How to Kindly (and Professionally!) Resign from Your Nanny Position
Leaving a nanny position can be an emotional rollercoaster. Unlike traditional office jobs, your workplace is someone’s living room, and your coworkers are tiny humans who steal your heart. Saying goodbye (for any number of reasons) is never easy, but navigating your departure with warmth, honesty, and professionalism will make all the difference for everyone involved.
Here is a guide on how to resign gracefully, keep those great relationships intact, and land smoothly in your next role!
1. Check Your Contract (and Think Flexibility!)
Before you sit down with your employers, pull out your original employment agreement and give it a quick read.
- Make sure you will be completing the dates outlined in your contract
- Take note of your required termination notice, which is typically 2-3 weeks.
Honoring your contract is the ultimate mark of a true professional, but remember that the notice period doesn’t have to feel rigid:
- Standard Notice: Giving your contractually required notice gives parents the runway they need to arrange new care, adjust work schedules, and prepare the kids.
- Open-Ended Notice (The Win-Win!): If you and the family have a great relationship, you can offer an open-ended transition period. This means working together without a strict hard stop while they look for a replacement and you look for your next dream job. It keeps the stress low for everyone!
2. Pick the Right Moment to Talk
Resignation news should never happen over a quick text, an email, or in the middle of morning breakfast chaos. Ask the parents for a few minutes to chat at the end of your shift or when the kids are down for a nap.
Keep your request simple: “Do you both have a quick 10 minutes after my shift today to sit down and catch up?”
3. Keep It Warm, Direct, and Gratitude-Filled
When you sit down, lead with genuine appreciation. Parents are letting you into the most intimate parts of their lives, so acknowledging that bond sets a supportive tone right away.
This can be something like:
“Thank you so much for taking a few minutes to chat. I wanted to let you know that I’ve made the decision to take the next step in my career, so I’ll be stepping down from my role. I am fully committed to fulfilling my 2-week contract notice, and am also open to working with you on a flexible timeline so you can find an amazing replacement while I look for my next role. Caring for [Child’s Name] and being part of your family has been such a gift, and I’m so grateful for everything.”
Pro Tip: Keep it positive! You don’t need to get into heavy personal details if you don’t want to. Focus on your excitement for the future and your gratitude for the time you spent together.
4. Re-Activate with Mom’s Best Friend Early!
As soon as you’ve had the official chat with your family, reach out to the team at Mom’s Best Friend! The earlier you give us a heads-up about your upcoming availability, the sooner we can start matching you with awesome new families. Use this transition time to update your profile, refresh your CPR certification, and add any fun new skills or milestones you picked up in your current role.
5. Put It in Writing
Once you’ve had your verbal heart-to-heart, follow up with a quick, polite resignation letter for their files and ours. Include the current date, your intended final date (or agreed-upon flexible timeframe), and another sweet note of thanks.
6. Finish Big & Leave a Lasting Impression
The way you wrap up your final weeks leaves a lasting impression. Stay reliable, cheerful, and fully present right up to your last minute on the clock.
- Work with the parents on how to break the news to the little ones in a gentle, positive, and age-appropriate way.
- As a bonus, it is extra sweet if you put together a quick cheat sheet for the incoming nanny with the tricks you have learned such as preferred snacks, comfort toys, favorite activities and/or park spots, and any routines.
- If it fits the timeline, offer to overlap for a day or two to show the new caregiver the ropes.
- This is also a great time to ask whether the parents would be comfortable serving as a professional reference for you in the future. You can keep it simple: “I’ve really valued my time with your family. Would you feel comfortable providing a reference for me as I look for my next position?”
Leaving a job with care and kindness guarantees glowing references, preserves sweet friendships, and opens the door wide for your next big adventure!
If you’re looking for any advice email Melanie.