What Is the Difference Between a Mothers' Help and a Nanny?
Mothers' Help is postnatal home support that keeps your household running after a new baby arrives. Meal prep, laundry, siblings, errands - the domestic rhythm managed with care, so you can focus on what matters most.
A new baby has arrived, and while the arrival is everything, the house still needs to run. Meals still need to appear, laundry still piles up, and older siblings still need lunches packed and uniforms ready, all while you're navigating what may be the most tender, exhausting, and transformative season of your life.
Most families reach for one of two obvious solutions, either a nanny, or a cleaner. But for many households, neither quite fits. The nanny is focused on the child, the cleaner comes and goes on a fixed brief, and the gap between the two - the fluid, anticipatory, whole-home support that this season demands - goes unfilled. That's exactly what our new Mothers' Help service is designed to address.
What Is Mothers' Help?
Mothers' Help is postnatal support built around the home, not just the baby. It is a consistent, trusted presence who arrives knowing what needs to be done and gets on with it before you've had to ask. In practice, that looks like:
- Nursery and laundry management kept to the calm, organised standard your home is used to
- Meal preparation and pantry coordination so nourishing food is always within reach
- Bottles sterilised and equipment managed so everything is ready when it's needed
- Sibling and school morning support so the rest of the household routine doesn't falter
- Errands, deliveries, and a daily home reset that keeps the main living spaces clean and tidy even on the hardest days
Our philosophy behind the role is anticipatory care. A Mothers' helper isn't waiting to be directed - they're reading the household, staying one step ahead, and managing the domestic rhythm so the family can focus on what matters most.
How Does Mothers' Help Differ from a Nanny?
The key distinction is focus. Here's how the two roles compare:
- Nanny: Primary responsibility is the child, such as their safety, development, and daily care. Typically holds childcare qualifications and may take sole charge when parents are away or working.
- Mothers' Helper: Primary focus is the home and the mother. This is not a childcare role, and it’s important to note that our Mothers' helpers hold no childcare qualifications and are not responsible for the primary care of the baby.
For families who already have a nanny in place, the two roles work beautifully alongside each other - the nanny with the baby, the Mothers' helper with everything else. And for families who don't need formal childcare but do need the household to keep running smoothly while they recover and adjust, Mothers' Help is the support that's been missing. Plunket NZ puts it well, noting that the pressure on new parents in those early weeks is real, and practical support makes a genuine difference.
How Does Mothers' Help Differ from a Regular Cleaner?
A cleaner completes a task and leaves. Mothers' Help is a responsive daily presence who adapts to whatever the household needs that day. Where a cleaner follows a set brief, a Mothers' helper reads the room. On any given day, that might mean:
- Sorting a week's worth of laundry and resetting the nursery
- Meal prep and a grocery run
- Sterilising equipment and preparing school lunches
- Managing errands and overseeing deliveries
The role stretches well beyond what standard private housekeeping covers. Continuity matters most in this context, and with a newborn at home, a familiar, trusted face is worth a great deal. Our Mothers' Helpers visit consistently, building an understanding of your household, your preferences, and your rhythms over time, and like all Matters services, from private to executive housekeeping, they operate with discretion and precision in every home.
As we've touched on before, there are good reasons why private housekeeping has become a household essential for families who hold their homes to a high standard, and Mothers' Help brings that same commitment to this season of your life.
Who Is Mothers' Help For?
Mothers' Help is designed for families with a newborn, typically in the first 12 months, where the smooth running of the home cannot wait for life to slow down. It suits households where the primary caregiver is recovering and needs space to do so without the weight of daily logistics, as well as families where both parents are working or returning to work and need reliable help after birth that doesn't add difficulty. It suits families with older children whose school routines, activities, and emotional needs can't slip just because a new sibling has arrived, and anyone who holds their home to a high standard and doesn't want that to change during this new chapter in their lives.
The Moments That Matter
The early weeks with a new baby are fleeting, precious, and with the right support in place, they are something you can actually be present for. Our Mothers' Help service exists to create that space, managing the home with the same care and discretion Matters brings to everything we do so that this season is defined by connection, not a to-do list. If you'd like to talk through what postnatal support could look like for your family, we'd love to hear from you.
Thinking beyond the newborn stage? Our guide to daily vs weekly housekeeping is a helpful read for families considering their longer-term household support needs.
“Great stay, just what we needed for our work trip.”
“My family of 3 stayed for 5 nights. The host was quick to respond to messages and kindly provided the necessary information. The accommodation was very new, clean, comfortable and perfect. The dishwasher, washing machine and dryer were all easy to use and very helpful. It is also a very convenient location with cafes, restaurants, supermarkets and bus stops within walking distance.”
“Wanaka is amazing and the unit is very nice. Our stay was great.”
“We felt very comfortable at the place. It was clean, the furnishings were high-quality and everything you needed was there. There were clear instructions for check-in and check-out as well as recommendations for the area. The location was nice and quiet and yet everything was easily accessible. We would book the place again.”
“We had a fantastic stay with Matters. The house was perfect for our large group, everyone had plenty of space and we had lots of room to eat and hang out. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for spacious accommodation for lots of people.”
“Great location, and tidy place with all the amenities. Would come back again.”
“Great stay at this house. The view is insane! Perfect place for kids. Our toddlers were able to freely run around the property safely and securely. Plenty of spaces for them to just be kids. The gym was awesome and the sauna was an extra bonus! It was honestly such an epic place to stay. Great place to host and entertain. Such a beautiful spot. Will 100% book here again! We had a ball!”
“What an absolutely gorgeous home – I would argue that it looks even better in person! We honestly couldn’t get over the breathtaking views. The space was so thoughtfully planned out as well & the hosts were very accommodating of our special requests. We would 100% recommend this home to anyone considering!”
“Good stay.”
“Everything is ok. I recommend it to everyone.”
“We love this house so much. It feels like home. Every detail of the house makes us feel comfortable. Enjoy the view of the lake and mountain from our deck. Perfect for a family vacation. Very lovely stay and wish we could come back there again.”
“Our stay was fantastic! The place was spotless, modern, kid friendly and exactly as described. The location was perfect and beautiful. The host was incredibly helpful and quick to respond, and helped us out with a last minute booking. My sister and I would absolutely stay here again, and highly recommend staying here to anyone!”
“Beautiful, warm and clean.”
“We absolutely loved our stay at this house. The house was immaculately clean and the beds were super comfortable! We loved sitting in the spa looking at the mountains. Wonderful stay.”
“Fantastic views off the back deck and hot tub of Lake Wanaka, which was a great place to relax after a day of hiking and exploring. A very large and spacious kitchen. Close proximity by car to supermarkets, cafes etc.”
“Quiet location with stunning views, the perfect place to relax after exploring what Wanaka has to offer. Well equipped and clean. The spa is a great addition and a perfect spot to catch the sunset. The hosts had great and friendly communication.”
“This was a very nice property with a lovely view from the deck. A perfect base for our fishing activities. Kitchen and dining table well set up for socialising and plenty of comfy seating to watch the TV. Hot tub was a real bonus.”
“Thank you for the home away from home.”
“Thank you for letting us stay! Wonderful home and a pleasant tranquil location!!”
“Superbe vue sur le lac de Wanaka et proche du centre ville.”
“Awesome family home, quiet area with nice views. Loved our stay.”
“Beautiful, quiet and lovely house! It’s a perfect place for our family. We loved the spacious parking area with a private gate. Unfortunately we travelled during rainy days, we couldn’t enjoy the wonderful garden and patio area.”
“Lovely location. Felt secure. Amazing kitchen. Clean top to bottom. Comfortable beds. Quiet street. Lovely views both front and back. Close to markets and restaurants driving distance. Nearby Half Moon Bay ferry makes easy access to islands. Very thoughtful amenities. We added an extra night. Highly recommend this home.”
“Great communication throughout the stay.”
“Very clean and comfortable. Everything seemed new. Wonderful view from the living room and deck.”
“We loved our stay in Wanaka. The house was magnificent, so clean, plenty of space for 11 of us. The kitchen was fully equipped with everything we needed. The sauna was wonderful after a long hike around Glendu Bay. Thank you so much.”
“Charming, clean place to stay located in a peaceful setting. Great for a relaxing stay. We had a great time and will be happy to come back.”
“A very cozy house, we felt right at home from the very beginning! We loved having the fire on every night, spent hours in the hot tub, and soaked up the gorgeous view. A beautiful property.
Kitchen is amazing and we enjoyed cooking in there.
Everything was very clean and neat.
Perfect location if you want to check out Wanaka, or if you plan to do Roy’s Peak.”
"We loved our stay so much that we came back for a second visit. Beautiful, cosy home and another fantastic experience."
"A spacious, comfortable home with plenty of room for large groups. The kitchen was well equipped, the beds were comfortable, and the laundry facilities were excellent. The peaceful surroundings and mountain views made the stay even more memorable. Great value for such a large property."
"Such a lovely home in the perfect location. Great host and we'd happily come back again."
"Matters' home in Cockle Bay was beautiful! Waking up to the stunning view every morning and being only a short walk from the beach made it extra special. Easily the best place my family and I have stayed."
"Beautiful home that truly felt like a relaxing holiday. It had everything we needed and we'd definitely stay again. The hosts were fantastic."
"The house was spotless and had everything we needed. The kitchen was beautifully equipped with high-end appliances, making cooking enjoyable. We loved the peaceful setting, beautiful views and convenient location for exploring nearby beaches. Excellent communication from the host—we'd happily return."
"Perfect house for our large group in beautiful Wanaka. The host was friendly, responsive and very helpful. We especially loved the sauna and spa bath, making it a fantastic place to relax after exploring the area."
"Awesome stay in a lovely location. The home had everything we needed for a relaxing weekend. Thank you!"
"Perfect home for my family. Beautiful location, warm and comfortable house, excellent communication and comfortable beds. Definitely recommend."
"Very enjoyable stay with excellent amenities including a coffee machine, TV, sound system and sauna. Although there were a few minor cleaning issues on arrival, the Matters team responded quickly and organised a cleaner immediately. Overall, a great experience."
"Amazing and professional service."
"Gorgeous and comfortable home in a lovely location. Highly recommend."
"Nice house with a great view. Thanks for having us."
"We stayed for 5 days and really enjoyed our stay. The home was spacious, well-equipped, and offered beautiful views from the backyard. Shopping centres were just a couple of minutes away, and the beach was only a short walk. We had a fantastic time!"
Good place. Thank you Matters.
"A very cozy house... We loved having the fire on every night, spent hours in the hot tub, and soaked up the gorgeous view. Everything was very clean and the kitchen was amazing."
"Lovely home with a tub, perfect for a chilly day. Would stay again next time!"
"Beautiful view, fully equipped kitchen, clean and modern kitchen and bathroom. We enjoyed our stay! Highly recommend!"
"We stayed for a work trip and it was great."
"Plenty of room and off-street parking. Safe and quiet. Clean and tidy, everything you need."
"Great house to stay with a large group... Very toddler friendly, spacious, and the spa bath and sauna made it remarkable. The host was communicative and helpful."
"We had a great stay... Check-in was straightforward, communication was seamless, dedicated parking was a huge bonus, and the villa was comfortable with everything we needed. We'd definitely stay here again."
"The property is really comfortable."
"Cannot speak more highly of this place with the professionalism and flexibility of the team. We encountered problems with the road closures and they allowed us to stay longer and gave us the option to stay an extra night. Place is STUNNING! Fantastic area, so clean and gorgeous and the fireplace in winter was magical. BOOK. NOW!"
"Had a comfortable stay. The place was clean, quiet, and exactly as described. Host was responsive and easy to communicate with."
Beautiful house, premium kitchen, lots of room with great views from all of them, nice secluded area. I loved the layout of the house with all of the bedrooms upstairs, felt like it had a lot of character, made me feel right at home.
This place was great for our family group. There was plenty of space. A nice large kitchen made it easy for everyone to help with the cooking. The armchairs and sofa were comfortable, whether for conversation or watching the football. There were plenty of heat pumps as well as a fireplace and bonus sauna!
Warm and cozy, homie vibe
We had a great stay at this Queenstown property and would happily recommend it. It was really well looked after, check-in was straightforward and easy, and communication with the host was quick and seamless throughout. Having dedicated parking made arriving and getting around so much easier. There’s EV charging a 2-3 minute drive away from the property, which was a great bonus. The location was ideal, just a few minutes drive to Five Mile Shopping Centre for groceries, with plenty of great eateries and restaurants close by too, including a really nice Japanese restaurant. It's also about a 5 minute drive to Queenstown Airport, while still being a short drive to the wider Queenstown area and lake front. The two-bedroom villa was comfortable, and exactly as described, with everything we needed for a relaxed stay, fast WiFi, Netflix, a well-equipped kitchen, and views of The Remarkables. We'd definitely stay here again.
Stayed here with a friend while exploring Central Otago and this Queenstown villa exceeded expectations. The property was spotless, beautifully presented, and exactly as described.
The view of the Remarkables was stunning. It made every morning coffee in the courtyard a highlight. The villa is peaceful, comfortable, and perfectly set up for two guests, but it would easily accommodate up to four with two bedrooms. The linen and beds were comfortable. There was ample storage.
Loved the open-plan living area and fully equipped kitchen. The wifi was fast, no lagging netflix movies. The accomodation was well heated and cosy. After long days exploring the region, it felt like a home away from home.
The location is excellent, just minutes from Five Mile Shopping Centre and Queenstown Airport, with easy access to Queenstown CBD, Arrowtown, Glenorchy, Coronet Peak, and The Remarkables ski fields. Dedicated secure parking was an added bonus and made getting around easy.
Communication was seamless from booking through to check-out, and the property was exceptionally well maintained throughout. We would happily stay again and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a quality Queenstown stay that offers the perfect balance of comfort, convenience, location, and value.
Matters go the extra mile and completely transform our home - I look forward to Thursdays as it's the day they come!
We used Global Matters to clean our home in Remuera post renovation and before going on the market. Their attention to detail and extremely high standards, left the house absolutely sparkling. Thanks Ana & team!
Ana's team did a great spring clean for my kitchen and pantry, excellent attention to detail and very time efficient.
Ana and team have done a wonderful job for us taking care of our AirBnB. The cleans are thorough, linen of top quality and well cared for. They are very easy to contact and communicate with and on top of all the jobs that need doing. We have used the team multiple times and will continue to do so.
Ana and her team have been amazing!! So reliable and go the extra mile always!!! I’m very impressed with what services Matters has done from management of short term rentals to maintenance to special requests from tenants and not only are they great to me as a property owner but also so accommodating to the guests too!! Highly recommend Matters for your cleaning and short term property management!
Fantastic. Super hard worker. Thanks
A fantastic team that are great to deal with and always deliver to a very high standard. Great attention to detail and the team go the extra mile to make sure a great job is done. Great communication across the whole team. Highly recommend.
Impeccable communication, impeccable attention to detail and much more than I could ever hope for.
Absolutely incredible. Ana and her team are magic fairy godmothers who make life manageable and my home better than I could’ve imagined. Highly recommend.
Ana and her team completely sorted and reorganised my house to accomodate some AirBnB bookings. the house has never looked so good. Nothing is a problem and everything is done to a high standard. Highly recommemd A++++
We work huge JOBS we also have loads of kids...Ana's team of housekeepers are immaculate. They go the extra mile + every time. Ana has an eye like no other & a relatable, personable demeanour to match. Our household wouldn't function in seamless order & upkeep like it does without her service. Love XX
Our airbnb is in dedicated hands on hands. Direct & consistent communication makes it easy to know exactly where we are at & allows open lines of comms with an infectious bubbly & friendly voice behind each phone call. Ana is great; her staff are reliable. We highly recommend Matters. Nga Mihi
Ana is exceptional; with her hands on the pulse at all times & honest communication we feel our family home is in safe hands & handled with the utmost care. 100% +++ recommend Ana & her team of fantastic housekeepers who turn over our home efficiently and exceptionally.
Absolute Wizard! Eye for detail like no other, we adore Ana's team, we have been with her since June 2021. Her manner is enthusiastic which rubs off on her staff who greet us 3 times a week with a smile & leave behind a squeaky clean home xx
Top team; so greatful we stumbled across Matters upon moving home from Hong Kong.
Matters does not disappoint - I recommend to all colleagues in need of housekeeping & general house management. Those hidden hands are appreciated in our very busy household. We have been with Ana & team for 2 years.
Living overseas & knowing our property is in caring hands offering us an A+ service is reassuring. We don't have to worry about anything & Anas team always go that extra mile. Ana is easy and direct with her communication, with an approachable manner she is always making it a seamless operation with us being so far away from our home.
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