Nannies tend to become a part of your family, but it’s a personal choice as to whether or not they will actually sleep under the same roof as you. Many nannies appreciate the live-in option because it offers job security and the ability to focus on their work. Live-out nannies are able to maintain their own lives and identities and not become completely ingrained in your family. There are advantages to both arrangements depending on what your situation is.
Live-In
The common misconception about live-in nannies is that they are available to work around-the-clock non-stop. If this were the case, it would be extremely unethical. Nannies are employees like everyone else, and even if they live in your home, they are entitled to their own personal space and free time.
With that said, most live-in nannies have flexible work schedules, and their free time can be worked around your needs. Nannies that live outside of the home come and go on a set schedule and work within a specific timeframe. This is fine for some people, but if you have a newborn baby for instance, you may need your nanny to be responsible for nightly feedings. You may be someone that travels a lot for work and needs someone to be in your home overnight while the kids are asleep. If you have an inconsistent schedule and need your nanny to be flexible and work nights and holidays, then live-in is probably the way to go.
The possible disadvantage of having a nanny live in your home is that you will suddenly have another adult living with you and you will lose a certain degree of privacy. The importance of the privacy factor varies with each person, but if you do find that you long for privacy, you can always create a nanny living quarters that is separated from the rest of the home. Many live-in nannies have their own bathrooms and kitchens.
Live-Out
If you operate on a more set schedule and can survive perfectly well between the nanny’s visits, then live-out is probably the best option for you. The advantage to having your nanny live outside of your home is that you can maintain your family privacy and have alone time. Not everyone wants to adopt a new adult family member into their home.
Maintaining personal space will prevent any boundaries from blurring. Sometimes issues arise when the children seem to be favoring the nanny over their parents, but creating your own separate time with them can prevent this from happening. You can still be the matriarch of your home most of the time, while still experiencing the benefits of a ton of help.
If your nanny lives outside of your home, you will not run the risk of abusing the relationship or putting too much work on her. She will have a more clear idea of exactly what her responsibilities are and how much time she has to complete them.
The possible downside to live-out nannies is that you run the risk of occasionally having them arrive late to work due to car trouble or any number of possible set-backs. Nannies that don’t reside with their employers tend to have busy lives of their own and possibly their own children to take care of, which can result in needing more days off work than a live-in nanny would need.
When deciding which type of nanny you should employ, take a look at your own lifestyle to determine which nanny would better suit your needs. How much will you be depending on her and can you survive a day or two in her absence? Try to anticipate how the family dynamics may change with the addition of either type of nanny and the decision should be easy to make.