A traditional British nanny offers parenting advice, including managing tantrums and setting limits on tablet usage.

The royal family turns to a small college in Bath, U.K., for child care.

For more than 130 years, Norland has been providing a four-year academic and practical training program that involves approximately 1,300 hours of caring for young children and newborns.

In 2015, at the christening of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo was captured in a formal Norland uniform, conversing with the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The Norland nannies, who earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in early childhood education and care and a diploma upon completing a year as a probationary nanny, are highly sought after and well paid. There are approximately 8 to 10 permanent jobs available for every nanny who graduates through the Norland Agency.

Nannies are known as ‘Norlanders’

After graduating, Norlanders typically prefer to be referred to publicly by only their first names to safeguard the identities of the children they look after and their employers.

During training, the formal, brown uniforms worn by the participants are easily noticeable to residents of Bath, resembling the attire of Mary Poppins, with women wearing dresses and hats, men donning suits, and a gender-neutral option of trousers or a dress with a tweed jacket.

Alice, a Norland nanny from Bath, had no idea who the uniformed students were on the bus when she was in high school. She later explored teaching through a school internship but felt a less structured setting would be more suitable for her.

She expressed her desire to provide one-on-one time to the children to help them discover their passion for life and pursue their interests, according to CNBC.

Emily Ward, an educator, founded Norland in 1892 with the teachings of Friedrich Fröbel, a pioneer in early childhood education, who emphasized the child's individuality and unique needs and abilities.

Alice stated that the degree emphasizes the psychology of children and their learning, while the diploma focuses on practical experiences in a family home. Additionally, the program includes practical learning outside the home, such as controlling a car in poor or dangerous conditions.

A Norland nanny with one to two years of experience working around 60 hours a week in London can expect to earn up to £41,500, while a nanny with eight or more years’ experience working outside the U.K. can earn up to £124,000, according to Norland’s website.

Top tips

Alice has over a decade of experience as a nanny, beginning her career with a military family in the U.K., where the father was stationed in Afghanistan.

For nine years, Alice was responsible for taking care of a girl and her twin siblings in New York City. She began her job when the twins were just 18 months old, and the girl was three. The twins' parents worked in real estate, and Alice was solely in charge of the children from 7 a.m to 7 p.m.

Alice advised CNBC that every child develops and learns at varying rates, which is crucial for any parent to understand.

"Being a first-time parent with a baby, it's easy to think that your baby not crawling yet is no big deal. However, you may feel left out when other moms boast about their babies crawling," she said.

"However, a child who isn't crawling may still be capable of constructing a tower of blocks while seated," she remarked.

"Just focus on what works for your child's happiness and health, rather than comparing them to other babies," she advised.

Comforting a crying baby

Caring for small children often involves ensuring they get enough sleep, as they nap at different times of the day. Alice, who is currently looking after a 10-month-old girl, noted that sleep regression, which can make it difficult for a child to fall or stay asleep, is common at this age.

Lack of daytime sleep may lead to insomnia at night.

Alice recommends a consistent approach to comforting a crying baby, which involves going in, "shhh"-ing them, and placing your hand on their tummy to let them know you're there, but avoiding speaking to them.

Babies, like adults, experience nighttime wakefulness. While most of the time they return to sleep, sometimes they can't. This can be frustrating for adults, especially for babies who rely solely on crying as their means of communication.

Dealing with tantrums

Alice described her role during a child's tantrum as a "safe space." "I'm on the floor with them, providing comfort as they go through it," she stated.

She advised against discussing important matters with a child who has started communicating verbally, as they may not be receptive at that time. Instead, it would be more appropriate to speak with them later when they are in a better mood.

Instead of saying ‘no’ — do this

If a child is engaging in undesirable behavior, consider "steering them away from it," Alice advised.

If they are throwing a ball at the wall and you don't want them to mark it, you can suggest playing a game of who can get the ball into the saucepan.

"I've found that children respond much better when I redirect their behaviors instead of constantly saying 'no, don't do that,'" Alice said.

Making sure you respond to children regardless of their behavior is also important.

Alice said, "If you're cooking dinner and a child wants to play, you can say, 'Give me five minutes and let's throw the ball in the saucepan.' Although it might not work the first time, they will know that you will always come back to them."

She stated that if you don't pay attention to them when they're doing something you dislike, they will intensely focus on those behaviors.

Give children a choice

If your child refuses to get dressed, allow them to select their clothing.

"You're saying that these are the warm weather outfits you can wear, so you're keeping them safe while allowing them to be in control," Alice added.

Dealing with bad behavior

If a child's behavior is harmful, such as biting another child, it may be due to frustration or curiosity. Alice advised asking, "How did that make the other child feel when you bit him?"

She said, "They may not have the words to express how that made them feel, but then you say, 'I think that probably made him really sad, that probably really hurt him, I don't think you would like it.'"

If they feel like biting again, suggest an apple or a pillow or a block.

Avoid the ‘naughty step’

Alice stated that she doesn't like to label a child as "naughty" and instead, she avoids using the "naughty step" as punishment for young children and sending older children to their room.

She said, "If they're unable to control their emotions, I understand you're upset. I'll do something else. Once you've calmed down, we can talk."

Tablet time

Other tips include being consistent and as good as your word.

Alice suggested setting limits or allowing only educational games to control the amount of time spent on devices like iPads.

To limit screen time, Alice suggested saying "Sorry, we can't do that today. Let me plan some time for tomorrow." or "Why don't you play that game for five minutes and then we will turn it off."

School days

Gradually settling a child into school is often done by starting with shorter days, Alice said, while reassuring them that they will make friends there and trying to arrange playdates with classmates before school begins.

To know what they're doing on the first day, you can say, 'Let me know how the painting goes when I pick you up. I can't wait to hear about this.'

After their first day or week at school, Alice suggested doing something enjoyable, such as visiting their favorite playground or watching a movie they wanted to see.

Alice stated that her job as a nanny requires much more patience than being a working parent.