Inspiring Conversations with DeAnna Fulton of Handpicked Nanny

Today we’d like to introduce you to DeAnna Fulton.

Hi DeAnna , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is DeAnna, and I am the owner of Handpicked Nanny. I have over ten years of professional experience in the childcare industry, but my journey and love for children truly developed as a child myself, growing up helping my mom care for infants of relatives and close friends.

As a freshman in undergrad at Agnes Scott, I began as an in-home nanny and babysitter. This provided me with a firsthand perspective on the importance of the relationship between a child and their caregiver, as well as the trust that families place in the people caring for their children every day. As my experience grew, so did my passion for childcare. In addition to working as a nanny and babysitter, I also worked in the daycare setting as an infant and toddler teacher, and in the community as a youth sports coach. These experiences helped me develop a deeper understanding of child development from a holistic perspective, including children’s physical, emotional, social, and cognitive growth. Each role taught me something valuable and reinforced just how important quality care and positive relationships are during a child’s early years. Those experiences showed me that the people who care for children truly help shape their confidence, development, and the person they grow into.

Today, I am a full-time pediatric emergency and trauma nurse. My nursing career began in the neonatal intensive care unit, where I spent almost two years before transitioning to pediatric emergency and trauma full time. This background has added a unique layer to how I approach childcare and family support. A child’s safety, well-being, and overall health is always at the forefront of my mind, and I carry this mindset into everything I do. Being a nurse means I show up every day with both clinical knowledge and deep compassion, and those same values are woven into the foundation of Handpicked Nanny.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like any business, the road hasn’t always been easy, and there have been challenges that have pushed me to grow both personally and professionally.

One of the biggest obstacles has been building and maintaining a roster of caregivers who truly meet the standard Handpicked Nanny was founded on. Finding candidates who are not only experienced, but who also bring the right temperament, professionalism, and genuine passion for childcare is no small task. Our name says it all, every caregiver we represent is handpicked, and that level of intentionality takes time, discernment, and a commitment to never settling just to fill a spot.

The second challenge has been one of education, just as much as business: helping families understand the true value of in-home childcare. Private, in-home care is a significant investment, and understandably, some families have concerns about the cost when they first explore their options. A part of my role has become helping families see the full picture: they are investing in a dedicated professional who is solely focused on the safety, development, and well-being of their most precious person. Caregivers deserve to be compensated in a way that reflects the skill, responsibility, and emotional labor the work requires, and when families truly understand that, it changes the conversation entirely. One of the most delicate balancing acts has been knowing when to have flexible conversations with families about their budget, without compromising the value of the service and undercutting the caregivers we work so hard to support.

The third challenge has been maintaining consistent business and a steady flow of leads. Like many service-based businesses, there are natural ebbs and flows in demand, and learning how to navigate those seasons while continuing to grow has been one of the most important lessons in my entrepreneurial journey. It pushed me to be more intentional about visibility, marketing, and building a network that keeps Handpicked Nanny at the forefront of the mind for families when they need care. Consistency in business doesn’t happen by accident, it requires showing up, staying connected to your community, and continuously finding new ways to communicate your value to the people who need you most.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
As discussed in my earlier response, I now have over 10 years of experience in the childcare field. A major turning point in my journey came about 4.5 years in, when I relocated to Augusta to pursue my master’s degree in nursing. At the time, I was still deeply connected to the families I had worked with over the years, and even while balancing graduate school, I would often drive two hours back home on weekends just to continue helping them with childcare support. Eventually, as my schedule became more demanding, I realized I could no longer provide the level of availability those families needed and deserved.

What stood out to me most during that transition was how difficult it was for those families to find trustworthy, high-quality replacement care. These were families I genuinely cared about, and watching them struggle to find dependable caregivers was the moment everything shifted for me. It opened my eyes to a much larger gap in the childcare industry and inspired me to create a service that could connect exceptional caregivers with families who truly needed reliable, high-quality support, and that vision became Handpicked Nanny.

Through Handpicked Nanny, my goal has always been to create more than just a childcare agency. I wanted to build a company rooted in compassion, professionalism, and mutual respect, one that prioritizes the well-being of both families and caregivers. Families deserve exceptional, trustworthy care, and caregivers deserve to feel valued, supported, and fairly compensated. Both matter equally to me.

Looking back, it’s incredible to see how far the journey has come. What continues to drive me every day is knowing that this work genuinely changes lives, helping parents feel supported, helping children feel safe and nurtured, and building lasting relationships that families can count on for years to come. It’s equally rewarding to support nannies by connecting them with families where they are valued, respected, and able to build meaningful, long-term careers doing the work they love. That has always been the mission, and it always will be.

For families seeking occasional care, date nights, or flexible support, our new web-app for babysitting will make it easy to connect with trusted caregivers. What makes our platform different is that these are not random sitters pulled from a database, every caregiver is personally handpicked and vetted by our team to ensure families receive safe, high-quality care they can truly rely on and trust. Please visit HandpickedNanny.com for more information and a direct link to join our booking app.

For families seeking long-term childcare support, including part-time and full-time nanny placements, we work closely with families through HandpickedNanny.net to create intentional, lasting matches based on each family’s unique needs. Because we focus heavily on quality and individualized support, we only accept a limited number of family placements each month to ensure every family receives a personalized experience.

If you are unsure which option is best for your family, visit our FAQ on HandpickedNanny.com for further guidance. You can also schedule a consultation with our team through our contact form on both websites. Whether you need occasional babysitting or a long-term nanny partnership, our goal is always the same: providing dependable, relationship-centered care that feels like an extension of your village.

Lastly, we are always looking to expand our caregiver network. If your values align with our mission and you are interested in joining our team as a nanny or babysitter, please visit handpickednanny.net/candidates/ and click the “Apply To Be A Caregiver” button at the bottom of the page. We look forward to connecting with you and representing your craft!

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
When it comes to mentorship, my journey may look a little different. I didn’t have a dedicated mentor in the childcare industry guiding me from the start, but what I did have was family, and that made all the difference. Honestly, Handpicked Nanny was built from a place of pure love and passion, and I figured out a lot along the way.

My dad was instrumental in this journey, especially in the early stages of my business. He built my first website and used his expertise in marketing to help me establish a presence online, run ads, and generate my first leads. My sister, Anyla, following in his footsteps in the marketing realm, helped with website updates and brought valuable insight on social media strategy and business ideas that helped Handpicked Nanny reach more families. Without them both, the business would not have grown the way it did. Their support wasn’t just practical, it was personal. So my biggest piece of advice when it comes to finding a mentor? Look around you before you look outward, sometimes your greatest mentor is right in front of you.

I’ve also been fortunate to have mentors in other areas of my life who have been incredibly pivotal in my growth, both personally and as an entrepreneur. Even when someone isn’t directly in your industry, mentorship and guidance can still be invaluable. Sometimes you simply need someone you trust to bounce ideas off of, challenge your thinking, offer a different perspective, or remind you of your bigger vision when things feel overwhelming. Having people around you who are willing to pour into you, share wisdom from their own experiences, and encourage you along the way can make such a difference in life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.handpickednanny.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handpickednanny/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HandpickedNanny
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/handpicked-nanny/