Thinking about turning your babysitting experience into a full-time nanny career? Making the jump from occasional sitter to professional nanny is very achievable — it mostly comes down to presenting your experience well and taking a few intentional steps to build credibility.
Below are nine practical tips to help you transition from babysitter (or mother’s helper, camp counselor, or daycare worker) into a nanny role.
1. Ask for letters of recommendation
Letters of recommendation are especially valuable when you’re landing your first nanny position. They give you credibility while your formal nanny experience is still on the lighter side, so ask the families you’ve babysat or worked for whether they’d be willing to write one.
2. Have a strong, childcare-focused resume
A well-written resume is essential. Make sure yours highlights your caregiving experience and your strengths as a candidate.
3. Summarize your babysitting experience on your resume
Include the number of children and their ages, along with the duties you were responsible for. If you babysat for several families, you can summarize that experience together — for example: “Cared for children ages six months to 13, up to three at a time, with responsibilities including…” and then list them out.
4. Give recurring roles their own entry
Any babysitting or mother’s helper role that was regular and recurring deserves its own separate entry on your resume. For example: “Smith Family After-School Babysitter, September 2020–present. Children ages five and seven. Provided regular after-school care including school pickups, snacks, homework help, and planned indoor/outdoor activities; provided full-day care Monday–Friday during the summer months.”
5. Play up your strengths
Highlight anything that sets you apart: volunteer experience, school clubs or activities, musical talents, or skills such as leadership, organization, and attention to detail, plus any relevant areas of study or interest.
6. Consider a mother’s helper role as a stepping stone
A mother’s helper position is a great transitional role between babysitting and nannying. In this role you provide care while a parent is home — giving them an extra set of hands, or freeing them up to work in another room or run a quick errand. You may take on more responsibility than a babysitter, sometimes including light household tasks like laundry or organization.
7. Advertise that you’re looking for a mother’s helper or nanny position
Let people know you’re available. Local childcare communities — like Nanny Parent Connection if you’re in the Seattle area — are a great place to start, along with social platforms such as Facebook or Nextdoor. Also reach out to families you’ve babysat for: they may need more help, or know a friend or neighbor who does. And don’t forget to add any mother’s helper experience to your resume — it absolutely counts.
8. Use your experience to apply for daycare or preschool assistant roles
Babysitting and mother’s helper experience can help you land a daycare or preschool assistant position, which looks great on a nanny resume. This type of work shows you can multitask and care for multiple children at once — valuable for nanny shares or families with several children — and it demonstrates reliability, follow-through, and teamwork. Note that some of these roles may require additional child-development training or a background check.
9. Take additional nanny or childcare training courses
Investing in training shows prospective employers you’re serious about becoming a nanny. Good options include the International Nanny Association and the U.S. Nanny Association, or simply search for “nanny classes” near you. Beyond nanny-specific courses, consider training in water safety, child development, positive discipline, special-needs care, child nutrition, or cooking.
Transitioning from babysitter to nanny is all about presenting your experience with confidence and continuing to build your skills. Follow these nine steps and you’ll be well on your way to landing a great nanny position.
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