The Summer Nanny
Childcare Services
What Is a Summer Nanny?
A Summer Nanny is a childcare professional who supports families through the shift in rhythm that comes with school being out. While summer days are often more relaxed and activity driven, a strong summer nanny brings consistency, structure, and thoughtful planning to keep children engaged, safe, and thriving. Families looking to find a nanny for the season, often need flexible support that can adapt to travel, changing schedules, and increased demands. Many roles extend into summer travel nanny work, with care provided across multiple homes or destinations.
Some seasonal placements follow a set daytime summer nanny schedule, while others are structured as rotational roles, allowing caregivers to alternate coverage during busy travel periods. At its core, a Summer Nanny offers dependable, adaptable care during a dynamic time of year, balancing routine with the freedom and energy that define summer.
If a Summer Nanny feels like the right next step for your family, we invite you to share a few details so we can understand your needs and help you move toward the right hire.
Summer Nanny Salary:
$2,000+ Weekly
The Compensation Guide
Our framework for sustainable compensation.
What Are the Responsibilities of a Summer Nanny?
A summer nanny is equal parts caregiver, coordinator, and calm anchor during a season that tends to move quickly. While safety and supervision remain essential, summer care is often more hands on, more dynamic, and more logistical than during the school year.
Summer nannies keep days running smoothly by managing the details that make summer feel effortless; packing for camp or beach days, coordinating activities, keeping kids fueled and hydrated, and knowing when to lean into adventure versus when to slow things down. The best summer nannies bring structure without rigidity and fun without chaos.
Rather than following a fixed academic schedule, summer nannies curate days that balance movement, creativity, rest, and play. This might mean organizing outdoor activities, supporting camp schedules, planning age appropriate outings, or turning ordinary moments into engaging experiences. The goal is not productivity, but presence - and making the most of the season while keeping children regulated and cared for.
Summer Travel Nannies
Many summer placements involve travel or time split between multiple homes. In these roles, nanny duties often expand to include managing transitions, preparing for travel, maintaining routines across changing environments, and coordinating with other caregivers or staff.
A strong summer nanny brings consistency and adaptability, creating a sense of stability for children while supporting families through the pace and unpredictability of seasonal travel, often as part of temporary nanny services for travel.
In these situations, responsibilities may expand to include:
Managing transitions between homes, hotels, or destinations
Packing, organizing, and preparing for travel days
Maintaining familiar routines in new environments
Supporting children through time zone changes and schedule shifts
Coordinating with other caregivers or household staff when rotating or overlapping coverage is in place
Staying flexible, calm, and solutions oriented when plans change
A strong Summer Nanny brings a sense of ease to movement and change - helping children feel secure and parents feel confident, wherever the season leads. To learn more about working with a summer nanny, or to begin the placement process, reach out anytime.
Typical Summer Nanny Schedules
Summer nanny roles are highly adaptable and shaped around each family’s plans, travel, and pace of life. Common arrangements include:
Seasonal Full Time: A defined contract covering the summer months (often June through August)
Travel Based Support: Care provided across multiple locations or during extended travel
Rotational Summer Coverage: Alternating schedules between two nannies to support travel or long hours
Supplemental Care: Additional coverage alongside an existing nanny or caregiver during high demand periods
Caregiver Relief: Temporary coverage while a primary nanny is on vacation or leave
Because no two summers look the same, schedules are customized to reflect each family’s plans - whether that means time at a single home, extended stays in seasonal locations, or periods of travel throughout the summer.
Questions and Answers
Can a Summer Nanny travel internationally?
Yes, some summer nannies can travel and work internationally, provided they have a valid passport and are legally able. If international travel is an important requirement for your family, be sure to let us know in advance so the search can be tailored to candidates who are comfortable with and available for overseas travel.
If you know that you will be traveling with your Summer Nanny, you may appreciate the information available on the Travel Nanny page.
Do Summer Nannies live-in or live-out?
Most families hire summer nannies who commute daily, especially given the position is short term or seasonal in nature. In some cases, such as travel heavy summers or roles in resort areas, live-in arrangements may be offered. Live out is the standard setup however.
How long is a typical Summer Nanny contract?
A typical summer nanny contract usually runs for two to four months, most commonly covering late spring through early fall. The exact length depends on the family’s needs, such as school schedules, travel plans, or whether the role is intended as a short term position or a potential transition into a longer term arrangement.
How to Hire a Summer Nanny
At The Anti-Agency, the process begins with a brief conversation about your family’s needs. From there, we define the role and conduct a discreet, focused nanny search aligned with your values and goals. A selection of uniquely well suited candidates is presented shortly after engagement.
The Anti-Agency is your trusted summer nanny agency, serving families across major residential, metropolitan and resort destinations.
Southern California, Los Angeles, Malibu, Santa Barbara, Newport Beach, and surrounding communities
Northern California, San Francisco, Atherton, Palo Alto, Woodside, and the greater Bay Area
Florida, Miami, Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and neighboring coastal areas
New York City and New York State, the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, SoHo, TriBeCa, Chelsea, Brooklyn, the Hamptons, and the greater Tri-State area
Connecticut and nearby regions, Greenwich, Stamford, Westchester, and surrounding communities
New England, Boston and surrounding areas of Massachusetts, as well as Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard
The Midwest, Chicago and surrounding areas
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Maryland and Virginia
Texas, Houston, Austin, Dallas, and other major cities
The Pacific Northwest, Seattle and Portland
Resort destinations, Aspen, Colorado, and Jackson Hole, Wyoming
The Hawaiian Islands, Honolulu, Maui, and the North Shore
Nationwide, with select international placements