Childcare Vocabulary: Words You Will Use Every Day

Level: Beginner to Intermediate · Reading time: 5 minutes

As a nanny, you use English all day: with the children, with the parents, and with other carers at the park or school gate. You don't need to know thousands of words. A few hundred everyday words will help you with most situations.

This article groups the most useful words by the time of day or situation, with an example sentence for each one. Try reading the examples out loud, because saying words helps you remember them.

Getting dressed

WordExample

jacket"Put your jacket on first, it's cold today."

tights"Your tights have a hole in them."

zip"Can you do up your zip by yourself?"

buttons"Let me help you with the buttons."

inside out"Oops, your jumper is inside out!"

the wrong way round"Your shoes are on the wrong feet."

Nappies and the toilet

WordExample

nappy"I changed her nappy at 10 o'clock."

wipes"We need more baby wipes."

nappy rash"She has a little nappy rash, so I used the cream."

potty"Do you need the potty?"

wee / poo"He did a wee on the potty!"

an accident"She had an accident, so I changed her clothes."

Tip: families use different words for the toilet. Ask the parents which words they use at home, and use the same ones.

Mealtimes

WordExample

high chair"Let's get you into your high chair."

bib"Put your bib on, it's spaghetti!"

water bottle / sippy cup"Here's your water in your sippy cup."

snack"You can have a snack after nursery."

to spill"Don't worry, it's only a little spill."

fussy eater"He's a fussy eater, but he tried a carrot today."

Playtime

WordExample

building blocks"Let's build a tall tower with the blocks."

jigsaw puzzle"Can you find the last piece of the jigsaw?"

dressing up"She loves dressing up as a doctor."

to take turns"First it's your turn, then it's Sam's turn."

to share"Can you share the crayons with your sister?"

to tidy up"Five more minutes, then it's time to tidy up."

Out and about

WordExample

pushchair / buggy"I'll fold the pushchair on the bus."

car seat"Let me check your car seat straps."

playground"We went to the playground after lunch."

slide / swings / climbing frame"Hold on tight on the climbing frame!"

the school run"I do the school run every morning."

playdate"Can Ella come over for a playdate on Friday?"

Health and small injuries

WordExample

temperature"He has a temperature of 38 degrees."

a bump / a bruise"She got a bump on her head at the park."

a graze"He fell and has a small graze on his knee."

plaster/bandage"Would you like a plaster on it?"

teething"She's teething, so she's a bit grumpy."

runny nose / cough"He's had a runny nose all day."

Feelings and behaviour

WordExample

upset"You seem upset. Do you want a cuddle?"

grumpy"She's grumpy because she's tired."

tantrum"He had a tantrum when we left the park."

to calm down"Let's take a deep breath and calm down."

to be gentle"Be gentle with the baby, please."

well done"Well done for sharing your toys!"

Nap time and bedtime

WordExample

nap"She had a one-hour nap after lunch."

cot"I put him in his cot at 7 o'clock."

dummy / pacifier"Where's her dummy? She can't sleep without it."

comforter / cuddly toy"Don't forget his cuddly rabbit!"

bedtime story"Which bedtime story would you like?"

to settle"He took a long time to settle tonight."

UK vs US English

Many childcare words are different in British and American English. If you work in the US, or with an American family, use these words instead:

UKUS

nappydiaper

dummypacifier

pushchair / buggystroller

cotcrib

plasterBand-Aid

jumpersweater

vestundershirt

nurserydaycare / preschool

Tips for learning new words

Learn words in groups. It's easier to remember "slide, swings, climbing frame" together than one by one.

Use new words straight away. Say them to the children during the day. Children are very patient teachers!

Keep a small notebook or a note on your phone. Write down new words you hear from the parents, and look them up later.

Read picture books with the children. Children's books use exactly the everyday words you need.

Quick quiz

What is the American word for a nappy?

What do you call a small cut or scrape on the skin?

Finish the sentence: "She's grumpy because she's ____."

What is a playdate?

Answers: 1) Diaper. 2) A graze. 3) Tired (or hungry!). 4) When a child's friend comes to play at their house, or they go to a friend's house.

Download our free printable vocabulary sheet!