niania

Niania is a Polish noun referring to a female caregiver who is employed to look after children in a private household. In English, the term is equivalent to “nanny.” The role typically includes supervising children, preparing meals, bathing, dressing, arranging activities, helping with homework, and transporting children to school or activities, along with performing light household chores related to child care. The specifics vary by country, region, and family.

In many contexts, nannies are full-time, live-in or live-out employees contracted by the family for a set schedule. Pay can be hourly or salaried, with terms defined by an employment contract. Some nannies hold certifications in first aid and child development, and many undergo background checks or reference verification; formal licensing is not universally required, though local regulations on domestic workers may apply.

Nannies differ from other child-care roles: babysitters typically provide shorter, more occasional care; au pairs combine child care with cultural exchange and often live with the host family; governesses historically provide instruction within the home and may supervise education more broadly. In Polish usage, "niania" conveys affection and trust and is commonly used for regular personal care arrangements. The term appears in media and literature to denote a nanny figure, but it is primarily used to describe a service arrangement rather than a profession with standardized qualifications.

See also: nanny, babysitter, au pair, governess, child care.