Childcare in Singapore for expats
Three options, all with waiting lists or paperwork: infant care from 2 months at the full unsubsidised fee, a live-in helper you sponsor, and a confinement nanny for the first 28 days. Each takes months to arrange, so the decision belongs in the second trimester. Checked 22 September 2026.
Get on infant care waiting lists now, or decide on a helper
Infant care takes children from 2 to 18 months, and families register during pregnancy. On price, the only figure the government publishes is ECDA's Anchor Operator fee cap: operators in the scheme keep to a monthly cap of S$1,235 excluding GST for full-day infant care, S$610 for full-day child care and S$150 for kindergarten. Checked against ecda.gov.sg on 22 September 2026.
Paperbump schedules this usually between week 20 and week 26 of the pregnancy. What this step involves · ecda.gov.sg
Decide on a confinement nanny, and sort her work permit early
A confinement nanny lives in for the first weeks after the birth, cooks, and looks after the baby at night. It is a Singapore institution and expat families use it too. Checked against mom.gov.sg on 22 September 2026.
Paperbump schedules this usually between week 28 and week 30 of the pregnancy. What this step involves · mom.gov.sg
Confirm the infant care place, or the helper's arrival
Infant care takes babies from 2 months and maternity leave ends at 12 weeks, so the handover lands here. The rest of this is Paperbump's advice, not ECDA's: confirm the start date with the centre, ask for the settling-in schedule, and check what the monthly fee includes — meals, diapers and the enrichment extras are often billed on top. Checked against ecda.gov.sg on 22 September 2026.
Paperbump schedules this between 8 weeks and 3 months after the birth. What this step involves · ecda.gov.sg
Get these dated from your own due date — free, nothing is sent to us