Khloé Kardashian sparks debate about nannies—and why moms still feel so judged

The Kardashian family is one of the wealthiest on the planet. Love them or roll your eyes and scroll, it’s nearly impossible to escape them. So when Khloé Kardashian started talking about “nanny shame” on her podcast, I listened.

And honestly? I found myself nodding.

Because even though I’m not a billionaire —uh, not even close—I’ve heard the same passive-aggressive remarks about having “privileged” childcare. Here’s what I know as a mom of five raising kids far from family: I buy every single minute of help I can afford. Because we were not made to raise kids alone, and these days, the reality is that many of us need to buy the village back.

To be clear, I love being with my kids—and I work hard to support our family  and be able to afford childcare and house help. Thirteen years ago, when I first became a mom, I truly couldn’t afford the help I needed. I worked full-time with part-time childcare, beginning my day at 6 am and finishing late at night. I made work happen when my kids were sleeping, but it wasn’t easy. But now that I can afford more help, that’s what I invest in–more than a car upgrade or even vacations. 

Related: Postpartum depression left me isolated—here’s how I built a village for moms

“We all have help”: Khloé Kardashian says the quiet part out loud

In a recent episode of her podcast Khloé in Wonder Land, the Good American co-founder got candid: “People that talk s— about nannies, we all have help in some capacity,” said Khloé, who shares daughter True and son Tatum with ex Tristan Thompson. “You can call it daycare, you can call it a school, you can call it in-laws, your mother, sister, whoever. A babysitter.”

“There is no shame in that,” she continued. “We’re all blessed, and it takes a village to raise a family.”

Why “paid help” gets side-eye even as we praise the village

There’s a disconnect: society values the idea that parenting is a communal effort—but only when that effort is unpaid and invisible. Let a nanny have a role—and suddenly the mom is perceived as indulgent or  neglecting her family.

This tension—celebrating caregiving as a collective ideal, while penalizing paid help—reflects how American parenting norms lag behind reality. Many moms are forced to choose between exhaustion and judgment.

That contradiction is a key reason many mothers feel guilty getting the support they need. We celebrate “supermoms,” but judge women for getting help.

Celebrity moms speaking openly about real constraints and real help

Khloé may have launched the conversation, but she’s far from alone.

For other celebrities, the critique about nannies is a family one.

On The Jamie Kern Lima Show, Meghan Markle talked about how overwhelmed she was juggling work and motherhood—and revealed she’s relied on a nanny for around five years to handle school drop‑offs and other daily routines. Her candidness highlights how even with help, moms still carry the emotional weight of parenting.

Mandy Moore honored her postpartum doula, Brandi Jordan, publicly. She credited Jordan for guiding her and husband Taylor Goldsmith through “all aspects of postpartum life”—from diapering and breastfeeding logistics to managing sleep routines and emotional recovery. 

Mandy described Jordan as a “friend for life” and acknowledged it truly “takes a village” to transition into motherhood. Jordan, a longtime postpartum expert, has helped countless families through those critical early months.

For everyday moms who rely on childcare to make their lives work, hearing other prominent moms explain how they “do it all” is a relief.

But for many families, even basic childcare support feels financially out of reach. According to our 2024 State of Motherhood survey, 82% of moms say they’ve scaled back or left the workforce entirely due to the cost of childcare. 

Even with high-profile moms talking openly about needing help, the reality for many parents is that affordable care is simply out of reach. According to Child Care Aware of America, in 45 states plus the District of Columbia, the average annual cost of center-based care for two children now exceeds what families pay for a mortgage in those states.

Nationally, the average annual cost of care for a single infant hit around $13,128 in 2024, consuming approximately 10% of a married couple’s median income—and up to 35% for a single parent. Those numbers are well above the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ recommended cap of 7% of income for childcare.

This is reality: when daycare rivals your rent or mortgage, “having the village” feels like a luxury.

Related: To the mama without a village: I see you

A clearer narrative: needing help isn’t a personal failure

It’s time to shift how we talk about help.

Hiring support is one way moms meet the demands of real life. It’s practical, responsible, and often essential.

Getting help doesn’t take anything away from the love parents give. It simply makes that love more sustainable. We don’t need to defend or minimize the fact that we sometimes ask for relief. We need to normalize it.