Screenshot by Pro Game Guides

How to have a Live-In Nanny in The Sims 4

Need live-in childcare?

The Sims 4 gives your Sims the gift of children, but it also burdens them (and you by extension) with caring for these sensitive young Sims. Childcare is an option, but not entirely.

Recommended Videos

A nanny definitely helps, but they eventually clock out and hand your kids back to you. How do you get them to stay, with or without mods?

How do you hire a live-in Nanny for children in The Sims 4?

Screenshot by Pro Game Guides

Technically, you can't have a Live-In Nanny for your Sims without using mods in The Sims 4. There are a couple of workarounds that technically work, though. Both lack the complete experience players desire and may not function as you'd imagine. Still, these options are solid for those players who are determined not use mods (also called vanilla players).

How to hire a Butler

As long as you own the Vintage Glamour stuff pack, you can use your Sim's smartphone to hire a Butler to live on your lot and care for your children. Ensure you have a bedroom built especially for the Butler before hiring the service, or the Butler will fail to materialize.

Butlers will instinctively focus on housework with some light childcare, if you don't instruct them otherwise. Simply clicking on the Butler, though, will allow you to tell them to only care for kids. Don't leave them to their devices entirely, as Butlers sometimes act buggy and ignore your requests.

How to trap a Nanny

If you don't want a Butler and instead want an actual Nanny, you can attempt to hire a Nanny and then lock them in your home. You do this by waiting until they enter the house, then clicking on all doors that lead outside. Then, choose the option to lock for all Sims that aren't in the household. Be warned that this doesn't always work, and sometimes the Nanny just disappears from the lot.

Some Simmers have reported better odds of this method succeeding when enabling Free Services trait earned through the Rewards Store. Others noted that adding the nanny as a roommate can work especially well (though this method did not work for me).

Related: How many Sims can be in a Household in The Sims 4?

How to use mods for a live-in Nanny in The Sims 4

Screenshot by Pro Game Guides

For those hoping to nab a fully capable Live-In Nanny in The Sims 4, using LittleMsSam's Maid & Gardener Service mod is where you'd want to do. Download the mod and unzip the folder's contents before moving those files over to the Mods folder (all of this on your own PC files, not in-game).

Start up The Sims 4 and head over to your Sim's smartphone. Hit the Hire a Live-In Service option and then choose to Hire a Live-In Nanny. Be certain that you have a bed for the Nanny Sim use, and also be sure it is properly assigned to them, just like you would with a Butler.

How to hire other live-in workers in The Sims 4

How to hire a live-in Maid & Gardener with mods

Looking to also grab yourself help in the form of a live-in maid and/or gardener? Then you can also use the LittleMsSam's Maid & Gardener Service mod, which was intended for exactly this purpose. Just download this mod, boot up your game, and go to your Sim's cellphone. Choose the new option that says Hire a Live-In Service, and select your helper of choice. Then, you're all set!

Want to learn more about The Sims 4? If so, check out How to Make Objects Bigger and Smaller – The Sims 4 Resize Guide on Pro Game Guides.


Pro Game Guides is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more
related content
Read Article Top 50 Rarest Skins in Fortnite (April 2024) – Chapter 5 Season 2
Fortnite rarest skins black widow outfit
Read Article Summoners War – Best Fusion Monsters
Fighting a three-headed dragon in Summoners War.
Read Article How to get Overwatch 2 Season 10 Perks Bundle on PC, Xbox
Overwatch 2 Season 10 GamePass bundle skins as rendered in game
Read Article Does Fallout New Vegas work on Steam Deck? (Best Settings)
Fallout New Vegas main menu as displayed on a Steam Deck
Read Article How to get free Fallout next-gen update on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S
This is an officially Fallout 4 screenshot from the press kit.
Related Content
Read Article Top 50 Rarest Skins in Fortnite (April 2024) – Chapter 5 Season 2
Fortnite rarest skins black widow outfit
Read Article Summoners War – Best Fusion Monsters
Fighting a three-headed dragon in Summoners War.
Read Article How to get Overwatch 2 Season 10 Perks Bundle on PC, Xbox
Overwatch 2 Season 10 GamePass bundle skins as rendered in game
Read Article Does Fallout New Vegas work on Steam Deck? (Best Settings)
Fallout New Vegas main menu as displayed on a Steam Deck
Read Article How to get free Fallout next-gen update on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S
This is an officially Fallout 4 screenshot from the press kit.
Author
Bethany Barber
Bethany has been a writer at Pro Game Guides for over two years, but she has been into both gaming and writing for countless years. When not writing helpful guides for fellow gamers, she can be found playing on her PC or Switch, writing short stories, and watching horror movies.

1 Comment

How to have a Live-In Nanny in The Sims 4

Comments are on moderation and will be approved in a timely manner. Please read the following rules before commenting:

  • All comments must be on topic and add something of substance to the post
  • No swearing or inappropriate words
  • No asking or begging for anything free
  • Do not attempt to start a poll in the comments
  • Comments in all CAPS will be removed
  • We reserve the right to remove a comment for any reason
  • Do not impersonate a staff member or influencer

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.