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  • How to Become a Nanny or Au Pair: First Aid and CPR Courses You Should Take

    Being a nanny can be a rewarding and challenging experience. It involves caring for children, often in their homes while their parents are away. The responsibilities can range from feeding, bathing, and putting the children to bed to helping with homework and arranging playdates or other activities.

    One of the most rewarding aspects of being a nanny is the opportunity to impact a child’s life significantly. You can witness their milestones—from their first steps to their first words—and influence their growth and development.

    While not always easy, nannying is an incredibly fulfilling job. A nanny is patient, attentive, and committed to providing care for children of any age. If you’re wondering how to become a nanny/au pair, here’s what to consider.

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    How to Become a Nanny/Au Pair

    The most basic qualifications you need to get a nanny job with no formal education or experience include:

    You will also need a driver’s license and a favorable driving record (ask your employer or the parents) if you plan to provide transportation.

    If you are hoping to elevate your employability and improve your career as a nanny or au pair, consider the following options.

    • Obtain an early childhood education degree. A college degree is not required to become a nanny or au pair, but it can be helpful, especially if hiring families require advanced teaching techniques or subject-specific tutoring.
    • Familiarize yourself with average nanny rates in your area. Understanding what to expect for compensation helps you be better prepared when talking about money, but also identify areas for improvement. For example, if nanny rates are higher for those who attended nanny certification classes, you can decide if that is valuable to you and your career.
    • Focus on training and certifications. Specialized training and certifications set you apart and increases your ability to gain and maintain employment. Nanny certifications vary from water safety, cooking, to special needs care, to foreign languages—whatever your interest, there are likely nanny training courses.
    • Gain extensive child care experience. Online nanny courses teach valuable skills about child care, but having first-hand experience is instrumental. If you are hoping to become a nanny or au pair and don’t yet have child care experience, consider babysitting or volunteering for a child-centric organization where you can lead and interact with children.
    • Understand the basics of the nanny profession. While nannies fall under the umbrella of child care providers, their role, workplace, and responsibilities are certainly unique. Understanding the nanny profession helps you pursue nanny training courses specific to the role, adds credibility to your experience and supports higher wage expectations.

    Nanny Training Courses

    While no formal training is required to become a nanny or au pair, taking specialized nanny training courses or getting a nanny certification prepares you for challenges, circumstances, and situations that nannies regularly face in their role or their workplace.

    But before pursuing a nanny certification, you should first take pediatric first aid and CPR training.

    How Does Pediatric CPR Training Benefit Nannies and Au Pairs?

    Pediatric First Aid and CPR training provides nannies and au pairs with valuable knowledge and skills to recognize health emergencies promptly.

    CPR is one of the most critical life-saving procedures for child care jobs. It provides life-saving skills on how to help victims during cardiac arrest, drowning and choking.

    How Does First Aid Training Benefit Nannies and Au Pairs?

    First aid training courses cover various health emergencies, their prevention and how to support them. The following list includes examples of medical emergencies that you can expect to learn about during nanny first aid training.

    As a nanny or au pair, you must be confident in your ability to help, depending on the type of injury. Administration of the wrong first aid procedure can lead to further damage and injury to the victim.

    How do I Choose a Nanny First Aid Training and CPR Certification Course?

    Deciding where to start can feel overwhelming. Consider the following factors when choosing nanny first aid training and CPR certification classes.

    • Accredited: Most employers accept accreditation from the American Red Cross, National Safety Council (NSC), or the American Heart Association. More than 4.6 million people have turned to the Red Cross Training Services as a trusted provider of First Aid, CPR, BLS, and more.
    • Benefits: Before enrolling in first aid and CPR training, evaluate whether it meets all the requirements for your nanny certification. Specifically, does it teach infant first aid and CPR training skills?
    • Cost: After selecting an accredited institution, assess the cost of the training—regarding both your budget and availability.

    Red Cross Training Services provides online and in-person training that improves student engagement, focuses on the latest science-based advancements and meets workplace and healthcare provider certification requirements at costs accessible to all budgets.

    What Red Cross Training Services Are Recommended for Nannies and Au Pairs?

    Preparing for an emergency is one of the best investments you can make as a nanny or au pair. Investing in a first aid and CPR training course means you have the knowledge and skills to react should you be in an unfortunate circumstance.

    If you’re considering Red Cross Training first aid and CPR courses, here are some of the most popular for nannies and au pairs.

    • Advanced Childcare Training (Online Course): Gain the knowledge and skills necessary to responsibly care for children and infants in and outside the home. This course includes training in leadership, child behavior and discipline, professionalism, safety, and essential childcare (like bottle feeding and holding.)
    • Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED-BL (Blended Learning): Recognize and care for various first aid breathing and cardiac emergencies involving adults, children, and infants. This blended learning course includes an online portion and an instructor-led classroom skill session.
    • Adult, Child, and Baby First Aid/CPR/AED (Online Course): Learn a variety of first aid breathing and cardiac emergencies involving adults, children, and babies. If immediate certification is needed, we recommend enrolling in either an instructor-led training or blended learning course.
    • Child and Baby First Aid/CPR/AED (Online Course): Identify how to handle first aid emergencies like choking, bleeding, overdose, and shock, as well as CPR/AED for children and babies.

    For online courses without a required in-person skills session, you must enroll in an instructor-led skill session (at an additional cost) within 90 days of completing the online course in order to receive a valid 2-year Red Cross digital certificate that is OSHA compliant and meets other workplace and regulatory requirements.

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