PRICE GUIDE · CHILDCARE & FAMILY · 2026–2027
Maternity Nurse cost in the UK
£250–£450 per day. Typically £300.
Maternity nurses are paid by the twenty-four hours: about £250–£450 a day in the UK, with £300 a common rate for one baby. Twins, years of experience, London agency bookings and short-notice starts all push the daily rate up, and the nurse lives in for the booking.
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HOW MUCH IT COSTS
How much does a maternity nurse cost in the UK?
| Low end | £250 | a newer nurse, one baby, booked direct |
|---|---|---|
| Typical | £300 | what most people pay |
| High end | £450 | twins with an experienced nurse through a London agency |
Locufy guide prices for 2026–2027. Updated 2026. A national range, not a quote — enter your town above for real prices from the babysitters, childminders, nannies, crèches and agencies near you.
What moves the price
- One baby or twins — a maternity nurse caring for twins or triplets charges a higher daily rate
- Experience — a maternity nurse with many years and strong references charges more than a newer one
- Agency or direct — London maternity agencies sit at the top of the daily range
- Length of booking — a maternity nurse booked for several weeks is easier to secure than a few days
- Days on and off — a maternity nurse usually works six days, so families cover the seventh themselves
- Late arrivals — if the baby is late, many maternity nurses charge a retainer while they wait
WHAT YOU GET
What a maternity nurse booking includes
Takes: Typically booked for two to twelve weeks, living in, usually six days a week. Not included: The maternity nurse's room and meals, travel and agency fees are on top of the daily rate; night-only help and longer-term nanny care have their own guides below.
WHAT PEOPLE BOOK
Common maternity nurse jobs
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Maternity Nurse near you, with prices shown
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How to pay less
- Book the maternity nurse for weekdays only and have family cover the weekends, which lowers the weekly cost of care
- Consider a maternity nurse for fewer weeks followed by a night nanny for a few nights a week
- Compare agency fees with booking a maternity nurse directly, and check what the agency fee covers
Before you book
- Check the maternity nurse's references, training and enhanced DBS, PVG or AccessNI check
- Agree what happens if the baby arrives early or late, including any retainer for the maternity nurse
- Prepare a private room for the maternity nurse close to the nursery
- Clarify whether the maternity nurse is self-employed or whether you need to run payroll
Maternity Nurse cost: questions people ask
Roughly £250–£450 for each twenty-four hours, with £300 typical for a single baby. Twins and experienced nurses through London agencies cost most.
Most bookings last two to twelve weeks. The nurse usually works six days on and one day off, living in for the whole booking.
There is no single compulsory qualification, though many hold newborn care training and some are midwives or nurses. In England a maternity nurse can join Ofsted's voluntary Childcare Register, which also lets you pay through Tax-Free Childcare.
Usually not — the role is focused on the newborn. Care for older siblings is normally arranged separately with a nanny or family help.
The nurse's room and meals, travel to you, agency fees and any retainer for a late baby are on top of the daily rate.
They are Locufy guide prices for the UK, drawn from published daily rates for maternity nurses. They show a national range, not a quote for your booking.