Nanny or governess: what the difference is and who your child needs

These two words are often used interchangeably, and families frequently look for a “nanny” when what they actually need is a governess — or the other way round. The difference is not about status or price. It is about the job.

A nanny: care and routine

A nanny is responsible for the child being safe and comfortable.

• Care for children of any age, from newborns
• Walks, play, a steady daily routine
• Preparing meals for children
• Taking children to nursery, school and activities

This is work about daily life and care. You need a nanny when what matters is that the child’s day is structured, and the child is fed, walked and calm.

More on the nannies page.

A governess: learning and development

A governess is responsible for the child developing and learning.

• Help with the school curriculum and homework
• Foreign languages in everyday conversation
• School readiness and developmental activities
• Reading, music, creative activities
• Keeping track of lessons and clubs

This is work about education. A governess usually has a teaching degree and classroom experience.

More on the governesses page.

Choosing by the child’s age

Under 3. Almost always a nanny: at this age it is about care, routine and safety.

3 to 6. It depends on the task. If school starts in a year or two and the child needs preparing for it while keeping up a language, a governess is worth considering.

School age. Usually a governess. Especially abroad, where a child is taking on the local curriculum and should not lose their first language.

The particular difficulty of moving

Abroad, a child faces a double task: catching up with the local school programme in a foreign language, and not losing their mother tongue. A nanny usually cannot carry that — it takes someone with teaching experience.

That is exactly why we separated these two services: they have different requirements for the candidate, and we source them differently.

When you need both

In larger families this is normal: the nanny looks after the younger child while the governess works with the schoolchild. Sometimes one person covers both roles, but that combination is rare and takes longer to find.

Tell us how old the children are and what matters more — care or teaching. We will advise who fits and show the first profiles on the day you reach out.