Alpine Nanny Zermatt | How Catherine Brooksmith Built a Trusted Childcare Team in the Alps

When you’re heading to Zermatt with kids in tow, there’s one name that comes up time and again: Alpine Nanny. Founded by Catherine Brooksmith, what started as a one-woman service has grown into a trusted team of nannies, helping families enjoy stress-free ski holidays in the Alps. We sat down with Catherine to chat about how her business began, what she looks for when building her team, and, of course, what she loves most about life here in Zermatt.

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Background & Business Origins

Can you tell me a bit about yourself? When did you first come to Zermatt, and what brought you here?

I’m originally from South Africa and moved to England with my family when I was 13. I finished school in England and then went to college, where I trained as a nursery nurse. 

After college, I discovered summer and winter season nanny jobs. My first summer season was with Mark Warner. I met a nanny friend from Scott Dunn, who showed us their brochure for the winter season.

All eight of us from Mark Warner were employed by Scott Dunn for the following winter. I arrived in Zermatt during the winter of 2009/10 and never really left.

What inspired you to start Alpine Nanny? 

I met my partner Franky in 2013, and he said, “So, how do I keep you here?” I replied, “Well, I have this idea.”

Basically, I found the person I wanted to be with, and I wanted to stay here.  At this point, the whole seasonnaire lifestyle had changed so much. You couldn’t come and work for an English company anymore. They were stopping all of this.

I had to work for a Swiss company. Instead of working for a Swiss company, I created one myself. So, Alpine Nanny was born. My guests from previous years wanted to book with me, and it went from there.

How has Alpine Nanny evolved?

I worked alone for the first two winters. I hired a good friend named Laura for the third winter, and it snowballed from there. From the following winter, I had three nannies, and we’ve been growing ever since.

Most of our business occurs during the winter months. Over the summer, I return to working alone, and bookings tend to be more last-minute than advance or regular.

Unique Challenges & Benefits

What are some of the unique challenges of running a nanny business in a ski resort like Zermatt?

There’s a variety of challenges, but the main one is organising everyone’s schedule and being prepared for last-minute bookings. We have guests who book way in advance, which is easy to organise, and then we receive last-minute babysitting bookings. 

I have to factor this in when creating the schedules. At the start of the season, a nanny might say, “Hey, why do I have gaps in my schedule?” and I respond, “No, you don’t, trust me, they won’t be gaps for long.”

The downside to this is that we all have to remain flexible; if there’s a gap in the schedule, it’s not good to make plans that we may have to cancel for a last-minute booking.

We must balance the peak weeks with the quiet weeks to accommodate time off; flexibility is key.

What are the benefits of running a childcare business here?

Zermatt draws a lot of international tourism, and I love meeting guests from all over the world and getting to know some interesting families. It can be a very intense time with a family, and then they’re gone. You might see them the next year, or you might not. 

Some kids grow up with us, and others might visit for a brief time, but it’s the gratitude and thanks that come from that week as well. We got to ski, we got to actually do things, and we know that our little one was so happy, and that’s another reason why I started Alpine Nanny.

Have you had any particularly memorable or heartwarming experiences working with families?

The best experiences are watching the babies we look after grow up. You take them to ski school, they learn to ski, and you get to share that with the parents.

It’s almost like you’re part of a family. I look after a little one called Oscar. I first looked after him when he was five months old, and now he is 11. You become as special to them as they are to you. And that’s really cool, forming those relationships is a lovely perk of the job.

Hiring & Staff

What do you look for in the nannies you hire?

Primarily an Au Pair background. They don’t necessarily have to be as qualified as I am, but they must have nannied for families where they’ve been working and understand the routines of babies, because we care for so many little ones. 

Our niche market is babies, and parents are more reluctant to leave their babies in childcare. I therefore need to ensure the nannies have experience, references and a valid first aid qualification.

Do you provide any additional training?

When new nannies arrive, it’s more like an orientation. It’s getting them familiar with Zermatt, because once December comes, it’s chaotic. They need to know where the lift stations, parks, and other similar things are located. 

We go through all of those things, and then we have in-house paperwork, procedures and pricing to cover.

Housing is an issue for workers in Zermatt, particularly during winter. Do you help with finding accommodation for your nannies? 

Yes, we provide accommodation for our nannies, because otherwise I wouldn’t have a workforce. That’s a big concern that we take on. 

We rent an apartment year-round to house the staff during winter. From May to November, I try to find a summer tenant; it doesn’t always work out, but we can’t have our nannies staying in St. Niklaus, as it wouldn’t be feasible. 

The staff pay for the accommodation, but only the amount required to cover rent for the time they are there. It’s a risk for us to take on the apartment annually, but it’s a necessary one.

Looking Ahead & Personal Favourites

What are your hopes for the future of family-friendly tourism in Zermatt?

We are very fortunate to have lots of outdoor activities to entertain the children and plenty of parks. I would love an indoor kids club for little ones that wasn’t affiliated with a hotel, but at the moment, there are too many restrictions for one to be created. 

Thankfully, the outdoor spaces are excellent, and we always bring along extra toys to keep the kids entertained.

What’s your favourite thing to do in Zermatt when you’re not working?

In winter, I love snowboarding, and in summer I love hiking and swimming in the lake at Täsch.

With my own kids, we enjoy spending time at the parks—there’s always plenty to do for all ages. In winter, we love playing in the snow and visiting the animals. It’s really about switching off and enjoying everything this place has to offer.

Alpine Nanny Zermatt | Not Your Average Babysitter

Talking with Catherine, it’s easy to see why Alpine Nanny has become such a lifeline for families visiting Zermatt. Her mix of professionalism, warmth, and love for the mountains shines through in everything she does — and it’s clear she’s built a team that shares the same values. Whether you’re here for a week on the slopes or a whole season, Alpine Nanny gives parents the chance to explore Zermatt with peace of mind, knowing their little ones are in the best hands.