Defining Childcare Roles

With how busy modern life can be, and how spread out our families have become, most households turn to paid help in order to keep laundry done, bedtime consistent, and dinner on the table. In this post we'll talk about the different in home options for childcare, and what you can expect from each.

Babysitter

The job of a babysitter is to keep your children fed, entertained, and alive. Babysitters primarily work evenings and weekends when parents have social engagements rather than work responsibilities. They are there to get dinner on the table and have kids tucked into bed on time, then tidy up after themselves, not to complete additional household tasks. A babysitter is scheduled on an as needed basis and primarily paid in cash or a cash equivalent. When hiring a babysitter it’s important to remember that you get what you pay for, and while it’s appropriate to pay a lower rate than you would to a nanny or if the sitter is a teenager, too low a rate is a red flag. 

Nanny

While it’s a babysitter's job to keep your child alive, it’s a nanny who is going to help them thrive. A nanny is primarily responsible for the social, physical, and cognitive development of your child or children. This involves working with your child on developmental milestones, and encouraging age appropriate social behaviour and manners. A nanny may play a vital part in things like potty training or learning to read. Child related household tasks, such as the child’s laundry and cooking for them, can also be within the purview of a nanny, but it’s important to discuss what your nanny is comfortable with and expecting during the interview process. Most nannies will also expect a higher hourly rate for additional household tasks. A nanny is a household employee, not a contractor, and must be paid as such. Nannies can be full or part time, but usually work a regular schedule based on the childcare needs of the family. 

House Manager

A house manager is like an assistant, but for the family and household instead of an office. The job is highly dependent on the needs of the specific family and generally encompasses overseeing everything involved with running the household smoothly. This can include housekeeping like laundry or doing dishes, creating and implementing organization systems in the home, and scheduling and overseeing other staff in the household, whether this is daily nanny or housecleaner, or one off contractors doing work around the house. A house manager can be responsible for child care, but it is not the primary focus of their duties. Think picking up a child from school or an activity and supervising them until the parents get home from work while they prepare dinner. House managers are household employees, usually full time with a set schedule. 

Postpartum Doula

The role of a postpartum doula is primarily to support the birthing parent through their transition postpartum. This can involve physical and emotional support after birth, infant care and education, and light household help like cooking or laundry. Depending on the individual, some doulas take more of a mother or infant focus, while others prioritize helping the whole family adjust to the new baby. Postpartum doulas often work overnight shifts so that new parents can rest. Postpartum doulas are educated, often certified, professionals who work as independent contractors with families for weeks or a few months at a time. 

Newborn Care Specialist

A newborn care specialist (or NCS) is a similar role to a postpartum doula, but where the doula’s focus is the mother or family, a newborn care specialist is there primarily for the new baby. They are educated and able to take over all aspects of infant care, from feeding and scheduling sleep, to nursery set up and ensuring toys are developmentally appropriate. An NCS is a specialist in newborns, exactly as it says on the tin, and has education and certifications to back that up. Newborn care specialists also work as independent contractors for a period of weeks to months, often working primarily overnight. 

What SunUp Does

Having worked all of the different positions listed here, SunUp is my answer to the challenges modern families face. Sourcing childcare is a huge issue most families face, but so is managing the mental load of running a household, the isolation of new parenthood, and knowing the best choices to make for your children in the age of social media. With SunUp I aim to lessen these burdens with full spectrum childcare and household support.