A nanny is a person who looks after the child or children of one family in their -- the child's -- home.

Modern nannies may live in or out, like other domestic workers, depending on their circumstances and those of their employers. The traditional nanny was a servant in a large household and reported directly to the lady of the house. A governess, in contrast to a nanny, concentrated on teaching and training children.

Today, although many families employ or use professional child care, full-time nannies in the classic sense can only be afforded by upper-middle to upper class families. Uniform (normally a dress or skirt) may still be worn, but is becoming less common today. Perks of the job may include a nanny flat and a car. Some nannies are highly trained, e.g. at Norland College, but there is no restriction on the use of the word, so many have no training at all.


Tasks
A nanny may perform tasks such as:

Providing childcare during the hours agreed upon with the employing family