Live-in nanny: everything you need to know before hiring

A live-in nanny is a childcare solution particularly popular with families whose lifestyle requires a flexible, available, and integrated professional presence. However, welcoming a nanny into your home is also a decision that deserves careful consideration. Space, contract, salary, living together, professional boundaries…

Here is the complete guide to approaching this choice with clarity.

What exactly is a live-in nanny?

A live-in nanny is a nanny who resides in the employing family's home. Unlike a live-out nanny , who returns home each evening, a live-in nanny is present on-site, allowing her to be more available, particularly for early mornings, late evenings, or unforeseen situations.

She has her own private space, bedroom, ideally with an adjoining bathroom, and is considered a member of the household, without being available 24/7. Her working hours, days off and obligations are defined contractually, just like for any other employee.

To discover the different full-time nanny packages offered by Magic Nannies, consult our full-time bilingual nanny page.

Which type of family is the live-in nanny best suited for?

Families with atypical or extended work schedules

When both parents start early in the morning or return late at night, a live-in nanny avoids transportation problems and ensures continuity of presence for the children, without depending on travel constraints.

Families who travel frequently

The live-in nanny can accompany the family on business trips or holidays; this is one of the characteristics that brings her closer to the travel nanny profile.

Her intimate knowledge of the family's and children's habits makes her a reassuring presence during changes in environment.

Families residing outside major cities

In suburban detached houses, properties on the French Riviera, in the Paris region or internationally, the available space allows a nanny to be accommodated in comfortable conditions, which facilitates cohabitation and enhances the quality of the placement.

Families with several young children

When the childcare burden is significant, involving several children, including infants, having a nanny present on site provides additional security, especially for difficult nights or busy mornings.

What housing conditions should be expected?

This is the first point to assess before considering a live-in nanny. Cohabitation only works well if everyone has their own respected personal space.

The minimum recommended space:

• A private, lockable bedroom , furnished (bed, storage, desk)

• Ideally, a private bathroom , or failing that, a shared bathroom with the children, but separate from the parents' bathroom.

• Clearly defined access to the kitchen and common areas

What doesn't work:

• A sofa bed in the living room

• A space shared with a child

• A passageway with no privacy

The quality of the accommodation provided is one of the criteria used to evaluate candidates. An experienced nanny will pay close attention to these conditions before accepting a position.

Live-in nanny vs live-out: what are the concrete differences?

	Live-in	Live-out
Accommodation	Provided by the family	The nanny's responsibility
Availability	More flexible (mornings, evenings)	Defined by contractual hours
Net salary	€3,000 to €4,500/month	€3,500 to €5,000/month
Total cost family	Housing deducted from salary	Salary only + expenses
Living together	Yes — daily cohabitation	No
Ideal for	Families with extended hours, spacious residences	Families in apartments, regular schedules

For a complete overview of pricing, please see our Terms & Conditions page.

What salary for a bilingual live-in nanny?

The salary of a bilingual live-in nanny is generally 10 to 15% lower than that of a live-out nanny, as accommodation and meals are provided by the family. At Magic Nannies, the observed salary ranges are as follows:

• Full-time live-in nanny: €3,000 to €4,500 net/month

• Rota live-in nanny: €4,000 to €5,000 net/month

These salary ranges apply to profiles with a minimum of 8 years of experience, a requirement for any full-time placement at Magic Nannies.

To understand what justifies this level of experience, consult our recruitment process .

Legal aspects to be aware of

The employment contract

A live-in nanny is a home-based employee and enjoys all the associated rights: a written employment contract, the national collective agreement for employees of private employers, paid leave, health insurance, etc. The provided accommodation can be considered a benefit in kind and must be mentioned in the contract.

Working and rest hours

Physical presence at the home does not imply constant availability. The contract must clearly define:

• Working hours (start, end, days worked)

• Daily and weekly rest periods

• Are the nights included or not? At what price?

• Weekly days off (minimum 2 consecutive days recommended)

Housing as a benefit in kind

The value of the provided accommodation is assessed according to a legal scale and can be deducted from gross salary within certain limits. It is advisable to use a home employment management service (CESU, Pajemploi) to handle these administrative aspects correctly.

How to best prepare for the arrival of a live-in nanny?

Successful cohabitation relies on a few simple rules established from the outset:

Clearly define the spaces. Which spaces are reserved for her? Which spaces are shared? Can she use the kitchen outside of her working hours? These questions deserve to be addressed before her arrival.

Establish rules for living together. Guests, telephone, wake-up and bedtimes, use of the car if applicable, it's best to put everything in writing in a document supplementing the contract.

Allow time for integration. The first few weeks are crucial. Magic Nannies supports families during this transition phase to ensure the relationship gets off to a good start.

To understand our 5 placement steps, see our how it works page.

Respect her personal space. A nanny who feels comfortable in her own space will be more available and more dedicated to her professional role. Living together should not encroach on her private life during her rest periods.

Live-in nanny and related profiles

Depending on your specific needs, other profiles can be combined with or substituted for the live-in nanny:

The children's governess - a more experienced profile, with a stronger educational and organizational dimension. Often working on a live-in basis in large residences.

Housekeeper - if your needs go beyond childcare and include managing the residence , this additional profile may be considered.

The rotating nanny - if you need a presence 7 days a week, day and night, the rotating system with two alternating nannies is the most suitable solution.

Find all our services on our Our Services page.

Frequently asked questions about live-in nannies

Do you have other questions about how a live-in placement works, the rates, or the guarantees? Our FAQ answers the most frequently asked questions about placing bilingual nannies with Magic Nannies.

Start your search for a bilingual live-in nanny

Are you looking to hire a bilingual live-in nanny for your family?

Fill out our request form - we will contact you within 24 to 48 hours to discuss your needs, assess the feasibility of the live-in in your situation and present you with the available profiles.

You can also contact us directly via our Contact page.