褓姆，也作保姆、保母，是照顾儿童的人。现代的褓姆未必会留宿，不少待儿童的父母下班回家就会离开，把儿童交回父母照顾。从前于大宅里工作的褓姆通常是直接向女主人负责。

在中国大陆，“保姆”并不单指照顾儿童的家政服务人员，而是发展为对佣人的称呼（因为1949年之后，“佣人”一词被认为有歧视含义，故此用“保姆”一词代替）。在日本，“褓姆”被称为“保育士”，但在1999年以前，也称“保母”（因为自1990年代起，随着男性保姆的就业数增加，加上“保母”一词被认为女性专有，为了性别中立，故以“保育士”一词代替）。

A nanny, childminder, child care provider, or mother's helper (the last designation not to be confused with the slang term "mother's little helper," denoting a tranquilizer pill) is an individual who provides care for one or more children in a family as a service. Traditionally, nannies were servants in large households and reported directly to the lady of the house. Today, modern nannies, like other domestic workers, may live in or out of the house depending on their circumstances and those of their employers. Professional nannies are usually certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, qualified in First Aid, and have a degree or extensive training in child development. There are many employment agencies that specialize in childcare and online services that aid in finding available nannies.