France admin steps

Claim help with childcare costs (CMG)

The complément de libre choix du mode de garde is the CAF's contribution to what childcare costs you, whether that is an assistante maternelle, a micro-crèche or care at home. What you get depends on your income, the number of children and the type of care. Checked against caf.fr on 22 September 2026.

Who it applies to

Everyone having a baby in France

On your timeline

Paperbump schedules this between 4 weeks and 6 months after the birth

Official source

caf.fr

Last checked

22 September 2026

What else to know

It cannot be claimed in advance: the request goes in once the baby is born and the care has actually begun.

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Part of

• Maternity leave, partner's leave and money in France 5 steps
• After your baby is born in France: what to do 5 steps
• French help with childcare costs what each route costs, and who pays for it
• French pregnancy and baby words, in English CMG and 15 others explained

Around the same time

• Check what the baby needs to stay legally (titre de séjour, DCEM) between 4 weeks and 6 months after the birth
• Put the baby on both parents' carte Vitale between 7 days and 6 weeks after the birth
• Check the CAF knows the baby has arrived between 7 days and 8 weeks after the birth