Private Nanny Placement
for Discerning Families
A Career Nanny Is Not a Babysitter
A career nanny is a professional who has chosen childcare as their life’s work. Not a gap year, not a stepping stone to something else — a vocation. They bring training, experience, and a genuine understanding of child development to the families they work with, and they build the kind of relationship with a child that leaves a mark on how that child grows up.
For families at the level MHM serves, a nanny is one of the most important members of the household. This is the person who knows the children’s schedules, their preferences, their fears, and the routines that make their days feel safe and consistent. They are present in the mornings and the evenings, through illness and school transitions, through the moments that matter most.
MHM places career nannies for private households in Chicago and South Florida, and with select clients nationwide. Live-in, live-out, and travel placements.
Nanny / House Manager, Live-Out, and Travel Nanny
The right arrangement depends on the structure of your household, your schedule, and the needs of your children. MHM places nannies across all three models, with a particular specialty in the nanny/house manager arrangement.
Commonly referred to as a family assistant, this is a placement MHM specializes in. It suits households where the children are in school during the day — while the children are out, the nanny handles laundry, errands, meal prep, and light household organization. When the children come home, the focus returns to care. One person, one salary, and a household that runs the way the family needs it to.
A live-out nanny works within a defined daily or weekly schedule and commutes to the household. This is the most common arrangement and suits families whose childcare needs are predictable and contained within standard working hours. A live-out nanny has a clear professional boundary between their working life and their personal life, which can make for a sustainable long-term placement.
A travel nanny accompanies the family on trips, whether for extended seasonal stays, international travel, or frequent short-term moves between properties. For families who travel regularly, a nanny who can move with the household ensures the children’s routine and emotional consistency is maintained regardless of where the family is. MHM places nannies who are experienced travelers, hold valid passports, and are comfortable with the demands of a mobile household.
A ROTA arrangement involves a team of two or more nannies working on a rotating schedule — typically one week on and one week off, or two weeks on and two weeks off — to provide continuous, consistent care. This model suits families with infants, multiples, or children who require around-the-clock supervision and support. ROTA nannies are among the most highly compensated professionals in private childcare, and live-in ROTA nannies require private staff accommodations with a private entrance. MHM places ROTA teams and can coordinate both positions as part of a single search.
Nanny Responsibilities
Scope varies by the age of the children, the structure of the household, and the family’s specific needs. Responsibilities typically include:
- Full daily care and supervision of children from infant through school age
- Morning and evening routines, including waking, dressing, meals, and bedtime
- School drop-off and collection, activity transportation, and scheduling
- Meal preparation and nutrition management for the children
- Planning and leading age-appropriate activities, play, and developmental engagement
- Homework support and light academic reinforcement
- Coordinating the children’s social calendar, playdates, and appointments
- Laundry and tidying of the children’s rooms and personal spaces
- Communicating with schools, pediatricians, and activity providers on the family’s behalf
- Managing medical needs, medications, and health routines
- Overnight care where required
- Travel with the family, maintaining the children’s routine away from home
- Supporting the household during family events, school holidays, and schedule changes
What MHM Looks For in a Career Nanny
The nannies MHM places are not people between things. They are professionals who have built a career in childcare because it is what they are genuinely good at and what they choose to do. That distinction matters enormously in a role where a child’s daily experience, emotional security, and early development are at stake.
MHM looks for nannies with documented experience in private household settings, professional references from previous families, a clean background, current first aid and CPR certification, and the kind of temperament and judgment that holds steady under pressure. A nanny who has worked in UHNW households understands discretion, adapts to the standards of the home, and does not need to be managed — they manage themselves.
Beyond credentials, MHM evaluates character. How a candidate talks about the children they have worked with. Whether their professional history shows genuine longevity with families rather than a pattern of short engagements. How they describe the difficult moments, the sick nights, the hard school mornings. The candidates who pass MHM’s process are the ones whose commitment to the child’s wellbeing is evident before they say a word about their qualifications.
MHM requires a minimum of 20 guaranteed hours per week for all placements and places on a permanent basis only.
Common Questions About Private Nanny Placement
If you don’t see what you’re looking for, the Discovery Call is the right place to start.