Maternity Nanny Jobs | Newborn & Baby Nanny Positions UK & Abroad

Maternity Nanny Jobs

A maternity nanny is a specialist childcare professional who provides dedicated support for families during the newborn and early baby stage — typically from birth up to around 12 months. Distinct from a maternity nurse, who focuses primarily on the newborn period and works intensively for a short placement, a maternity nanny takes on a longer-term role that combines newborn care with the broader responsibilities of a professional nanny. For families navigating the transition from a maternity nurse to a full-time nanny, a maternity nanny offers continuity, expertise and invaluable experience with young babies.

What Is the Difference Between a Maternity Nanny and a Maternity Nurse?

This is one of the most common questions in the private childcare sector, and it is worth understanding the distinction clearly before applying for roles:

• Maternity nurse — typically works on a short, intensive placement of 4–12 weeks from birth; available around the clock six days per week; focused entirely on the newborn; works alongside the parents to establish feeding and sleep routines
• Maternity nanny — takes on a longer-term position, often from a few months old through to 12 months or beyond; combines newborn and baby care with the broader duties of a nanny including play, development, weaning and daily routines; typically works standard nanny hours rather than 24-hour cover

Some families use a maternity nurse for the first 6–8 weeks and then transition to a maternity nanny, ensuring the baby benefits from specialist care at every stage. Others hire a maternity nanny from birth if they want a longer-term arrangement from the outset.

What Does a Maternity Nanny Do?

The day-to-day responsibilities of a maternity nanny typically include:

• Full care of the baby during working hours, including feeding (breast and bottle support), winding, bathing and settling
• Establishing and maintaining age-appropriate sleep and feeding routines
• Supporting the mother with breastfeeding if required
• Developmental play and stimulation appropriate to the baby's age and stage
• Weaning support and introduction of solid foods from around six months
• Overnight care when required, particularly in the early months
• Liaising with parents on the baby's progress and any concerns
• Light nursery duties — washing and sterilising bottles, laundering baby clothes, keeping the nursery tidy

Maternity Nanny Salaries

Maternity nannies with specialist newborn experience and strong qualifications can command rates at the higher end of the nanny pay scale, reflecting the level of skill and responsibility involved in caring for very young babies.

Qualifications for Maternity Nanny Jobs

Families recruiting a maternity nanny are placing enormous trust in someone to care for their newborn or young baby. The expectations are correspondingly high. Most vacancies will require:

• A recognised childcare qualification (NNEB, CACHE Level 3, Norland, BTEC or equivalent)
• Demonstrable experience caring for newborns and young babies, ideally in previous nanny or maternity nurse roles
• Experience supporting breastfeeding mothers
• Knowledge of safe sleep guidelines (SIDS awareness, FSID recommendations)
• An enhanced DBS check
• A current paediatric first aid certificate
• Excellent, verifiable references from previous families — ideally with newborns

Additional qualifications in baby massage, sleep training or lactation support are increasingly valued and can significantly strengthen your application.

Browse Maternity Nanny Jobs

Current maternity nanny vacancies are listed below. These specialist roles are filled quickly — register for daily job alerts to be notified as soon as a new position is posted.