Nanny Apparel & 5 Inspiring Stories of Nannies Supporting Nannies
From nanny apparel and thoughtful gifts to conferences and professional education, meet the nannies creating a stronger, more connected community.
Some of the most exciting things happening in the nanny industry aren't coming from large companies. They're coming from nannies who see something their community needs and decide to create it.
Sometimes that's a conference where caregivers can learn together. Sometimes it's a recognition campaign that helps families say thank you. And sometimes it's nanny apparel that makes someone smile because the person who designed it understands their work.
At Enginehire, we get to meet many of these people, attend their events, and collaborate with their businesses. We wanted to celebrate five stories that remind us why this community is so special, beginning with a nanny-owned brand we particularly love.
People who spend their careers caring for others are finding creative ways to care for each other, too.
1. Kelsey of Nanny Years: Nanny Apparel Created by Someone Who Gets It
Nanny-owned clothing, shirts, sweatshirts and appreciation gifts Visit NannyYears.com →If you're looking for nanny apparel that feels as if it was made by someone who knows your day, start with Nanny Years.
Its founder, Kelsey, is a professional nanny who began documenting her experiences through the @nannyyears Instagram account in 2016. Her posts captured funny moments, things children said, and the little situations other caregivers instantly recognized. In late 2017, she opened an Etsy shop dedicated to nannies. What began as a creative outlet became a business built around the identity and pride of an entire profession.
Today, Nanny Years sells nanny apparel, including shirts and sweatshirts, along with gifts and accessories that celebrate life as a caregiver. Some designs are funny; others are encouraging. All of them come from a place of understanding.
Kelsey hasn't just put words on shirts. She's built a business that helps an entire profession feel seen.
That means something. Nannies often work independently in private homes. There isn't always a coworker around to laugh with when a toddler says something unforgettable or to recognize the hard work behind an ordinary-looking day. A great shirt won't replace that connection, but it can give nannies a small, joyful way to recognize one another.
Why Enginehire Works with Kelsey
Each year, we collaborate with Kelsey to create giveaway T-shirts for the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies (APNA) conference. Instead of handing out another generic promotional shirt, we get to work with a nanny-owned business that knows what this audience will actually enjoy wearing. Those shirts are always a hit.
We love that this partnership supports a fellow industry entrepreneur while creating something worthwhile for attendees. Kelsey's nanny apparel isn't simply merchandise with a job title printed on it. She's built a recognizable, creative brand around the people who do this work every day.
She also uses that platform to help others. Nanny Years has a "nannies helping nannies" collection created with the Nanny Relief Fund. The product page explains how purchases contribute to the fund, turning nanny apparel into another way for caregivers to support their peers.
Looking for a gift, appreciation event idea, or conference giveaway?
Explore Nanny Years' nanny apparel and gifts and support a business created by a nanny for other nannies.
More importantly, take a look at the person and creativity behind the business. Kelsey deserves recognition as an entrepreneur who has created something genuinely valuable for this industry.
Sue Downey: Building a Place Where Nannies Belong
Nannypalooza, conferences, networking and professional development Discover Nannypalooza →Sue Downey co-founded Nannypalooza in 2005 because she believed quality nanny education should be accessible, affordable, and enjoyable. What she helped build is an annual conference where nannies come together to learn, share experiences, and connect with people who understand their work.
The atmosphere is what makes it memorable. Nanny agencies and businesses attend and sponsor, but the attention stays on the caregivers and their professional growth. It's an opportunity for agencies to show support without making themselves the center of the event.
There's even a lovely connection here with nanny apparel: a conference full of proud professional nannies is exactly the kind of place where a clever nanny T-shirt feels right at home.
Sue also coordinates interNational Nanny Training Day, helping local organizers bring learning opportunities into their own communities. Her work shows what can happen when someone creates a place for other people to grow, and keeps showing up for them year after year.
Kellie Geres and Angela Jackson: Making Appreciation Visible
National Nanny Recognition Week and community celebrations Explore National Nanny Recognition Week →National Nanny Recognition Week isn't just a few dates on the calendar. It's an ongoing effort to help professional nannies feel noticed and appreciated.
Today, veteran nannies Kellie Geres and Angela Jackson help lead that effort, maintaining the website, spreading awareness, and encouraging communities to create their own celebrations. An appreciation brunch, a handwritten note, a local gathering, or a thoughtful gift can all remind a caregiver that their work matters.
The most meaningful recognition is personal. It's taking a moment to let a nanny know that the care they provide really matters.
Nanny apparel can be part of a celebration, especially when it comes from a fellow nanny's business. But what Kellie and Angela are advocating for is bigger than any one gift. They're encouraging families, agencies, and communities to recognize people whose contributions are often made quietly inside private homes.
Kellie has also worked with Sue Downey on Our Nanny Diary, another example of nannies creating practical products for nannies and families. These overlapping efforts are what make this community remarkable: the same people continually find new ways to support one another.
Lora Brawley: Sharing the Knowledge Nannies Need
Nanny Care Hub and International Nanny Training Day Explore Nanny Care Hub →Lora Brawley founded Nanny Care Hub to help in-home professionals and families build successful working relationships. Her work addresses important parts of nannying that aren't always visible, including communication, workplace expectations, and professional development.
In 2012, Lora organized the first National Nanny Training Day. The concept made excellent sense: why should continuing education require every nanny to travel to a national conference? Local communities could host learning opportunities closer to home.
The initiative later grew internationally and, since 2015, has been coordinated through Nannypalooza by Sue Downey. It's a wonderful example of nannies building on one another's good ideas.
Whether someone connects to the community through a workshop, a conference, or even the shared humor of nanny apparel, that sense of belonging matters. Lora's work helps make sure professional support also comes with meaningful education and practical skills.
Rachael Lubin: Turning One Act of Generosity Into Lasting Support
Nanny Relief Fund and emergency assistance for caregivers Learn About the Nanny Relief Fund →In March 2020, as the pandemic disrupted childcare jobs, nanny Rachael Lubin saw caregivers around her losing income. While she was still employed, she decided to give away her Monday paycheck to help someone facing immediate financial difficulty.
Others joined her effort. That act of generosity grew into the Nanny Relief Fund, a nonprofit that supports nannies facing financial hardship and emergencies.
This is also where the story connects back to Kelsey. The Nanny Years collaboration with the fund shows how a creative small business can help a charitable initiative reach more people. Buying nanny apparel from that collection can do more than celebrate someone's profession; it can also help support another caregiver through a difficult time.
We love that these two efforts, one built around creativity and one built around financial support, have found a way to work together.
How to Support Nanny-Owned Businesses and Community Initiatives
Supporting these people doesn't have to be complicated. Attend a nanny training event, share a recognition campaign, sponsor a conference, donate to an emergency fund, or choose a nanny-owned business when buying a gift.
Shop Nanny-Owned
Choose nanny apparel and gifts from businesses like Nanny Years instead of another generic giveaway.
Learn Together
Attend or sponsor Nannypalooza and local nanny training events. Professional development deserves support.
Celebrate and Give Back
Join Nanny Recognition Week and consider supporting the Nanny Relief Fund.
For agencies, nanny apparel from a business like Nanny Years can be a meaningful alternative to generic branded giveaways. For families, recognition can be as simple as a personal note explaining what their nanny means to them. For other caregivers, sharing a business or event with a friend may help that person find a community they didn't know existed.
The International Nanny Association also plays an important role through professional resources, education, credentials, and recognition. Its larger industry efforts complement the individual entrepreneurs, educators, and volunteers highlighted here.
Supporting a nanny-owned business isn't just a kind gesture. These entrepreneurs create quality products and services that genuinely benefit the community. They deserve recognition and support for what they've built.
Nanny Apparel, Appreciation and Community FAQ
Where can I buy nanny apparel and gifts?
NannyYears.com is a nanny-owned shop offering nanny apparel, including shirts, sweatshirts, and other products created around the experiences of professional caregivers.
What makes nanny apparel a thoughtful appreciation gift?
When designs reflect the humor, pride, and experiences of childcare professionals, nanny apparel can help a caregiver feel recognized. Pairing a gift with a genuine thank-you makes it more meaningful.
Where can professional nannies find conferences and training?
Nannypalooza offers an annual professional conference. International Nanny Training Day helps bring educational events into local communities, while Nanny Care Hub and the International Nanny Association provide additional professional resources.
How can I support nannies beyond buying gifts?
Attend or sponsor education events, participate in National Nanny Recognition Week, share nanny-owned businesses, and consider supporting the Nanny Relief Fund.
Here's to the Nannies Making It Happen
What connects Kelsey, Sue, Kellie, Angela, Lora, and Rachael isn't the type of organization they created. It's their willingness to invest their time, skills, and imagination in other people.
We started with nanny apparel because we love what Kelsey has built with Nanny Years. But her story is part of something larger: an industry full of people making room for one another to feel respected, supported, and proud.
At Enginehire, we're grateful to know and work alongside people like these. If you discover a new business, event, or cause here, we hope you'll visit, share, and support it.
And if you know a nanny-owned business or community initiative that deserves a spotlight, we'd love to hear about it. There are plenty more stories worth telling.
Give Nanny Years a Look
Looking for nanny apparel that celebrates the people behind the profession? Kelsey's shop is a wonderful place to start. Explore her designs, share her business, and support a nanny who has created something for other nannies.
