One of the most important decisions you have to make if you want to hire a nanny for your family has to do with choosing between a live-in or live-out nanny. Knowing the difference between the two can help you choose which one is the best fit for you.
Difference between Live in Nanny vs. Live Out Nanny
Availability
A live-in nanny stays in your home 24/7, although she may choose to go somewhere else on her off days. More often, her working hours can be more sporadic than that of a live-out nanny because she lives in the same house as the kids.
Generally, live-in nannies only work for one family at a time. However, during their off days, they may choose to provide temporary services such as babysitting for other families for extra income.
On the other hand, live-out nannies, as the name suggests, don’t live with you. Instead, they provide services on a set schedule and number of hours.
A live-out nanny will come to your home on specific days and at the end of the day, go back to her own home. She can work with you full-time or part-time. Part-time nannies typically work with other families as well.
Compared with live-in nannies, live-out nannies work shorter days because they need to commute to and from your home.
Living Arrangements
A major difference between live-in and live-out nannies is their living arrangements.
A live-in nanny stays with your family in your home. As an employer, you need to provide her room and board on top of her salary. In exchange, your kids also get personal attention any time of the day.
Although live-in nannies live with you, you have to make special arrangements to maintain her privacy and your privacy.
Live-out nannies can also provide the same level of service as live-in nannies, but they don’t live with the family they are working with. They keep their privacy and you also get to keep your own. Outside of their working hours with you, they still maintain their own independence.
Moreover, one important element that you need to consider when hiring a live-in nanny is intimacy. A live-in nanny is a fixed element in your household and she can spend more time with your kids than you do. In some cases, the kids become much closer to their live-in nanny than their parents. Of course, this is not often the case if you properly explain to the kids the role and responsibilities of the nanny.
As for a live-out nanny, she can only provide an alternate intimacy to the kids, and that’s during the time you are out of the house for work.
Responsibilities
Both live-in nannies and live-out nannies are skilled, experienced and trained in taking care of kids. They can also provide the same level of care and service for the family. However, because of the major difference in the living arrangements, their responsibilities may also differ.
Live-in nannies generally can also handle house cleaning and other household chores such as laundry, grocery shopping, basic cooking, and running errands. More often, they can also drive your kids to and from school.
It’s important to discuss with your nanny the additional responsibilities before assuming that she can do it for you. You can also agree on the extra pay for the extra work.
For live-out nannies, aside from taking care of the kids, they can generally do light housework such as basic cleaning or cooking meals for the kids. Just like having a live-in nanny, you can also discuss with your live-out nanny the other responsibilities she can take care of.
Wages
For all nannies, the wage or pay rate greatly varies depending on their experience, services and qualifications.
If you hire a more experienced full-time nanny, you can expect to pay between 17000.00 THB and 20000.00 THB. At this pay range, you can hire a nanny with more than 2 years of experience, can speak English, and can drive your kids to school.
Advantages and Disadvantages Live in Nanny vs. Live Out Nanny
Given the information above, you can tell that there are advantages and disadvantages in hiring a live-in nanny over a live-out nanny. We have summarized them for you for easy reference.
Live-in Nanny: Advantages
- Peace of mind that someone will look after your kids even if you have unexpected situations at work.
- Flexibility in the work schedule of the nanny
- Since the nanny lives with you, she can help during family emergencies
- If you have to be on unplanned overtime, you don’t have to worry about the nanny going home with no one to take care of your kids
- The nanny can do other household chores
- The nanny can develop a closer bond with the whole family
Live-in Nanny: Disadvantages
- You need to have an extra room in your home for the nanny to maintain privacy. In Bangkok, if you are renting an apartment, an extra room means extra rental costs.
- Increased utility and grocery bills since you also have to provide for the nanny’s basic needs.
Live-out Nanny: Advantages
- You get to keep your privacy.
- There’s no need for an extra room in your home where the nanny could stay.
- Limits the depth of a relationship between your kids and the nanny (if this is something you want to happen).
Live-out Nanny: Disadvantages
- Lack of flexibility for unplanned changes in your schedule.
- Possible delays of the nanny due to weather conditions or traffic.
- The nanny may not be able to help with other housework.
Best Fit for Your Family
The best nanny arrangement for you is one that suits your needs and situation. For example, if one of the parents has a predictable schedule or is staying home, a live-out nanny may be the best option. However, if both of you have work commitments and need to travel or render overtime work from time to time, it’s a good idea to hire a live-in nanny.
If you can’t decide between a live-in nanny and a live-out nanny, you may also consider getting in touch with a nanny service provider such as Kiidu. At Kiidu, you can schedule a call or meeting with them to discuss the best fit for your needs.
