The Cost of a Babysitter or Nanny in Singapore

When you have a babysitter or a nanny, you can now finally go on that date and get out of the house! My preference is to sit quietly by myself in a coffee shop, sip a hot americano, and read a book. Alternatively, you can just use this time to take a shower, do laundry, and tidy up the house. The possibilities of what you can do with this time are endless and essential for your sanity.

While hiring someone to care for your child temporarily may not be your first choice, it is sometimes a necessity. As a result, you need to find a trustworthy and capable individual that can care for your child and ideally nurture them as you would. While older nannies have years of experience with their own families, younger enthusiastic babysitters have more energy and possibly even an early childhood education certification. Here are the costs associated with hiring a babysitter or nanny in Singapore.

Babysitter Versus Nanny

babysitter

Rido/shutterstock.com

A babysitter is defined as someone who temporarily cares for children upon request for the child's parent or guardian. A nanny is someone who is completely invested in a child's development and well-being. In general, a babysitter usually works part-time, such as every day from 3 pm to 6 pm. On the other hand, a nanny is typically full-time while the parents are at work. However, these job titles can be used interchangeably and are used reciprocally in this article. Moreover, it is more important to look at the individual's qualifications and passion for childcare.

Private Businesses and Online Marketplaces

KiZroo & MaMaroo

http://www.kizroo.com/

Located within Tanglin Shopping Centre, KiZroo & MaMaroo links you with a well-trained Singaporean babysitter at home or the option of a Japanese or Singaporean babysitter on-site at their centre. They will also accompany you and your children to doctors' appointments or shopping trips.

Fees start from S$20 per hour per child, for a minimum of three hours. To get started, you will need to pay an upfront S$20 fee. It is important to note that this service is not a spontaneous drop off babysitting system. Instead, a reservation is required to schedule a suitable sitter on a predetermined date and time.

Singapore Last Minute Babysitter on Wheels

https://www.facebook.com/babysitteronwheels

On the other hand, if you need a last minute babysitter, there is a service that supplies last minute babysitters. By last minute, they still require 1.5 hours notice. The Singapore Last Minute Babysitter On Wheels responds 24 hours a day and is comprised of a network of nine nannies.

All the nannies are first-aid certified and experienced with backgrounds ranging from medical care, nursing, early childhood or are simply experienced mothers themselves. Although they are not a big business with a fancy website, they are more like your trusted neighbor that will watch your kids. They charge between S$20 and S$25 per hour.

Find-a-Nanny

https://findananny.sg/

find a nanny is an online marketplace that specializes in nannies and babysitter profiles. You can browse the available nanny profiles for free, but you will need to upgrade your account to view the nanny's contact information. Similarly, you can post your own nanny-wanted ad for free and potential nannies will need to upgrade their accounts to see your contact details.

This website is a great option to avoid going through an agency. If you need assistance with Work Permits or Visa requirements for your babysitter, Find-a-Nanny will connect you with an expert. While every nanny has a different starting rate, to give you an idea of the cost, one family was able to find a nanny for S$18 per hour to work four hours per day from Monday to Friday.

Nannies on Wheels

http://www.nannies-on-wheels.sg/

Nannies on Wheels fulfills the very definition of a "nanny." This social enterprise provides on-demand nanny services. What truly sets them apart is that they care about the well-being of your child. In fact, the nannies are called "educarers" because they educate your children while caring for them.

These educarers bring educational age-appropriate materials to your home. The goal is to engage your child in meaningful activities. If you commit to long-term services, you will also receive progress reports on your child's development. Unfortunately, they aren't as upfront about their pricing on their website. Instead, they recommend emailing info@nannies-on-wheels.sg to get in touch for more information.

Babysitting Agencies

While private businesses and digital marketplaces can be helpful, if you are a bit more traditional, you may opt for a babysitting agency. The Ministry of Manpower or MOM licenses the following agencies.

Babysitters Singapore

http://www.babysitters.sg/

Since 1998, Babysitters Singapore has been growing its extensive database of experienced babysitters. This agency screens all of their babysitters and provides the best match for your needs. Monthly fees for babysitting at the nanny's house start at S$750. If the nanny comes to your home, monthly payments start from S$1,800, S$15 per hour for a regular part-time basis, or S$25 per hour on an as-needed basis.

Domestic One

https://www.domestic1.com.sg/

DomesticOne specializes in babysitting, confinement nanny duties, as well as other cleaning services. It has been featured in The Straits Times, The Finder, and theAsianparent. One helpful policy is that they offer up to three free replacements at no added cost because they value customer satisfaction.

Full-time babysitting at your home will run you a minimum of S$2,000 per month. On-going babysitting starts at S$18 per hour for a minimum of four hours per session. Ad-hoc services are a bit more expensive. They charge S$180 for the first four hours and then S$30 per hour after that.

Just Us Childcare & Eldercare Services

http://justus.com.sg/

This MOM-licensed agency connects you with qualified Singaporean or Malaysian PRs to provide a full range of childcare options. With more than 15 years of experience, there are professional nannies, registered baby nurses, on-call babysitters, confinement nannies, overseas holiday or special needs nannies, and childcare teachers or governesses.

Just Us has extensive services that range from part-time, full-time, ad-hoc, temporary or permanent basis or an indefinite basis. The Service Fees are based on: The hours of service provided on ad-hoc, casual or monthly basis

- Duties and responsibilities
Number of children
Working hours and days of service
Traveling distance

NannyPro

https://www.nannypro.com.sg/

NannyPro focuses on matching a nanny who lives in your neighborhood for a full-time nanny or near your workplace for corporate care. This nanny is then assigned to care for your child exclusively. There are also services for ad-hoc care, travel overseas care, or a live-in domestic helper.

NannyPro has a precise breakdown of their costs and fees for their services. For example, the day rate from 8 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday costs S$22 to S$25 an hour. The evening rate from 6 pm to 10 pm Monday to Friday costs S$35 to S$38. The overnight rate from 10 pm to 7 am Monday to Friday requires S$40 per hour. See their website for more details.

NannySOS

https://www.nannysos.com.sg/

NannySOS is well-known as a confinement nanny service, although it also offers services for long-term nannies, ad-hoc babysitters for last minute assistance, as well as prenatal and postnatal care. All of their nannies are professionally trained with at least three years of experience.

28 days of confinement nanny service with experience is around S$2,800, whereas the babysitting price varies by location, time of day, and day of the week. For reference, at home babysitting during the daytime, evening, weekend, and holidays all start at S$25 per hour. On the other hand, outdoor babysitting from 8 am to midnight will run you S$35 per hour.

Final Thoughts

When entrusting your children in someone else's hands, it is essential that you thoroughly review their qualifications and references. Of course, you will want to meet your nanny first to see how she interacts with your children. Sometimes personalities clash, or your children may not be accustomed to her management style, which may not always be a bad thing!

Be ready to ask your potential babysitter questions, instead of merely reading her profile or trusting the agency that sent her. Ask her about how she would handle situations, such as a temper tantrum and what activities she would do to engage your children. It's likely that you do not want someone who intends on letting your children watch television all day while she plays with her phone.

Finally, it is okay to set down rules in your house. Be specific with your expectations so that everyone is on the same page. This includes your children's schedule, how much television and playtime are allowed, and what type of meals to prepare if needed. Furthermore, be sure to discuss all the costs upfront.

If you are satisfied with the answers you hear, give the nanny a test run. Remember to leave all vital contact information and directions for medication, if applicable, before you leave the house. This may be the start of a long-term relationship that will alleviate some of your stress, give you a change to relax, or at the very least, allow you some time to interact with some adults!