Professional Nanny, Postpartum Doula, Mother’s Helper…What is the Difference?

All parents need help! There is a saying that it takes a village to raise a child. That saying exists for a reason. Being a parent has many duties and can be mentally, physically, and spiritually exhausting. If parents have others that can assist them along the way, parenting is a little less chaotic. Parents tend to put their children first and their personal needs last. Regardless of the title of the nanny, they are there to assist in helping the family run a little smoother and get a little more accomplished. A nanny can provide assurance while you are at work and ensure that you don’t forget about your personal needs.

A nanny can also allow the parents to go to work with peace of mind knowing that the children are at home in the hands of a professional.

Nannies have played a valuable role in the household as far back as 800 BC. Many Greek stories involve wet nurses. It was only affluent homes that employed nannies. It was not until the 1700s that nannies separated from nursemaids. The nannies were there to look after children generation after generation. They would often assist the maid with general housekeeping and tutor the children. The first professional nanny agency was established during the Victorian era.

Throughout the centuries nannies have been called many things and held many duties. The nannies were separated by title and job description century after century. Certain titles required a certain amount of education. In the Greek and Victorian eras, most nannies were children themselves. Now in the 21st century, older children were responsible for younger children for a short period. Professional nanny services now offer many different types of care. For instance, there is the professional nanny, postpartum doula, and mother’s helper. So what is the difference?

Professional Nanny

A professional nanny provides childcare services for the family. Professional nannies often work with children of all ages. A professional nanny offers convenient, quality care to meet each child’s physical, emotional, social, and intellectual needs, either in-home or out of the home.

Responsibilities

• Implement daily routines
• Homework help
• Baths
• Snack and meal preparation
• Provide entertaining, mind-activating, age-appropriate activities for children
• Light housekeeping duties, such as cleaning play areas
• Household management
• Family assistant duties
• Driving children to appointments and activities

Education

Some agencies may require an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree. Some do not require a degree but prefer they have around 20-30 hours of early childhood education. Early Childhood Education provides skills specific to developing and supervising young children. They will learn about child development, relationships, behavior, and diversity. They will also learn how to create a curriculum and give children positive guidance. Gain skills in observation and assessment, health, safety, and nutrition.

Most agencies require the nanny to have current first aid and CPR certification. If driving is a requirement of the job, then they will be required to have a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record. 

In addition to educational requirements, many of the respected nanny agencies throughout the nation run background checks and motor vehicle record checks on potential nanny candidates just to rule out any risks.

Salary

The average pay for a professional nanny in the United States can vary depending on many variables such as experience and location.  The amount a professional nanny makes truly depends on:

• How many children they will care for
• How much experience they have
• Have many hours the nanny works
• Whether they live in or live-out
• Their education level
• What city do you provide services in:
  • In a big city, the pay rate will be higher. In a smaller city, the pay rate will be less.
• Overall duties: 
  • is it strictly childcare-related duties and chores or are household management and family assistant duties included?

Postpartum Doula

A postpartum doula is a trained professional who offers guided support during the postpartum care of the newborn. They will help transition you into motherhood. The doula is there to give the family as much information and support as possible. A doula can act as a liaison between you and your medical team if needed. A postpartum doula will come to your home and work with you in your home. Postpartum doulas give families to support on:

• Infant feeding and hygiene
• Mommy hygiene and health
• Emotional recovery support 
• Physical recovery support
• Assist in the bonding process
• Guide in infant soothing
• Help introduce an older child to the new baby
• May help care for the older child
• Offer light housework help or meal prep
• Offer mental health resources
• Provide information on community resources

Education

Unlike a doctor or nurse, a doula does not provide medical care. Because a doula is for support, there is no educational degree required. There is also no state licensing required. It is suggested, however, that they attend certified training. Certification classes teach postpartum lactation, nutrition, exercise, infant health issues, and physical and mental postpartum changes.

By attending certification classes you will get to work hands-on in newborn care, caring for multiple babies and babies with special health needs, breastfeeding support, and first aid measures. To satisfy certification requirements you will likely have to work with three families for the experience. Most postpartum doula certificates are valid for three years.

Salary

Postpartum doulas average between $25-65 per hour. How much you make as a postpartum doula depends on:

• What city do you provide services in
  • In a big city, the pay rate will be higher. In a smaller city, the pay rate will be less.
• Amount of training and experience
• The number of hours worked
• Amount of children caring for
• The clientele
  • High-class clients will pay more versus low-class clients who cannot afford to pay as much.
• How long the family retains services

Mother’s Helper

A mother’s helper is an individual that assists the family that needs a little extra care and support while the parent is home. Some people do not realize the amount of work it takes to care for children at home, the household, and other needs that arise, such as appointments. Parents can attest that sometimes some things just do not get done because there is not enough time. This is where a mother’s helper comes in handy. They can help you save time and get much more accomplished. Duties could include:

• Giving the parent a time-out to take a nap or catch a little me time
• Helping with some household cleaning such as doing dishes, sweeping or mopping, laundry
• Help feed the children
• Help prepare the meals
• Entertain the children with age-appropriate activities
• Help with homework
• Help with the hygiene of the children
• If licensed and able, run errands for the family such as grocery shopping
• Help maintain a safe space for the children to play in
• Take the children to the park or for a walk
• Assist mom in administrative tasks
• Be a positive and safe role model for the children

Education

There are no educational requirements to be a mother’s helper. This is a great position for a young adult looking to earn money or gain some experience. It is also a great opportunity for someone working on a degree to gain working experience. There is no formal training required, but it is suggested to have first aid and CPR certification. If you are old enough and have a valid driver’s license with a clean driving background, this would be beneficial. 

The American Red Cross even offers a babysitting course online. This class will teach them how to care for infants and children, what to do in an emergency, how to find age-appropriate activities, how to stay safe, and how to respond to certain behavior. The most important qualification for this job is to have a passion for children and a desire to help others.

Salary

A mother’s helper’s salary can vary depending on where they are located and how much experience they have, just like the other jobs, the amount earned depends on:

• What city you will provide services in
  • If you provide services in a big city, the pay will be higher. If you provide services in a smaller city, the pay will be less.
• Amount of hours worked
• Amount of children caring for
• Level of experience
• If they can drive or not
• Sometimes, when they help
  • Earn more on weekends or holidays

What is the Difference?

There are not a lot of differences between the three job titles. There is a significant difference in the amount of salary and job duties. The amount of salary given is based on a lot of the same circumstances. As far as education, most professional nanny agencies do not require a degree, but CPR and first-aid certification is a plus, and a driver’s license is helpful. It is also suggested that each individual have a certain level of understanding of how to care for infants and children.

The major difference between a professional nanny, postpartum doula, and mother’s helper is the number of duties the individual takes on. All three are meant to be there as support. A professional nanny is there to support the child in their daily needs. A postpartum doula is there as support for the family after the birth of a child. Their services are typically limited and short-term. A nanny can often get confused with a mother’s helper but the difference is the nanny is there for the day and highly involved in the child’sw daily routines. A mother’s helper is typically only there for a short period of the day.