of her life.  I check in with my nanny friends, and try to slip in a comment about their important work.

Picasso, Michelangelo, Cezanne – painters.  The wall-painter, the subway vandal, the child who makes the fridge his gallery – are they not all painters, too?  Each is defined by their works, not by their title.  Perhaps some would prefer “artist”, or a specialist term of their own creation, but society as a whole will still put them in the painter box for easy filing and reference.

When I get caught up in declaring that I am an artist rather than a hobby painter, I have to come back to my nanny origins.  By definition, I started as a babysitter.  I would not be where I am today, taking my pick of the jobs, being paid to travel the world, if I had not first babysat.  Those parents and those children have given me gifts I can never repay, and if the consequence is being occasionally mislabeled, I will wear that mistaken moniker with pride.

I truly believe, the more we individual nannies make a name for ourselves, the more we can define our shared professional name.

But for now.

What’s in a name? Sometimes, not as much as we think.

What do you do? “I’m a nanny.” Oh, you babysit for a living?” #nannylife #careers

Click To Tweet

Babysitter Or Nanny? (Is There A Difference)

>>> How do you respond when called a babysitter?

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February 3, 2015 By Hope @ Nanny Shecando Filed Under: Careers

Comments

  1. Calgary Nanny Service says

    December 5, 2015 at 2:25 pm

    I agree that there is a significant difference between a nanny and a babysitter, because a nanny duties entails much more responsibility and work, much more than what a babysitter must do on a normal day.

    Reply
  2. Ramiro says

    February 7, 2015 at 1:43 am

    You can certainly see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.

    Reply
  3. Jen says

    February 3, 2015 at 10:53 pm

    Recently my charge said “are you my babysitter?” and I just said quite firmly “No I’m your nanny” and her dad who was in earshot said “So that’s you told!”

    I do babysit don’t get me wrong, but when I’m working long days without a break and not a pizza in sight, I’m most definitely nannying.

    Reply
    • Sarah Kinghorn says

      February 3, 2015 at 11:22 pm

      I like the sound of that debate: is pizza the difference between nannying and babysitting? I think it’s great that the dad supported you in that way.

      Reply
  4. Norah Colvin says

    February 3, 2015 at 10:24 pm

    Well done. I see the difference too. I think your response is appropriate, just model the term you wish to have used and hopefully ‘they’ will come to appreciate that you do more than sit on babies! I have never liked the term ‘school teacher’ for much the same reason. It doesn’t reflect what I do. I have never taught school, but have supported children’s learning journeys. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
    Norah Colvin recently posted…Clearing confusion – reading and writing for the massesMy Profile

    Reply
    • Sarah Kinghorn says

      February 3, 2015 at 11:30 pm

      And that’s life for you – here I am debating nanny vs babysitter, and I have never considered that the term “school teacher” may also feel limiting. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply

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  1. The 2015 Australian Nanny Conference says:
    January 8, 2021 at 1:33 am

    […] Sneddon our health + fitness blogger, and Da Poppins our children’s literature aficionado. Sarah Kinghorn popped in to give an exposé into her experience as a nanny vs babysitter, and Amelia Seymour of […]

    Reply

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I'm Hope & I help nannies transform their approach to job search, and inspire those working with kids to maximise their potential within the international nanny industry. Plus, did I mention I like crafts + diy, baking & playing! Read More

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