All You Need Is Love: Celebrity Parents That Raised Their Kids Without Nannies

Ashley - July 15, 2023

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson, an American actress best known for her role in Empire, experienced extreme hardship in her younger years. She and her high school sweetheart William LaMarr Johnson welcomed a son in 1994, and the couple couldn’t have been more thrilled. However, Johnson was murdered in 2003, which created a difficult situation for the now-single working mother. Despite this awful tragedy, Henson knew she had to be strong for her young son. She continued working and spending as much time with her son as possible. Rather than relying on nannies, Henson relied on family, friends, and a village of support to help her raise her son. While Henson did find love again years later with NFL star Kelvin Hayden, it wasn’t fated to last, and the couple broke off their engagement in 2020.

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Jerry O’Connell and Rebecca Romijn

Actor Jerry O’Connell is best known for his role in Kangaroo Jack. He’s been married to former model and current actress Rebecca Romijin since 2007. This power couple knew exactly what they wanted out of life. Romijin gave birth to twin daughters in 2008, and the couple has devoted themselves to raising their family. Despite playing the role of a manny on the show Mistresses, O’Connell stated in an interview with Us Weekly that he and his wife wouldn’t feel comfortable hiring professional help for their children. “I wouldn’t be comfortable with it,” he explained. The couple focused on trading off and picking up each other’s slack whenever possible to get through the grueling newborn and toddler stages. They’ve built their family on a foundation of helping each other succeed, and it appears to be working out wonderfully for them!

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Ricky Martin

Latin pop star Ricky Martin has had his fair share of challenges over the years. Martin went through several relationships in the public eye, and he struggled to come to terms with his sexuality during this period. Martin felt being a Latino in Hollywood was hard enough, let alone also being gay. However, in March 2010, Martin publically came out as gay via a message on his website. Two years prior to this announcement, Martin decided to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a father. He became a father to two sons born through gestational surrogacy in 2008. Martin now has a partner, Jwan Yosef, who helps raise the children. The Livin’ La Vida Loca singer didn’t want to let his children out of his sight, and it seems Yosef has been on board with his hands-on approach to parenting.

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Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillipe

Another powerful pair of entertainment stars who chose to raise their kids without the help of nannies is Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillipe. Phillipe, best known for his role in I Know What You Did Last Summer, and Legally Blonde star Reese Witherspoon have been together since 1997. The couple married in June 1999. They had two children together, a daughter in 1999 and a son in 2003. Despite a deep love for one another, the couple split in 2006, citing irreconcilable differences. They shared joint physical custody of their children and worked hard to raise them without outside help. Speaking on the situation, Witherspoon said, “I imagine it would have been more difficult if we weren’t as hands-on as we were or if we allowed them to be raised by nannies. I think then they would become spoiled.”

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Mayim Bialik

Mayim Bialik, best known for her roles on Blossom and The Big Bang Theory, always knew she wanted to raise her children herself. In 2003, Bialik and Michael Stone married in a Victorian-themed ceremony following traditional Jewish customs. The pair had two children together before divorcing in 2012. Bialik, after taking a decades-long break from television, returned to the big screens after having her children. This decision was made so she could spend more time with them and not worry about relying on nannies. While Bialik was firm about this decision, she doesn’t judge other celebrity parents who make a different choice. In an article the star wrote for Kveller, Bialik explained, “I don’t think I am better than anyone for making the choice not to have a nanny, celebrity or not. My husband and I made the choice that was right for us, and everyone gets to make the choice that’s right for them.”

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Nicole Polizzi And Jionni LaValle

The Jersey Shore was more of a reality sensation than a reality series with the way audiences grasped onto the show and refused to let go! Many stars emerged from the series, but few became as popular as Snooki. Perhaps it was Snooki’s wild personality and effortless charm that won audiences over, but she’s grown up a ton since the series premiered. Nicole Polizzi (Snooki’s official legal name) and Jionni LaValle became engaged in 2012 and the couple welcomed their first daughter later that year. They welcomed another daughter in 2014 and announced their third child in 2018. Polizzi and LaValle wanted to raise their children without the help of 24/7 nannies, and they’ve been pictured many times bringing their children out and about with them, just like any non-famous family.

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Jamie Lynn Spears and Casey Aldridge

Jamie Lynn Spears, best known for her role as Zoey in the hit Nickelodeon series Zoey 101, announced she was pregnant at the tender age of 16. Rumors swirled that her pregnancy was why this hit series was canceled, but Spears has since disproven this claim. While her pregnancy with Aldridge, who was 18 at the time, was unexpected and controversial, the couple made it work. They announced their engagement in 2008, and Spears gave birth later that year. Despite some ups and downs, Spears and Aldridge ultimately ended their relationship in 2010. Spears went on to have another child in 2018 after marrying businessman Jamie Watson in 2014. After giving birth to her first daughter, Spears took a five-year hiatus from her acting career to focus on being a mother- without the help of nannies. She took a similar approach when her second daughter was born. Her determination to raise her children has been a major inspiration to fans.

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Ryan Gosling And Eva Mendes

Canadian actor Ryan Gosling has racked up some serious credits in his entertainment career, including starring in the hit films Blade Runner 2049, Drive, and the recent Barbie movie. Eva Mendes is a similarly accomplished actress, with credits in major productions like Hitch and Ghost Rider. This couple met while filming The Place Beyond the Pines together in 2011 and quickly began dating. The pair had two daughters together, the first born in 2014 and the second in 2016. While speaking with InStyle, Mendes discussed her role as a mother and the deep desire she felt to care for her children without hiring outside help. “I’m a very hands-on mom; I don’t have a nanny. No matter how tired I am, I just do it,” Mendes said. We applaud her strength to continue such a vibrant career while taking care of her little ones at home.

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Jessie James Decker And Eric Decker

Power couple Jessie James Decker and Eric Decker aren’t just bigshots in their respective fields, they’re also inspirations in the parenting world. In 2013, American country pop singer Jessie James Decker married NFL wide receiver Eric Decker. The couple have welcomed three children into the world; a daughter in 2014, a son in 2015, and another son in 2018. With super busy schedules to keep up with the life of an NFL star and singer, most people would expect this couple to hire at least a couple of nannies to help out with childcare. However, the couple was determined to parent their children themselves. Jessie James Decker even brought her two adorable children on stage during a performance at the Grand Ole Opry! That is hands-on parenting!

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Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian

Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian and well-known tennis superstar Serena Williams are an example to us all of how a working couple really can do it all! The couple married in 2017 and confirmed later that year that they were expecting their first child. She recently announced in 2023 that they are expecting their second child. Despite having the option of hiring nannies and other professionals to help raise her children, Serena prefers to keep things in the family. With the help of her husband, mother, and sisters, Williams is working hard to raise her family while continuing her impressive tennis career. She and Ohanian are determined to raise their family themselves and both have spoken publically about their devotion to their family.

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Jennifer Love Hewitt And Brian Hallisay

Brian Hallisay, best known for his roles in the CW drama Privileged and the Lifetime drama series The Client List, married Ghost Whisperer star Jennifer Love Hewitt in 2013. The pair welcomed their daughter later that year and had a son in 2015. In September 2021, the couple welcomed their third child, another son. Speaking during an interview with People while her daughter was 18 months old, Hewitt said, “We didn’t have a night nurse, we didn’t have a nanny. We haven’t ever had any of that stuff. It’s been really interesting to do it all ourselves.” The couple went above and beyond to preserve their careers without taking time away from their important family lives. Now with baby number three reaching the toddler stage, they appear to be seasoned pros at balancing work and family life.

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Beverley Mitchell And Michael Cameron

Beverly Mitchell is best known for her role as Lucy Camden in the wholesome hit Lifetime drama 7th Heaven. She married her long-time boyfriend, Michael Cameron, an accountant, in Ravello, Italy. The couple married in 2008 and went on to have three children together. Mitchell is another star who believed in the importance of spending quality time with her children while they were still young. She and her husband never hired a nanny, night nurse, au pair, or similar professional to help raise their children. Instead, they relied on the strength of their relationship and familial connections to help see them through while continuing their careers.

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Candace Cameron Bure And Val Bure

Ice hockey player Val Bure and Candace Cameron Bure, best known for her role as DJ Tanner in Full House and its Netflix sequel Fuller House, have three amazing children together. The couple married in 1996 and share a daughter and two sons. Not only did the actress refuse to hire a nanny, but she also chose to forgo having a personal assistant! Candace is a strong woman, determined to raise her children on her own terms. The star once spoke in an interview about family life and said, “I’m blessed to say my kids have traveled all over the world, and we’ve never brought someone along to help with them.” It appears at least one of her children wants to take after her mother in the entertainment industry. Her daughter, Natasha, competed in season 11 of The Voice at the age of 18.

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Brad Paisley And Kimberly Williams-Paisley

Country star Brad Paisley, known for his hit singles Whiskey Lullabye and I’m Gonna Miss Her, has never let his career ambitions get in the way of raising his family. He married Kimberly Williams in 2003 after a nine-month engagement. The pair have two sons together, born in 2007 and 2009. Paisley spoke about family life in an interview with People and mentioned his desire to retain his connection to the everyday working class. “I don’t care how high and mighty you are: Change a diaper, man,” the country star said. When asked how he and his wife manage without outside help, Paisley spoke about the importance of relying on family. His and his wife’s mothers have been a tremendous help in raising their children, and its given this star the opportunity to continue his life’s passion while remaining a family man.

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Cate Blanchett And Andrew Upton

Australian actor Cate Blanchett is best known for her roles in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Thor: Ragnarok. She met screenwriter and playwright Andrew Upton in Australia in the mid-1990s, and the two quickly pursued a relationship. They married in December 1997. Together, they have three biological sons and one adopted daughter. While it sounds difficult for a movie star to raise her children without the help of a nanny, personal chef, or au pair, Cate Blanchett and her husband are making it work. They wanted to raise their children on their own terms, without excessive outside influences. They even travel the world together for her work with their children in tow!

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Hilarie Burton And Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Jeffrey Dean Morgan, best known for his roles in Grey’s Anatomy and as the father of destined monster hunters Dean and Sam Winchester in the hit CW series Supernatural, married One Tree Hill star Hilarie Burton in 2019. The couple was introduced by Morgan’s Supernatural co-stars, and their wedding was officiated by Jensen Ackles. Despite struggles to conceive, Morgan and Burton eventually had two children together. Now, the family lives on a 100-acre farm filled with animals, crops, and lots of love. Morgan and Burton decided to ditch hiring professionals in favor of taking care of their children themselves. After all the effort they went through to conceive, they didn’t want to let their precious children out of their sight!

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Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She’s an absolute legend in her field, having released hit singles like That’s The Way Love Goes and Any time, Any Place that continues to be popular several years after their release. Jackson fell in love after being introduced to Qatari businessman Wissam Al Mana in 2006. The couple married privately in 2012 and welcomed a son in 2017. Only a few months later, the celeb announced she and her husband were separated. Jackson had her son later in life, but it was a move that served her well. Jackson was determined to give her all to her son, and has said that if her mother could raise nine children without professional help, then the star could handle raising one. Jackson continues to be an inspiration to fans for her tireless work as a star and a mother.

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