A Day in the Life of a Nanny: What Parents Don’t See

From the outside, nannying can look like snacks, naps and trips to the park, which is technically true, but also slightly misleading.

In my experience, the perfect day appears calm and simple. But it is usually carefully structured behind the scenes, and can unravel quite quickly over something as small as the wrong snack or even the wrong colour cup. A typical day at Shreya’s Nest (it will always feel weird speaking about myself in the third person) involves so much more than it appears, from planning days out and activities to managing nap times, tidying up, and supporting children through big emotions. No two days are ever quite the same.

Burning energy before dinner, bath and bedtime at Call of the Wild Zoo!

Building Structure Into the Day

Routine, routine, routine. I know, we childcare professionals go on about it, but it is probably the most important factor in keeping little ones regulated! Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t always go to plan, I'm not a genie, but the idea of going with the flow is also a bit unrealistic. 

I usually structure the day to create a sense of predictability, which helps children feel more secure and understand what's coming next. I like to message the parents beforehand to ask if their children have any requests. We love our core values around here, and giving children autonomy over their day is really important in developing independence and confidence. 

My trusted paper diary and I (yes, I'm a bit stuck in the ice age) help bring the plan together. I’ll book tickets, check routes, and ensure my car has the correct car seats in – and that’s all before I've even got to work. Of course, even the most carefully planned routine doesn’t always run smoothly, and what should be a simple transition from one activity to another can quickly turn into something much more complicated, as most parents will probably recognise. Learning to adapt while still maintaining some structure is a key part of the role, which is easier said than done.

The Invisible Work Behind the Scenes

A large part of nannying is the work that isn’t immediately visible. At times, it can feel like I'm a part-time accountant, lawyer, nurse, content creator, chauffeur, chef and cleaner, the list truly goes on. That's before even mentioning the role-play scenarios children’s imaginations bring to life (last week we played church, where I sat in the service while my nanny child confidently took on the role of priest, despite never having been to church before). 

I’m often thinking a few steps ahead, trying to anticipate what a child might need before it becomes an issue. Now, don’t get me wrong, sometimes this is IMPOSSIBLE as meltdowns can quite literally come out of nowhere, but I try to notice when a child is getting tired or overwhelmed, and adjust the plan before things escalate.

A lot of the role involves supporting children through big emotions and helping them feel understood, even when they can't fully express what's wrong. With my interest in Speech and Language Therapy, I understand that behaviour is often a form of communication when words aren’t available. I’m definitely still learning, but it’s something that continues to shape how I approach care.

Conclusion

For me, nannying is so much more than just supervision. It involves understanding, planning and constantly adapting to children’s needs throughout the day. While it may look simple from the outside, it requires patience, awareness and a lot of flexibility (quite literally when you’re dragging yourself through the soft play). Needless to say, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/44e300_e46781aa57ea45119f031ee3d34c31ef/480p/mp4/file.mp4

Enjoy this short clip summarising one of my standard Nanny days!