The ROTA Nanny
Childcare Services
What is a Rotational Nanny?
A Rotational Nanny, or “Rota” Nanny is a highly experienced childcare professional who works within a rotational schedule to provide continuous, round the clock care. Rather than remaining on duty indefinitely, Rota Nannies alternate coverage with one or more qualified caregivers - allowing families to maintain consistent, 24 hour support while ensuring each nanny has designated periods of rest.
Most Rota arrangements are structured as one to four weeks on duty followed by an equal period of time off. During each rotation, one nanny is fully responsible for care, and when her scheduled time concludes, the second Nanny steps in to take over. This structured exchange allows children to experience uninterrupted care while benefiting from caregivers who are rested and fully present.
Communication between Rota Nannies is central to the success of the arrangement. Caregivers routinely share detailed information about schedules, routines, preferences, and any changes that occur during their time on duty, creating continuity and minimizing disruption for both children and parents.
While many families choose a traditional 24 hour rotation, Rota schedules are flexible and can be adapted to suit different household needs. In some homes, a Rota Nanny may work extended or 12 hour daytime shifts, with a second caregiver providing evening or overnight coverage. In others, a single nanny may work independently during her rotation, or be supported by an additional nanny or assistant depending on the number of children, travel requirements, or overall scope of responsibility.
Because no two households operate in the same way, Rota arrangements are customized to reflect a family’s lifestyle, expectations, and long term needs rather than following a fixed model. Some Rota roles include educational support alongside care. Families seeking a stronger academic focus may also wish to explore Nanny Tutor placements.
To learn more about working with rotational nannies or to begin the placement process, we invite you to connect for a consultation.
A Rota nanny arrangement can be a good fit for families who value consistency and continuity in their childcare. Because care is shared between a small, coordinated team of nannies, children benefit from familiar routines and caregivers who know them well, even when coverage extends over longer periods of time.
Families with full schedules, professional commitments, or travel that arises unexpectedly often appreciate the flexibility a Rota structure provides, as it offers dependable care without disruption. This model is also commonly chosen by families who spend extended time traveling or living aboard yachts, where maintaining a steady presence for children is especially important.
More generally, Rota care works well in households where dependable, ongoing support allows family life to move with ease. The rotational schedule is designed to support both the family and the caregiver, giving nannies time to rest and recharge between rotations. This balance helps sustain long term relationships, consistency in care, and a sense of trust and stability over time.
What types of families choose Rota care?
What are the duties and responsibilities of a Rota Nanny?
A ROTA Nanny provides the same attentive, full charge care families expect from an experienced nanny, with the added benefit of continuity during extended periods of coverage. While on rotation, the nanny is fully focused on the children’s daily care, routines, and overall well being, offering a calm and consistent presence.
ROTA Nannies rest when the children sleep, remaining available if a child wakes or needs support during the night. Their role centers entirely on the children, from guiding daily routines and supporting schoolwork to planning activities and creating a nurturing, engaging environment. Household tasks unrelated to childcare are not typically part of the role.
Because ROTA care involves longer stretches of time together, Nannies become closely attuned to each family’s rhythm and preferences. This familiarity helps ensure care feels steady, thoughtful, and seamless, giving families confidence that their children are supported with warmth and care throughout each rotation.
To learn more about working with a Rotational Nannies or to begin the placement process, we invite you to connect for a consultation.
Questions and Answers
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Once your family decides that a ROTA nanny setup is the right choice, the search typically begins for two caregivers.
Occasionally, families may be introduced to an established ROTA team that has already worked together. More commonly, however, candidates are interviewed individually for each role.
It’s not unusual to secure one nanny before the second. In those cases, The Grocery Store can help arrange temporary coverage while the search continues. While ROTA schedules include extended time off, the position itself is highly demanding and requires full engagement during working rotations. As a result, experienced ROTA nannies do command top-tier compensation and benefits.
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Rotations shorter than five days tend to create too much transition and don’t allow children or nannies enough time to fully settle into a rhythm. Most families find that rotations between five and fourteen days on and off strike the best balance. Longer rotations - such as three to four weeks - are more common when the role involves international travel.
When rotations involve the care of newborns or infants, schedules are often structured as daytime-only and nighttime-only shifts, with caregivers rotating every 12 hours to support consistency and rest.
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When possible, overlap between the outgoing and incoming ROTA nannies is recommended. Some families prefer a brief in-person handoff, such as one nanny arriving shortly before the other departs. For infants and toddlers, this type of overlap is often important to maintain continuity of care and ensure there is no break in coverage. With older, school-aged children, overlap is less critical since transitions can happen while the children are at school.
At a minimum, the ROTA team should have a reliable system for communication. Co-nannies should stay aligned on updates, routines, and any changes during a shift, whether through a shared app, written notes, email, a phone call, or a shared household log.
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ROTA nanny roles are often advertised with an annual compensation figure, but that total is typically calculated using a combination of standard and overtime hourly rates. Because rotational schedules involve a significantly higher number of working hours per shift, the base hourly rate is often lower than that of a traditional five-day-a-week nanny role, with overtime accounting for a substantial portion of total pay.
To set a competitive and compliant rate, families are encouraged to start with their target annual compensation and work backward to determine appropriate regular and overtime hourly rates for the rotation.
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PTO policies vary by role. Many families feel the rotational schedule already provides substantial time off, though off-rotation weeks are typically unpaid. ROTA nannies are paid on a guaranteed salary basis, with overtime added when additional hours are worked. Some employers offer an extra week of paid time off, and in certain arrangements, nannies may swap rotations to extend time away if needed.
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Overtime rules for ROTA nannies are governed by applicable state and local labor laws, the same as any other nanny position. These regulations apply equally to rotational roles. ROTA nannies are paid for their working rotations and are not compensated for off-rotation weeks.
Generally speaking, if a nanny spends 50% or more of their on-shift time living in the family’s home, overtime is typically not required. If the nanny spends less than 50% of their on-shift time residing in the home, overtime obligations may apply.
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ROTA nanny roles can be structured as either live-in or live-out. In a standard 24hr round the clock ROTA position, the nanny resides on-site only during their working rotation and lives off-site during off weeks. This differs from a traditional live-in role, where the nanny may remain in the home even when not actively working.
Because the family home is the ROTA nanny’s workplace, any on-site living outside of scheduled working hours should always be by mutual agreement and not an expectation. A ROTA nanny should only be asked to live in the home during periods when they are being compensated. We can advise families on how to structure pay appropriately if a live-in arrangement is important to the role.
For live-in ROTA arrangements, accommodations may include a private room in the main home, a guest house on the property, or nearby staff housing. In live-out ROTA roles, the nanny commutes to and from their private residence, and typically stays overnight only when specifically requested or as a part of their standard work hours.
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Some families broaden their search to include candidates who live in other cities or regions.
In these arrangements, the ROTA nanny travels in at the start of their rotation and returns home once the shift ends. Fly-in/fly-out roles are most common when rotations are longer - typically a week or more - or when the position involves frequent travel or multiple family residences. In all cases, families cover travel costs upfront, either by booking flights directly or providing a work card for all required travel expenses.
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Most ROTA nannies travel with the family as part of their scheduled rotations when needed. Families typically coordinate all travel logistics, including returning the outgoing nanny to their home base at the end of a shift and arranging travel for the incoming nanny.
Many ROTA nannies are bilingual or multilingual. If language support is important - whether for international travel or language exposure for your child - be sure to let us know so the search can be tailored accordingly. If you’re interested in learning more about roles that involve frequent travel or language learning, additional information is available on our travel nanny and bilingual nanny pages.
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Policies vary by nanny.
Separate overnight fees are typically not charged when the role is structured as a true 24/7 rotation. During round the clock rotations, the nanny remains on call overnight and typically has the monitor, which is why rotational roles are compensated at a higher overall rate.
Travel is handled differently: families are responsible for covering all travel expenses and lodging for the nanny, and usually provide a travel stipend, which may also include any climate-appropriate supplies and necessary wardrobe items within an agreed-upon budget.
At The Grocery Store, the Anti-Agency, the process begins with a brief conversation about your family’s routine, expectations, and the environment you want to create at home. From there, we define the role with care and conduct a discreet search aligned with your values and long term goals.
How do I hire a Rotational Nanny for my family?
The Grocery Store places Rotational Nannies 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
