What families expect from a nanny in Paris — and how to meet every expectation

Why understanding family expectations makes you a better nanny

Getting a nanny position in Paris is one thing. Keeping it — and thriving in it — is another. Families in France, particularly in Paris, are not simply hiring someone to supervise their children. They are inviting a person into their home, their routines, and their children’s daily emotional life. Understanding exactly what families expect from a nanny before you start is what separates candidates who last one month from those who build lasting relationships over years.

 Reliability: the non-negotiable foundation

If there is one quality that French families cite above all others, it is reliability. Being punctual is not a courtesy — it is a professional baseline. Parents have meetings, commutes, and schedules that depend entirely on you being where you said you would be, when you said you would be there.

Reliability as a nanny means:

• Arriving on time, every time — not approximately on time
• Giving advance notice if anything changes, as early as possible
• Honouring your commitments even when it is inconvenient
• Being consistent in your approach with the children day after day

A single unexplained late arrival can shake a family’s confidence in ways that take weeks to rebuild. Conversely, consistent punctuality over time becomes one of your strongest professional assets.

 Communication: what families actually want to hear

One of the most underestimated nanny responsibilities is keeping parents genuinely informed. Families do not want a one-line « everything was fine » at the end of the day. They want to feel connected to their child’s afternoon even when they were not there.

Good daily communication includes:

• A brief but specific account of what you did together
• How homework went, including any difficulties
• The child’s mood, energy level, and any notable moments
• Anything unusual — a fall, a conflict, an emotional reaction — communicated promptly and calmly

Many experienced nannies use a short voice note or a few lines of text to share the day’s highlights. This takes less than three minutes and makes an enormous difference to how families experience the relationship.

 A genuine interest in children — not just competence

Technical skills matter, but attitude matters more. Children are extraordinarily perceptive. They know within minutes whether an adult is genuinely present or simply going through the motions. Families in Paris know this too, and they watch carefully during the first weeks.

What childcare families in Paris look for beyond skills:

• Someone who gets down to the child’s level, literally and emotionally
• A nanny who initiates activities rather than waiting to be told
• An adult who responds to a child’s emotions with warmth and patience
• Someone who can be playful and structured at the same time

You do not need to be a trained educator. You do need to genuinely enjoy being with children — and that enjoyment needs to show.

 English language skills: a significant advantage in Paris

For international and bilingual families — a large and growing segment of the Paris market — an English-speaking nanny is not a nice-to-have. It is specifically what they are looking for. Parents who want their children to develop natural English fluency need someone who can integrate the language into daily life: homework help, games, stories, conversations, and creative activities, all in English.

Even for French families without an international profile, English-speaking nannies are increasingly sought after as parents invest in early language exposure for their children. If English is your mother tongue or your strongest language, this is one of your most marketable qualities — use it.

 Professionalism within the home environment

Working in someone’s home requires a particular kind of professional maturity. You are not in an office with clear hierarchies and HR processes. You are in a private space, with a family’s children, often with minimal supervision. The expectations around professionalism are therefore both high and implicit.

Professionalism as a nanny in France means:

• Respecting the family’s rules without needing to be reminded
• Adapting to their parenting style even if it differs from your own instincts
• Maintaining appropriate boundaries with both parents and children
• Treating confidential family information with discretion
• Raising concerns or disagreements constructively, not defensively

Families rarely articulate these expectations explicitly during the interview — but they notice immediately when they are not met.

Proactivity: the quality that makes nannies truly stand out

Most nanny job descriptions list the basics: pick-up, homework, snack, activities. The nannies who build the strongest reputations are those who go slightly beyond the brief — not by doing more hours, but by bringing initiative to the role.

Proactive nannies:

• Suggest new activities or outings that match the child’s interests
• Spot when a child is struggling before a parent has to point it out
• Prepare for the afternoon rather than improvising every day
• Communicate a problem early rather than waiting for it to escalate

This quality is difficult to demonstrate on a CV. It shows in the first few weeks on the job — and families remember it.

Join Be My Nounou: long-term nanny positions in Paris

At Be My Nounou, we match English-speaking nannies with carefully selected Parisian families who are looking for exactly the qualities described above — reliability, genuine care, strong communication, and professionalism. Our positions are long-term and structured, designed to give both the family and the nanny the stability they need to build something meaningful.

If you recognise yourself in this article and you are based in Paris — or planning to move here — we would love to hear from you.

Apply directly here or send your CV to jobs@bemynounou.com. We review every application personally and will be in touch if your profile is the right fit.