Our nanny is moving on and asked me for a reference letter she can show other families.
Bring the dates she worked for you, your children's ages, her duties and two moments that show why you trusted her. HidenGPT's Anything format turns them into a warm, specific one-page reference from you, the parent. Your children's private details stay out, and your contact line goes at the bottom for families who want to call.
Try it with your own details
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How to do it in HidenGPT
- 01
Ask your nanny what families she is applying to and anything they asked for, such as driving, newborn care or a second language, so the letter covers it.
- 02
Pick Anything under “Use it for”; this page sets Length to Enter a word count with 250 and Tone to Friendly. Write the dates, hours, children's ages, duties, certifications and two real moments in the main box.
- 03
Read the draft as a parent who has never met her would, cut anything vague, and keep your children's medical and school details to what the story needs.
- 04
Add the date, your name and phone or email, sign it, and give her a PDF and a printed copy so she can share it with any family.
Anything: Describe what you need; it works out the format and writes it.
What parents hiring a nanny look for in a reference
A family reading your letter is about to leave their child with a stranger. They want the facts that a background check cannot give: how long she stayed, how old the children were, what she was trusted with, and how she acted when something went wrong.
A letter of 200 to 300 words usually covers it, as a rule of thumb:
- Who you are and the basics: your name, the dates she worked for you, full time or part time, live-in or not. - The children: how many and their ages when she started and when she left. First names are optional; many parents leave them out. - Duties: meals, naps, school runs, driving, homework, light housework, overnight care, care of a newborn. - Skills you can confirm: CPR and first aid certification, a clean driving record you know of, a language she speaks with the children. - One or two moments: an emergency handled well, a routine she built, a hard stage she got your child through. - Why she is leaving, in one neutral sentence, so nobody has to guess. - An invitation to call, with your phone or email.
A babysitter's letter is shorter, often 120 to 180 words: how often she sat for you, for how long, the ages, bedtime routines, whether she has handled more than one child at once.
Two example letters: a full-time nanny and a babysitter
Both are made up.
Full-time nanny, from the example request (about 190 words):
“To families considering Rosa Delgado,
Rosa was our full-time nanny from August 2023 to October 2026, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. She cared for our son from five months old until he turned three, and for our daughter before and after school from age four.
Her days with us included meals, naps, school pickup, driving the children to swim lessons in her own car, and the children's laundry. She is certified in CPR and first aid.
In March 2024 our son had a febrile seizure while we were at work. Rosa called 911, then called us, and had his health card and the time it started written down when the paramedics arrived. The doctor told us later how much that helped.
She also notices what a child needs. When our daughter was fighting us every morning over getting dressed, Rosa made a picture chart with her, and within two weeks she was doing it on her own.
Rosa is leaving only because our son starts preschool. We would hire her again without hesitation.
Please call me at [phone] with any questions.
Jen Park”
Occasional babysitter (about 110 words):
“To whom it may concern,
Mia Russo babysat our two children, then ages 2 and 6, about twice a month from September 2025 to August 2026, usually on Friday or Saturday evenings from 6 to 11. She handled dinner, bath and bedtime for both, and the children asked when Mia was coming back.
She was always on time, sent us a short text once both were asleep, and left the kitchen cleaner than she found it. One night our younger child woke with a fever; Mia called us right away and followed the instructions we gave her.
We recommend her warmly. You can reach me at [phone].
Tom and Sara Lee”
What to leave out, and when to say less
Leave out:
- Your children's medical history beyond what a story needs, and their school names. - Her pay, immigration status, age, religion or family situation. - Household details that matter to your privacy, such as alarm codes, travel schedules or your address in a letter she will share widely. - Words with nothing behind them: “amazing”, “a godsend”, “like family”. Show the moment instead.
Before: “Rosa is amazing with kids and we trusted her completely.”
After: “Rosa called 911, then called us, and had his health card and the time it started written down when the paramedics arrived.”
If your experience was mixed, write a shorter letter that states what is true: the dates, the duties, that she was reliable about time. Do not write a glowing letter you would not repeat on the phone, because the next family may call you, and a child's safety is the reason they ask.
Not the right tool if
- A nanny you had concerns about on safety. Do not write a reference that hides them; decline or keep to dates and duties.
- Employment paperwork such as tax forms or a work authorization letter. Those have their own forms and rules.
- A reference from an agency on the agency's behalf. Ask the agency for its own process.
Other ways to do it
- A phone reference instead of a letter
- Many families prefer to call. Offer your number in the letter and keep your notes from this page handy for the call.
- A review on the care platform where you found her
- Short and public. Write it as well if the platform allows reviews; a letter still does more for a family that asks for one.
- Writing it yourself from the checklist above
- Twenty minutes if your two moments are ready, and every word is yours.
Questions
What do you write in a reference letter for a nanny?
Write the dates she worked for you, full or part time, your children's ages, her duties, any certifications you can confirm, one or two moments that show her judgment, why she is leaving and how to reach you.
How long should a nanny reference letter be?
About 200 to 300 words for a nanny and 120 to 180 for an occasional babysitter, as a rule of thumb. One specific story does more than extra length.
Should I include my children's names?
It is up to you. Many parents give ages but not names, because the letter will be shared with families you do not know. Ages and how long she cared for each child are what readers need.
Who should the letter be addressed to?
If she is applying to one family, address them by name. Otherwise “To families considering [her name]” or “To whom it may concern” lets her reuse it.
What if our nanny only worked for us a few months?
Say so plainly and write about what you saw in that time. A short, honest letter with dates and one real moment still helps.
Is it fine to use AI to write a reference letter for my nanny?
Yes, when the moments and facts are yours. HidenGPT drafts from your notes and leaves placeholders where something is missing; you correct anything that is not true and sign it as your own reference.
Can I try it before I pay?
Yes. You can try 2 drafts a day on the homepage without an account, enough for a nanny letter and a short babysitter version. Pro is $3 for the first month.