Full-Time Career Nanny for Infant & Toddler | $43–$48/hr

About the Family & Role

A thoughtful family relocating to San Mateo is looking for an experienced, long-term nanny to care for their 2.5-year-old daughter and 8-month-old son.

The family has had a wonderful long-term relationship with their current nanny and is beginning this search only because they are relocating to California. They deeply value the nanny-parent partnership and hope to build another trusted, long-term relationship with a professional caregiver.

The parents want their nanny to have real ownership of the children's day. They do not want to micromanage activities, outings, transitions, or established routines. At the same time, they value close collaboration around larger decisions involving sleep, feeding, potty training, behavior, development, and changing needs.

Their parenting approach emphasizes independence, observation, outdoor time, emotional connection, co-regulation, calm boundaries, and natural or logical consequences.

This is a childcare-focused position, not a general household manager role.

Schedule

• Monday–Wednesday: 8:15 AM–5:15 PM
• Thursday–Friday: 10:00 AM–4:30 PM
• 40 guaranteed hours per week
• Occasional additional coverage may be requested with advance notice

What Your Days Will Look Like

You will independently plan and manage the children's daily rhythm while balancing the needs of an increasingly active infant and toddler.

Days may include neighborhood walks, parks, playgrounds, classes, libraries, outdoor meals, imaginative play, reading, sensory activities, practical-life activities, and plenty of opportunities for independent exploration.

The family aims for approximately 2–3 hours of outdoor time each day when schedules and weather allow.

You will manage bottles, meals, diapers, naps, transitions, outings, and age-appropriate developmental activities while confidently prioritizing when both children need you at the same time.

For the infant, this includes supporting mobility, communication, feeding, sensory exploration, and emerging developmental milestones.

For the toddler, this includes supporting language, independence, imaginative play, emotional regulation, practical-life skills, and upcoming developmental transitions.

The family also values a nanny who notices meaningful patterns in the children's sleep, eating, behavior, development, or preferences and proactively shares those observations with the parents.

Independence & Emotional Development

The family wants their children to have opportunities to try, explore, problem-solve, and participate rather than having an adult automatically step in.

This might look like allowing a child time to work through a safe physical challenge, involving the toddler in preparing a snack or cleaning up, or observing independent play before deciding whether adult involvement is needed.

They are equally thoughtful about emotional development.

During tantrums or difficult transitions, the nanny should be comfortable staying calm and emotionally available, helping the child co-regulate without requiring them to immediately stop crying or explain themselves.

At the same time, this is not a permissive household. The family values clear expectations and consistent follow-through. A child can be upset about a boundary while the boundary still remains.

When consequences are appropriate, the family prefers natural or logical consequences connected to the behavior, rather than unrelated punishment, threats, guilt, or shame.

Child-Related Responsibilities

This position is focused on the children and their environment. Responsibilities include:

• Children's laundry and folding.
• Bottle washing and sterilization.
• Formula preparation as needed.
• Assembling meals and snacks from food prepared or stocked by the parents.
• Cleaning up after children's meals and activities.
• Toy organization and rotation.
• Resetting play spaces.
• Involving the toddler in age-appropriate cleanup and practical-life tasks.

The parents handle the children's primary cooking.

The home is screen-free for the children, and phone use while caring for them should be limited to parent communication, navigation, or emergencies.

What We're Looking For

The strongest candidate will be warm, observant, dependable, proactive, and confident caring for two young children.

They will have strong professional experience with infants and toddlers, with experience independently caring for both simultaneously strongly preferred. Infant experience is highly preferred, but the family is also open to an excellent toddler-focused candidate who demonstrates strong judgment, developmental awareness, and the ability to learn quickly.

The right nanny will be able to:

• Confidently manage the competing needs of an infant and toddler.
• Encourage independence without becoming overly hands-off.
• Observe before automatically intervening.
• Remain calm and emotionally present during tantrums and dysregulation.
• Hold clear boundaries even when a child is unhappy with them.
• Use natural and logical consequences rather than unrelated punishment.
• Plan engaging days without needing parents to create the schedule.
• Involve children in age-appropriate practical-life activities.
• Notice patterns and developmental changes and communicate them thoughtfully.
• Proactively seek alignment with parents when a larger parenting or developmental question arises.
• Receive feedback well and consistently implement an agreed-upon approach.
• Be punctual, organized, reliable, and able to think ahead.
• Build a warm, secure relationship without overwhelming a child who may take time to warm up.

Montessori experience is a plus, but not required. The family cares more about the underlying principles of independence, observation, practical-life participation, and respect for the child than a specific credential.

Requirements

• Strong professional childcare experience.
• Significant toddler experience.
• Infant experience highly preferred.
• Experience independently managing an infant and toddler together strongly preferred.
• Infant/Child CPR and First Aid certification, or willingness to obtain current certification before starting.
• Valid driver's license.
• Safe, reliable vehicle and clean driving record.
• Comfortable driving both children to activities and outings.
• Strong English communication skills.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Comfortable with W-2 employment.
• Non-smoker.
• Comfortable maintaining required vaccinations while caring for an infant.
• Able to commit for at least one year, with preference for someone seeking a long-term position.
• Comfortable completing background and motor vehicle checks.

Compensation & Benefits

$43–$48/hour depending on experience.

At 40 guaranteed hours per week, this represents approximately $89,440–$99,840 in guaranteed annual base pay.

Benefits

• 40 guaranteed hours per week.
• W-2 employment.
• 2 weeks paid vacation.
• 11 paid holidays.
• Paid sick time.
• Retirement benefits.
• Mileage reimbursement for work-related driving.

Why This Role Stands Out

This is a family that already understands what a successful nanny relationship looks like.

Their current nanny has been an important and trusted part of their children's lives, and they are looking for another professional caregiver whose expertise they can respect and rely on.

The nanny will have meaningful autonomy over the children's day, engaged parents who value thoughtful observations and communication, guaranteed full-time hours, and a position that stays focused on childcare rather than expanding into unrelated household responsibilities.

If you love the infant and toddler years, enjoy helping children become increasingly capable and independent, and believe that warmth, co-regulation, and firm boundaries can coexist, we would love to hear from you.