The first year with a new baby is full of firsts: the first smile, the first roll, the first night of (almost) uninterrupted sleep. Having a trusted infant nanny in the rhythm of your routine means those moments unfold with experienced support beside you.
An infant nanny is a professional caregiver who specializes in babies under one year old. They bring the routines, safety practices, and gentle expertise that the earliest stage of childcare requires. Here’s what infant nanny services include, what to look for, and how a thoughtful match can shape your family’s first year together.
What Is an Infant Nanny?
An infant nanny has specialized experience caring for babies, typically from a few weeks old through the first birthday. Some families work with a newborn care specialist in the very early weeks and transition to an infant nanny once routines are more established. Others bring an infant nanny in from the start.
Either way, an infant nanny can offer consistent, hands-on care during the season when your new baby’s needs are most specific and changing most quickly.
What Does an Infant Nanny Do?
Infant nanny services cover the full scope of your baby’s daily life at home. That can include:
- Feedings and bottle preparation, including handling expressed breast milk and preparing formula safely.
- Naps and sleep routines that follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ safe sleep guidelines.
- Engaged, age-appropriate play, from tummy time and sensory activities to gentle outdoor walks.
- Light, infant-related housekeeping, like bottle washing, laundering baby clothes, and keeping the nursery organized.
A great infant nanny becomes a steady presence in your home. They notice what changes from week to week, help to adjust routines as your baby grows, and communicate clearly with you about how the day (or night) went.
What to Look For in an Infant Nanny
When you’re trusting someone with your child, you want to know they have the right experience and qualifications behind them. A few things worth asking about before any placement:
- Specific infant experience. Caring for a six-month-old is different from caring for a six-year-old. Look for a nanny with hands-on experience with babies throughout their first year.
- Current CPR and first aid certification. Infant CPR is its own technique, and certifications expire. Make sure your nanny is prepared if an emergency arises.
- Familiarity with safe sleep practices. The AAP updates its safe sleep recommendations periodically. Your nanny should be familiar with the current guidance and committed to following it in your home.
- W-2 employment through an agency. When a nanny is hired as a W-2 employee through an agency, your family is protected by the agency’s insurance, payroll, and tax handling. Independent contractor arrangements put those responsibilities on you, which is the last thing you need when caring for a newborn.
- A personality fit with your family. Skill matters, but so does the feeling of trust when a caregiver walks into your home. Oliver’s Nannies’ proprietary nanny-matching process, Olico®, is designed to help families like yours find the right caregiver solution.
- Screened for working with newborns. Ensure your nanny has received the proper physicals and vaccinations required to work with newborns safely, such as the Tdap vaccine to protect against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough.
How an Infant Nanny Supports Parents Through the First Year
Many families hire an infant nanny to help bridge the gap when one or both parents return to work. Others want consistent caregiver support from the moment they bring their newborn home. Almost all parents find that having a professional in the home who knows infant care inside and out, from bottle warmers and nap routines to the steady stream of baby laundry, is a game-changer during that first year.
One of the greatest benefits is continuity. An infant nanny who joins your family in those early months often stays on as your child grows, becoming a familiar face who has watched your baby learn to crawl, walk, and talk, and is better able to support them as they grow.
Discover Infant Nanny Services with Oliver’s Nannies
Oliver’s Nannies is proud to be a care partner for families seeking in-home support during their baby’s first year. All of our caregivers have been thoroughly vetted through a multi-step screening process that includes background checks and reference verifications.
Every match is made through our Olico® matching system, a proprietary process that pairs nannies with families based on schedule, parenting approach, and the specific care your baby needs. If your needs shift, FlexCare offers occasional or short-term support through the same network of vetted caregivers.
The first year goes by fast! Having a reliable infant nanny by your side from the beginning means more time for the moments you’ll remember, and confidence that someone who genuinely loves what they do is right there with you.
Ready to explore infant nanny services for your family? Contact your nearest Oliver’s Nannies location to start the matching process today.