What is a nanny, and which kind of nanny actually fits your household?
“Nanny” is an umbrella term. The title matters less than the role design: schedule, level of childcare responsibility, household support, and how much flexibility your family actually needs.
Nanny roles we place in Los Angeles.
Choosing the right role before you search saves time, reduces turnover, and helps you budget correctly from the start.
Full-time nannies
Consistent weekday childcare with school logistics, routines, activities, homework support, and day-to-day family rhythm.
Full-time nanny placementsROTA nannies
Alternating long-shift teams that deliver seamless coverage for families with demanding schedules, travel, or high-touch care needs.
ROTA nanny placementsHousehold assistant nannies
Hybrid support that combines childcare with errands, schedule management, household organization, and family logistics.
Household assistant placementsNewborn care specialists
Shorter-term specialist care for newborn sleep, feeding, swaddling, and the first weeks of life with a new baby.
Newborn care specialist placementsTravel nannies
Experienced caregivers who keep childcare steady while families move through travel days, new environments, and shifting schedules.
Travel nanny placementsWeekend and temporary roles
Support for concentrated weekend coverage, short-term family transitions, or periods when the household needs extra help fast.
Weekend nanny placementsThe title matters less than the job design.
| Option | Best for | Upside | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time nanny | Families needing consistent weekday childcare | Stable routine and deeper long-term fit | Scope creep if duties are not defined clearly |
| Household assistant nanny | Busy families needing childcare plus logistics help | One role can cover more of the daily household rhythm | Needs careful boundaries around non-childcare tasks |
| ROTA nanny | Demanding schedules, travel, or coverage-heavy households | Reliable continuity without overextending one nanny | Higher budget and more complex role design |
| Newborn care specialist | Families in the early newborn stage | Specialized support during a high-intensity transition | Usually a shorter-term engagement, not a permanent nanny role |
The best search starts when the household knows what support it actually needs.
A family looking for “a nanny” may really need a household assistant, newborn specialist, live-in structure, or a simpler full-time role with fewer moving parts.
The right role design saves money, shortens the search, and reduces the chance of early turnover.
The cluster guides that support this roles pillar.
These pages help families compare adjacent role types and understand where the boundaries really are.
Nanny or babysitter?
The difference in schedule, legal setup, and expectations when families are deciding between a true nanny role and occasional babysitting.
Live-in nanny roles
When a live-in arrangement makes sense, what it requires from the household, and how it differs from a standard live-out position.
ROTA roles explained
A clearer look at alternating-shift nanny roles and the kinds of households that genuinely need them.
Newborn care specialists
How newborn specialist support differs from a long-term nanny role and when families benefit from each.
Questions families ask when they are still defining the role.
What makes someone a nanny instead of a babysitter?
How do I know if I need a household assistant nanny?
Do I need a newborn care specialist or a nanny?
What is the most common mistake families make with role design?
From role definition into a real hiring plan.
Once the role is clear, these are usually the next pages families need to move from “what kind of support do we need?” to “how do we hire well?”