INA In-Home Child Care Definitions
There are a variety of terms for people who work in the home. Here are the definitions used by the International Nanny Association to describe various in-home child care jobs.
Babysitter
Provides supervisory, custodial care of children on an irregular full-time or part-time basis. No special training or background expected.
Au Pair (Foreign)
Foreign national in the United States for up to a year to experience American life. Lives as part of the host family and receives a small stipend in exchange for babysitting and help with housework. May or may not have previous childcare experience.
Parent/Mother's Helper
Lives in or out and works for a family to provide full-time childcare and domestic help for families in which one parent is home most of the time. May be left in charge of the children for brief periods of time. May or may not have previous childcare experience.
Nanny
Employed by the family on either a live-in or live-out basis to undertake all tasks related to the care of children. Duties are generally restricted to childcare and the domestic tasks related to childcare. May or may not have had any formal training, though often has a good deal of actual experience. Nanny's work week ranges from 40 to 60 hours per week. Usually works unsupervised.
Nursery Nurse
The title is used in Great Britain for a person who has received special training and preparation in caring for young children. When employed by the family, she or he may live in or out of the home. A nursery nurse works independently and is responsible for everything related to the care of the children. Duties are generally restricted to child care and the domestic tasks related to child care. The work-week is usually 50 to 60 hours per week. In addition to specialized training, the nursery nurse will also have successfully passed the national British certification examination of the Council for Awards in Children’s Care and Education (CACHE), which is formerly referred to as a Norland Nanny. In the United States, the term “nurse” is reserved strictly for the medical profession (see below).
Newborn Care Specialist
In the United States, nannies are prohibited from using the title “nursery nurse.” The term “nurse” is reserved strictly for the medical profession. In 2007, INA adopted the title of “newborn care specialist” to describe a nanny who is trained in caring for newborn babies.
Governess
Traditionally an educationally-qualified person employed by families for the full-time or part-time at-home education of school-age children. Functions as a teacher and is not usually concerned with domestic work or the physical care of younger children. Hours of work by arrangement.