When schools close, children’s days become longer, yet working parents’ workloads often stay much the same. A few weeks at a holiday home, a busy period at work in the city, or a holiday broken up by travel can all prompt you to rethink your childcare arrangements. Looking for a summer nanny is not simply a matter of deciding who will spend time with your child. Working hours, water safety, accommodation, rest periods and your child’s settling-in process all need to be planned together. To get off to a good start, clarify what you need and consider your options for childcare support early on.
When should you start looking for a summer nanny?
Starting a few weeks before schools close gives you time to interview candidates and allows your child a short getting-to-know-you period. If your calendar is not yet settled, separate confirmed dates from those that may change. This allows you to give candidates a realistic picture of your needs and reduces the uncertainty that comes with last-minute decisions.
Before you begin interviews, write down the following:
- Dates and hours: Specify which days and hours you will need childcare, and roughly how long the arrangement will last.
- Your child’s needs: Explain their age, school routine, sleeping and playing habits, and any particular routines they have.
- Scope of duties: Set clear boundaries for childcare, your child’s meals, accompanying them to activities and any responsibilities outside school.
- Location and practical arrangements: Explain any periods to be spent at your city home, holiday home or moving between two addresses, as well as your transport and accommodation expectations.
- Budget and working pattern: Discuss pay, days off and possible changes to working hours from the outset.
If you are weighing up summer school, nursery, help from relatives and a nanny, do not assume there is one right answer. Your child’s age, your working pattern and your expectations for socialising will shape the decision. As you consider this distinction, a guide to choosing between nursery and a nanny may offer a different perspective.
Which criteria matter when choosing a seasonal nanny?
Seasonal work may be shorter, but it requires no less care. A candidate’s availability on the right dates is not enough; how they communicate with your child and respond to changing summer conditions also matters.
- Experience with a similar age group: Babies, preschool children and school-age children have different needs. Compare the candidate’s experience with your child’s age.
- Suitability for the season: If the role involves staying at a holiday home, moving between two addresses or working changing hours, ask whether they are genuinely comfortable with these arrangements.
- Approach to safety: Listen to their answers about supervision near water, rules for going out and who should be contacted in an emergency.
- Communication style: Discuss how often they will update you during the day, how they will maintain boundaries and how they will handle disagreements.
- Verifiable background: Confirm their identity and reference details, and speak to the referees they have authorised you to contact about their previous working arrangements and duties.
Use situational questions alongside general ones during the interview. For example, ask how they would respond if your child did not want to leave the poolside or when their screen time came to an end. When preparing your interview list for a younger child, the criteria for choosing a nanny for babies and young children may remind you of additional questions to ask.
Daily, live-in or short-term childcare: which suits your family?
A daily arrangement can be more predictable, as your child stays in their own home and you take over their care at the end of the day. However, if your commute is long, allow for travelling time as well as your working hours. For early starts or changing shifts, also consider whether the candidate’s transport arrangements are workable.
Live-in arrangements can seem practical during stays at a holiday home, on long working days or when you are changing location. However, living in does not mean working without breaks. Night-time responsibilities, weekly time off, private space, meals and rest hours must all be discussed openly. When comparing live-in and daily nanny options, also be open about the practical conditions in your home.
For a short-term requirement lasting only a few weeks, start and end dates are particularly important. Whichever option you choose, pay, payment dates, the scope of duties, time off and terms for ending the arrangement early can be set out clearly in writing. Rather than making firm assumptions about matters such as insurance or work permits, confirm the current requirements with the relevant authority or a specialist.
How should you structure your child’s summer routine and the nanny’s daily schedule?
A summer schedule is not about keeping your child constantly entertained. Free play, rest and age-appropriate responsibilities can all be part of the day. Even so, a completely unplanned day can make children restless, particularly if they are used to a school routine. A simple structure, with times adapted to your child’s age, can help:
- Morning: Breakfast, getting ready for the day and a short outdoor activity if the weather is suitable.
- Middle of the day: Quiet play at home, reading, creative activities, lunch and rest.
- Afternoon: Physical activity in a shady spot, a trip to the park or a safe activity agreed in advance.
- Evening: Returning home, tidying away toys and following a calm routine until a parent takes over.
Talk to the nanny in advance about household rules such as screen time, limits on going out, meetings with friends and sharing photographs. A brief note at the end of the day makes it easier to keep track of meals, sleep, activities and anything significant that may have happened. However, rather than putting pressure on the nanny to provide constant reports, agree a communication frequency that works for both of you.
Sea, pool and hot-weather safety
The basic rule by the sea and around swimming pools is that a child must be watched continuously by an adult whose attention is not distracted. While the nanny is on duty, using a phone, having long conversations or doing other tasks must not take priority over supervision. If there is more than one child, a separate supervision plan should be made, taking account of their ages, swimming abilities and the conditions at the location.
Armbands, swim rings and life jackets are no substitute for adult supervision. Nor is a child’s ability to swim, on its own, a guarantee of safety. Clarify which places the nanny may take your child to, whether your child is allowed into the water, and whether the nanny may take them to a different pool or beach without telling you. Teaching swimming is a separate area of expertise; do not automatically expect a nanny to provide this instruction.
Plan most outdoor activities for early morning or late afternoon, according to the weather. Have shaded and indoor options ready for the most oppressive part of the day. Regular water breaks, suitable clothing and rest periods can be built into the routine. A child should never be left alone in a vehicle, even for a very short time.
For sun protection products, read the product information to choose an option suited to your child’s age and skin characteristics, and consult your doctor if necessary. Keep parents’ telephone numbers, the full address, contact details for relatives who can be reached and the steps to follow in an emergency in a visible place at home. If there is a worrying change in your child’s condition, the nanny should inform you without delay and leave any assessment of their health or decisions about medication to the appropriate professional.
How do needs differ between a holiday home and a city home?
In a city home, the routine is generally built around commuting times and transport to parks and activities. It becomes important for the nanny to know the shuttle, public transport or walking route. Rules for your apartment building or residential complex, whether your child may go outside alone, and visits involving neighbours or friends are also part of the household arrangements.
At a holiday home, the address may change, there may be more guests and the day may appear more flexible. Even so, the nanny’s role should not be left vague. Caring for guests’ children, helping with large family meals or doing tasks connected with other visitors should not automatically be added to their duties. New risk areas, such as a pool, the sea, roads within the complex and the garden, should be reviewed together.
If you will be moving between two addresses, plan the transport of belongings, your child’s sleep routine and the nanny’s accommodation in advance. If the nanny is living in, a rest area that offers privacy is important. Childcare should also not be confused with general housework; if there is an additional expectation, its scope and duration should be discussed separately.
Frequently asked questions
Can you arrange a nanny for a holiday lasting only a few weeks?
This kind of arrangement can be discussed with candidates who are willing to work short-term or seasonally. Share your start and end dates, working days and any possible changes to your holiday plans at the first interview. A clear calendar, rather than an open-ended period, helps both sides form realistic expectations.
Is a nanny’s ability to swim enough to keep children safe by the sea and in pools?
No. Knowing how to swim is not, on its own, a sufficient safety measure. Continuous adult supervision, the conditions at the location, your child’s age and boundaries agreed in advance all need to be considered together. You should also discuss when the nanny would seek help in the water and whom they would notify.
Does a live-in nanny have to look after my child at night as well?
Living in does not mean being on duty throughout the night. If there are night wakings, expectations of being on call or room-sharing, these must be discussed separately and explicitly. An arrangement that begins without clear working and rest hours can quickly become exhausting for both sides.
Can visiting children be left with the same nanny too?
This decision should be based on the number and ages of the children, the activity and the safety of the surroundings. Extra care is needed, particularly for plans involving groups of children near water. Rather than expanding the nanny’s agreed duties without warning, clarify in advance who will take responsibility for any visiting children.
What should you do if your child struggles to settle with a new nanny?
Begin by allowing a short, calm settling-in period. If possible, stay nearby during the first few days, then gradually extend the time you spend apart. Do not suppress your child’s reaction through punishment or pressure; review the routines and communication instead. If your child is not settling, you may need to speak openly with the nanny and consider a different option.
Clarify your needs before summer begins
Every family’s summer plans are different; what matters is bringing your child’s routine and the adults’ working conditions into the same framework. At Güvenilir Danışmanlık, we listen to enquiries from every province in Türkiye and support families as they meet candidates suited to their needs and clarify the process. If you wish, you can complete the free consultation form or call us on to tell us what you need.
