Why You Should Hire a Travel Nanny for Your Next Family Vacay

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Why You Should Hire a Travel Nanny for Your Next Family Vacay

mother and her daughter checking safety in economy class airliner

There’s a lot of talk lately about travel nannies. These childcare providers help ease the stress of traveling with kids, especially toddlers and babies. Hiring a travel nanny can improve your vacation experience by allowing you to focus on what matters: spending quality time with your family.

Being on vacation doesn’t make the tasks of daily life disappear. The kids still need to be dressed, bathed, and fed. The baby still needs her bottles and naps. The little ones still need their bedtime stories. This is where a travel nanny can be a lifesaver.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a day with your spouse to explore a new city or lounge on the beach without any disruptions? Or have a romantic dinner alone, just the two of you?

Here are some tips for hiring a travel nanny, whether you decide to find one on your own or use a nanny company.

  • Start looking for a travel nanny at least a month before your trip. You’ll need time to interview candidates and draft an agreement if you’re hiring a travel nanny on your own.
  • Clearly outline the expectations in the contract, including the nanny’s job responsibilities during the trip, working hours, etc.
  • If you already have an in-home nanny, ask if she’ll accompany you on the trip, and set expectations. You must pay your nanny for her time and all expenses related to the trip, including travel and lodging costs, and the cost of meals while working. Remember, even though your family is on vacation, your nanny is not.
  • If possible, give your nanny her own room when she’s not on the clock. This can be a bedroom in a hotel suite or a separate hotel/motel room.
  • Decide how your nanny will fit into your travel plans. Each day on your trip say to her, “Here are our plans for the day, and we’d like you to do XYZ.” The more clearly you communicate your expectations the less likely you are to run into problems and misunderstandings.
  • Make sure your travel nanny has the appropriate identification for travel (e.g., passport for international travel or driver license or ID card).

Questions to ask travel nanny candidates

mother dressing her daughter in the morning in bedroom

  • What experience do you have as a travel nanny?
  • Do you have experience caring for babies/very young children?
  • Are you comfortable flying?
  • Do you have a passport?
  • Do you speak any other languages?
  • What are some ways you would entertain the kids on planes, in cars, on trains, and during rainy days?
  • What kinds of things do you like to do on vacation? (This can reveal whether the nanny might get bored/antsy on your trip.

Paying your travel nanny

In general, you must pay your travel nanny for any hours he or she is not free to come and go, including sleep time. So, if your expectation is for your nanny to be on-call 24 hours a day, you must pay her accordingly.

In some cases, you may not need to pay your nanny for sleep time, as long as she gets 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep in a row and receives a total of 8 hours rest time. Check with your state’s labor department for specific laws.

Under federal law you must pay your nanny overtime (time and a half) for any hours that exceed 40 hours per week. Live-in nannies are exempt from overtime pay, but you still must pay them at their regular rate for every hour they work.

happy family jumping together on the beach

You must pay for all expenses your nanny incurs in the performance of her duties. While traveling, this includes transportation, lodging, meals while on duty, and any other necessary travel-related expenses. Consider giving your nanny an allowance for incidentals.

You are not required to pay your nanny for time she is free to go off on her own (e.g., a free day or evening).

Get help finding a travel nanny

Staffing at Tiffanie’s has decades of experience connecting clients across the U.S. with experienced, reputable nannies. Whether you’re looking for a full-time, live-in nanny, or a travel nanny for an upcoming trip, we’ll help you find your perfect match. Contact us today to get started.