In the 19th and premier 20th century, the position was mainly hackneyed as a "nurse", and was, as for many childcare jobs, invariably female. In a great house, the nurse ran her own domain, a array of rooms called the Seattle Nanny nursery, supported by at least sole assistant, notorious as a nursemaid (or nurserymaid). Because of their role in child care, nannies were somewhat augmented indulged than junior servants. Nannies may have remained in the employment of the same aristocratic ancestors for years, looking after successive generations of children.

Typically, women in their 20s to 60's take up employment as nannies. Some are younger, though accord younger workers are nursemaids or au pairs rather than nannies in the traditional account of the term.