Per diem nannies are becoming an increasingly popular choice for families with newborn babies. A per diem nanny takes on the tasks of caring for the baby, helping to set up a proper daily routine, giving mum the opportunity to recover. In this article, let’s take a look at the top five reasons for a per diem schedule.
Each schedule (from full-time to part-time, flexible and, of course, per diem schedules), has its own features and benefits:
full-time: 5 days a week for 8-10 hours a day. This is the most popular work schedule and is convenient for families where both parents work. It is convenient for the nanny because personal boundaries and working relationships are better established; it is the main job on a permanent basis;
part-time: 5 days a week for 2-5 hours a day. The nanny works only half of the working day. This schedule may be suitable for a mum who needs to relieve herself for a while;
shift method: shift work of two nannies, with or without accommodation. The most popular: 3/3, 7/7, 10/10 or 14/14 days. The nanny works several days in a row, and then she is replaced by her partner, which allows them to recover. This schedule is suitable for caring for newborn babies or when the family lives out of town;
rotational method abroad, which uses longer intervals: 1/1, 2/2, 3/3 or 6/6 months and most often with family accommodation. In this case, one nanny replaces the other for the duration of the holiday;
Part-time work: 2-4 days a week, as well as work on weekends or public holidays as additional employment. A flexible schedule varies according to the family’s needs, allowing the nanny’s working hours to be adapted to different circumstances. It is more difficult to find a person for such a schedule, so the two parties mutually agree on the working hours;
cumulative holidays. For example, a nanny works 21 working days with no days off and then one week off. This schedule is inefficient for the employee as life balance is lost.
It is important to choose a schedule that fits your family’s needs within your budget, living arrangements, interaction format, and takes into account your child’s routines and age.
What is a daily schedule
Daily schedule – the nanny spends 24 hours a day with the child, providing constant care and nurturing. This employment option is especially relevant in the first year of life, when continuous care is required for an infant or a child in need of extra care.
It is important to bear in mind that caring for a child around the clock is a physically and mentally demanding task. If you choose to use a nanny on a 24-hour basis for a long period of time, it is worth considering two nannies who provide a rotating schedule. This will reduce the workload for each of the nannies.
Contact the Dream Nanny Agency.
Reasons for using a daily schedule
Family living in the countryside
The daily nanny schedule is quite logical and convenient for families living outside the city infrastructure. An obligatory condition is the availability of a room for the nanny. In case the parents do not want to live in the same flat, they rent accommodation in walking distance. There is an opportunity to save physical and emotional resources due to the fact that no time and energy is spent on travelling both ways.
This schedule simplifies logistics and provides additional opportunities for out-of-town applicants.
Attention 24/7 for the newborn
The nanny provides basic care for the baby: hygiene, daily routine, feeding, sleeping, walking, constant contact. Being close by, she responds instantly to the baby’s every need, ensuring timely care even during the night hours. This contributes to the healthy development and well-being of the baby and helps to preserve the parents’ vital resources.
Preserving parents’ nighttime sleep
For working parents, a night’s sleep is an essential part of maintaining energy and concentration during the day. The nanny’s daily work schedule acts as a reliable ally, ensuring that they can sleep and recover during the night hours. Parents are reassured that even when they sleep, the nanny continues to keep an eye on the baby.
In addition, the ability to maintain a night sleep affects the quality of relationships within the family, maintaining a balance between personal and professional spheres. Parents are more effective in paying attention to the baby during the day.
Large families
In large families, the tasks of caring for and attending to children are greatly intensified. A 24-hour nanny schedule helps to organise the daily routine more efficiently. In the case of twins and triplets from birth to 3 years of age, we recommend two nannies on shift to ensure the safety of each child. We recommend choosing someone with high stress tolerance, who is able to remain calm in any situatio.
Frequent travellers
Separation from a child, especially for long periods of time, can be emotionally difficult. For parents who are on business trips, taking care of their children for the duration of their absence becomes a significant reason to hire a live-in nanny. This reduces internal anxiety and worry about the health and safety of the children. And parents are more efficient in fulfilling their work tasks.
In the case of frequent or long journeys, it is recommended to hire a nanny to accompany you on your journeys. It is important to give advance notice of this need when searching for a primary nanny and to discuss the terms of accommodation and reimbursement of expenses, so that the candidate is prepared, has the appropriate documents and is not let down at the right moment.

The advantages of a rotational schedule for the nanny and the employer
For the nanny:
- time saving. A rotational schedule allows the nanny to save the time needed to balance her personal life and professional development. You have free time to relax, do your own thing or work part-time;
- saving money. No extra costs for travelling, renting accommodation and food;
- builds a warmer relationship with both child and parents, resulting in more trust in close contact.
For the hirer:
- provides greater flexibility in managing their time, allowing parents to balance work, family life and leisure more effectively;
- ensures the constant presence of a nanny, guaranteeing uninterrupted care and attention to the child;
- relieves the strain at night, ensuring parents can get a good night’s rest knowing that the nanny is taking care of the child;
- Provides care for multiple children in a large family, giving each child individual attention and care and building healthy relationships;
- guarantees reliable support in case of emergencies requiring a quick response;
- Creating a cosy and safe environment through optimal physical, emotional and psychological development of the child;
- provides ongoing support, which is especially important when parents are travelling or ill;
- provides better and more complete care for the child as the nanny recovers from her shift;
- Thanks to a live-in nanny, some parents forgo daycare, providing a holistic approach to development at home.
Minuses of a per diem nanny schedule
- constant busyness with childcare can lead to emotional and physical burnout as she lacks time for her favourite activities, recovery and personal life;
- A nanny who works on a per diem schedule may request additional financial compensation due to 24-hour availability, which can place an additional financial burden on the family;
- The constant presence of a nanny can lead to a decrease in the parents’ level of responsibility for the care and upbringing of the child, as they can rely on the nanny for all aspects;
- the child may become overly attached to the nanny, which can make separation more difficult in the future;
- parents may miss the opportunity to participate in all aspects of the child’s development due to the continuous work of the nanny, which can reduce the psychological bond between them and the baby, causing feelings of jealousy or guilt.

An experienced nanny eliminates or minimises many of the disadvantages listed above
Knowledge and skills to organise the interaction process as efficiently as possible, ensuring a high level of safety and care for the child, as well as support for the parents.
Efficient allocation of time and resources, making daily work schedules smoother and more predictable. The ability to overcome physical and emotional fatigue and to ensure a healthy balance of work and rest reduces the impact of negative factors on well-being.
Managing your own emotions and sharing the workload minimises the onset of chronic fatigue. And the ability to create a harmonious family environment helps to eliminate the risk of increased attachment to the nanny and strengthen the psychological bond between parents and children.
In addition, an experienced nanny can be a real partner for the parents she works with. She will help to reduce the workload by providing support in emergencies and creating a cosy environment for the children.
However, it should be remembered that a nanny living with a family also requires special attention and care. Creating a comfortable living environment for her promotes harmonious relationships and efficient work. It is important to consider several aspects to ensure coherence and respect in this dynamic situation:
- the space and amenities she needs. Having a place to rest helps her feel more confident and relaxed;
- Ensure that the necessary food is available and that food can be prepared;
- small breaks. Discuss options for restoring balance and energy throughout the day;
- In case the nanny is ill, take care of her medical treatment. Mutual support creates a relationship of trust;
- open communication. To avoid irritation or tension during a long-term stay, find constructive ways to resolve conflicts and communicate openly;
workload. Regularly discuss with your nanny her workload and needs. Assessing her physical and emotional state will help to avoid overwork and stress.
Creating a positive atmosphere and being attentive to the nanny living with the family promotes harmonious relationships and effective work.
As a result, with the nanny’s experience and professional skills, shift work schedule retains its advantages and acquires an important quality – the ability to minimise negative aspects. Thus, it remains the optimal solution for parents and nannies, providing convenience, accessibility and quality childcare.
Many parents who have applied to the Nanny Dreams Agency have received exactly experienced and reliable candidates. In our base exclusively professional nannies and governesses with extensive experience in childcare. We require mandatory references, which we check thoroughly before the interview.
We only present applicants who truly match the parents’ needs. This ensures that the requirements of the parents stated in the application form and the nanny’s professional skills are accurately matched.
The Dream Nanny team takes care of all the processes, from the search, pre-screening of candidates, checking the necessary references and finishing with the adaptation of the new employee. This allows parents to focus on their family and child, rather than on the complexities of finding a reliable nanny.
“Dream Nanny” will help you choose a reliable candidate with whom the child is guaranteed to feel care, attention and interesting pastime.


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