Rachel Lubin needed friends when she moved to Houston in 2016. She happened to meet another nanny, Mariana, and asked a simple question: “Do you do parties? Do you host play dates?”
That conversation sparked something bigger than either woman expected. What started as a few nannies meeting at Wonderwall in the Heights with their charges grew into HTX Nannies—Houston’s leading nanny support group.
Nine years later, Keiwanna Roberson and co-founder Rachel Lubin lead a nonprofit organization that gives nannies something most professionals take for granted: colleagues.
The Loneliest Job in Childcare
Nannies work without HR departments, without coworkers, without anyone to ask “Is this normal?” when a child hits a developmental milestone or an employer crosses a boundary.
“It’s somewhat of an isolating profession for us,” Lubin explains. “We don’t have coworkers, so we need to build in those systems and build that community.”
That isolation creates real problems. Nannies face unique workplace challenges that no other profession encounters. They negotiate their own contracts directly with their employers. When disputes arise, they advocate for themselves without backup. Many don’t realize they’re legally classified as W-2 employees—not contractors—and deserve the same protections as any other worker.
“A lot of what we get asked for advice about is how to deal with communication with employers,” Lubin says. “We’re in a very unique industry where there’s no HR department, where we have to come to the table and negotiate our own contracts.”
Many nannies don’t know they can ask for paid time off. They don’t understand industry standards for pay rates or benefits. The business side of professional childcare never gets discussed during training focused on child development.
“The business aspect of the nanny industry is not talked about very much,” Lubin notes. “And many nannies are not prepared to do that kind of work and to be their own advocate with their bosses.”
Why Childcare Work Stays Unregulated
The childcare industry operates with surprisingly few regulations compared to au pairs, who face strict rules about work hours and duties. Lubin points out a troubling history behind this gap.
“Domestic workers and farm workers are actually the only two industries where people are not allowed to unionize,” she explains. “This comes from the Civil Rights Movement. Domestic work and farm work was largely done by black and brown women and workers. They were systemically not allowed to advocate for themselves.”
That legacy continues today. Professional childcare remains highly unregulated, leaving workers to navigate employment law, negotiate fair wages, and enforce their own contracts without support.
“I think it’s way past time that we be allowed to unionize and we be allowed to encourage lawmakers to make laws and regulations around domestic work in general,” Lubin says.
Building Community One Breakfast at a Time
HTX Nannies hosts monthly breakfast meetings every second Tuesday. About 60 nannies rotate through these gatherings throughout the year, with roughly 15 attending each month.
Nannies bring school-age children when needed. The kids meet other children who have nannies—building their own community while caregivers connect.
“We talk about contracts and communication and milestones for children,” Lubin says. “We talk about uplifting each other and just providing a sense of support. It’s not even talking about career stuff, but just acknowledging each other as people outside of this profession.”
The group also celebrates together. Those early holiday parties from 2016 continue, bringing nannies together for occasions beyond professional development.
“In-person community is incredibly important,” Lubin emphasizes. “I think it’s really important for our mental health.”
More Than Just Support Meetings
HTX Nannies participates in two major national initiatives each year.
National Nanny Recognition Week celebrates the profession with events, brunches, and park playdates across the country. It’s one of the few times nanny support groups become highly visible through social media.
Then comes International Nanny Training Day—one day each spring when 35 cities across four continents host professional development events specifically for nannies and home childcare providers.
“Last year, the training was on four continents,” Lubin says proudly. “We were one of three cities in Texas who hosted one.”
These training days help nannies continue improving their skills for the families they serve. The work matters more than most people realize.
Why This Work Matters
The International Nanny Association estimates 1.1 million nannies work in the United States. Break that down and you’re looking at roughly 100,000 in Texas, with about 10,000 serving Houston families.
“There’s a saying that childcare makes all other work possible,” Lubin explains. “Because with childcare, then the employers or the families, the parents can go to work. Without childcare, work would be very difficult in our country.”
Roberson started her childcare career 16 years ago and has worked as a professional nanny for the past decade. She focuses on creative approaches—arts, crafts, painting, messy play that sneaks education into fun.
“Their brains are sponges,” Roberson says about the infants and toddlers she cares for. “They’re implementing and understanding everything at that time.”
Lubin has spent 13 years as a professional nanny. Both women understand the weight of their responsibility and the importance of their work.
“We want to make sure that childcare workers know how important they are,” Lubin says.
Looking Ahead
HTX Nannies became an official nonprofit in 2022, six years after those first playdates in the Heights. The organization partners with nanny placement agencies around Houston and maintains connections throughout the broader childcare industry.
Their goals remain straightforward: reach more nannies, grow their events, and ensure every childcare worker knows their value.
“We’d love to have access to more of those people,” Lubin says about the thousands of Houston nannies they haven’t reached yet. “We can really let all nannies know that they are very important, that the work that they do is important.”
For nannies navigating contracts alone, wondering if they’re charging fair rates, or simply needing someone who understands the unique challenges of their profession, HTX Nannies offers something invaluable: community.
Join HTX Nannies
Monthly Breakfast Meetings: Second Tuesday of each month
Open to: All professional nannies in the Houston area
Bring: Your questions, your nanny kids (when needed), yourself
Connect:
Instagram: @htxnannies
Facebook: HTX Nannies
Email: [email protected]
What You’ll Find:
- Contract negotiation advice
- Industry standard information
- Child development discussions
- Professional networking
- Community support
- Monthly in-person gatherings
- Training opportunities
HTX Nannies is a nonprofit organization founded in 2016, serving Houston’s professional nanny community with education, advocacy, and connection.
