Holiday & Temporary Nanny Jobs: How to Land Christmas Work

Holiday and temporary nanny jobs are short bookings. A family needs extra hands for Christmas, cover while their regular nanny is away, or help for a few weeks after a new baby arrives. They suit nannies between permanent roles, students, and anyone who wants flexible, well-paid work in a busy season. If you're ready to look now, browse current temporary nanny jobs. Read on for when families book, the types of role, how pay works and how to get hired quickly.

Note that "holiday nanny" also means a nanny who works after school in term time and full days in the school holidays. Those are permanent roles, and you'll find them on our holiday nanny jobs page. This guide is about short-term cover.

What are holiday and temporary nanny jobs?

A temporary nanny covers a fixed period, anything from a few nights to a few months. Common bookings include:

• Christmas and New Year cover while the family's regular nanny takes leave
• Extra help for families hosting relatives or travelling over the holidays
• Night nanny cover for a new baby
• Fixed-term cover around a birth, an illness or a parent's busy work period
• Retainer or rota cover, where you fill in whenever the permanent team is off

The core job is the same as any nanny role: safe, consistent care that keeps the children's routines going. The difference is that you have to settle in fast.

When families book

Demand peaks around the school holidays:

• Christmas and New Year. Regular nannies take leave, and families travel or host. Many families book cover from late November.
• Ski season. Families heading to the mountains from December to April often want a nanny to travel with them.
• Half-terms and Easter. These bring shorter bursts of demand, often a week at a time.
• Around a birth. Post-birth and night cover is booked months ahead. Current listings include bookings starting in January and February 2027.

If you want Christmas work, get your profile ready now. The best bookings go early.

Live-in, travel and day-only roles

• Day-only (live-out). Set hours at the family home, for example a fixed-term role in Balham covering Tuesdays, 8am to 5pm, for 12 weeks.
• Nights. Night nannies care for a baby overnight. One current Blackheath role runs from 7 to 21 December, three to four nights a week, 9pm to 7am.
• Live-in. You stay with the family for the booking. This is common for maternity cover and over the holidays.
• Travel. You go with the family to a holiday home, a ski resort or abroad. Check who pays for travel and accommodation, and what your hours and days off will be.

Families who take a nanny on their travels may also look at seasonal roles with VIP clients, which covers the high-end side of holiday work.

How pay works

Temporary roles are usually paid by the hour, the day or the booking rather than as an annual salary. Always check whether a figure is gross (before tax) or net (after tax). Nannies, including temporary nannies, are almost always employees paid through PAYE. If you're unsure, use HMRC's Check Employment Status for Tax tool.

Here's what current listings on Jobs in Childcare show:

• A fixed-term nanny role in Balham pays £25 gross per hour, or £2,700 gross for the 12-week booking.
• A temporary night nanny role in Blackheath over December pays £22 to £24 gross per hour.
• A temporary nanny role caring for a baby in East Dulwich pays £22 gross per hour.
• Post-birth cover near Loxwood, West Sussex, pays £18 to £20+ gross per hour for 12 weeks.
• Live-in maternity nurse bookings start from £300 gross per day.

Rates go up with experience, newborn skills, nights, travel and short notice. For more temporary roles in the capital, see temporary nanny jobs in London.

Getting ready to start fast

Temporary bookings often start within days, so families choose the nanny who is ready to go:

• An enhanced DBS check, ideally on the Update Service so it can be checked instantly
• A current paediatric first aid certificate
• References from recent families who are happy to be contacted quickly
• Clear availability: the exact dates you can cover, and whether you can do nights, live-in or travel
• Right to work in the UK and, for travel roles, a valid passport
• A driving licence, which helps for roles outside central London

Turning a temporary role into a permanent one

Many permanent roles start as temporary cover. Families who've seen you settle in quickly are often keen to keep you. To give yourself the best chance:

• Keep the children's routines exactly as the family runs them
• Write short, clear handover notes each day
• Be reliable about time and communication
• Let the family know at the end of the booking if you're open to more work

Even when a booking doesn't become permanent, a strong reference from a temporary role helps your next application. If you'd like regular hours alongside temporary work, look at weekend nanny jobs in London.

FAQ

When should I apply for Christmas nanny jobs?

As early as you can. Families start booking holiday cover from late November, and the best roles go first.

How much do temporary nannies earn?

Current listings on Jobs in Childcare show £18 to £25 gross per hour for temporary nanny roles, with live-in maternity bookings from £300 gross per day.

Do I need a DBS check for a temporary nanny job?

Yes, almost always. Families expect an enhanced DBS check and paediatric first aid, even for short bookings.

Can a temporary nanny job become permanent?

Often, yes. Temporary cover is a common way for families and nannies to find the right long-term fit.

Where can I find holiday nanny jobs?

Browse temporary nanny jobs on Jobs in Childcare, and check back often over the holiday season.