The name says it all; a mother’s helper assists the mother (or other stay-at-home parent) with whatever she happens to need. Common mother’s helpers’ duties include babysitting stints, light cleaning and housekeeping, shopping, errands, cooking or meal prep, and chauffeuring the kids wherever they need to go. They’re by no means limited to that, though!

A mother’s helper might be there to watch the kids while the mom runs out to pick up something at the grocery store. She could be there to drive the kids to soccer practice and afterward throw their sweaty, grass-stained clothes in the wash. Some moms will hire mother’s helpers when they have multiple kids, in order to maximize one-on-one time with each child; others want them primarily to take care of the errands and daily responsibilities they don’t have time to attend to themselves.

How is a mother’s helper different from a nanny?

The biggest difference between a nanny and a mother’s helper is a nanny will have sole-charge responsibility for the children in her care while the parents are out of the home or otherwise engaged. A mother’s helper will work to assist a stay-at-home parent and typically remains under the parent’s close supervision.

Duties of Mother's Helper

A mother's helper mostly works under some supervision. Some of the ways that a mother's helper can make a parent's life a little easier include: 

• Allowing parent to take a much needed quick nap or shower or bathroom break
• Doing the dishes while mom plays with the kids
• Entertaining the toddler while mom feeds, soothes, or tends to a baby
• Freeing up parent to get the administrative stuff done, such as paying bills, laundry, and organizing the house
• Helping with homework
• Making easy lunches and preparing snacks
• Playing with the kids while mom does some work or jumps on a conference call

How can I find a mother’s helper?

There are many different routes you can take when looking for a mother’s helper, but the safest way to find a reliable, trustworthy caregiver is to use a reputable nanny agency. At the Australian Nanny Agency, we work with part-time and full-time nannies, governesses, mother’s helpers, summer nannies, travel nannies, and more! Our trained specialists will be able to help you determine exactly the best position for your family as well as connect you with a variety of qualified and experienced childcare professionals.