Singapore admin steps

Get on infant care waiting lists now, or decide on a helper

Infant care takes babies from 2 months, and the good centres have waits of 6 to 12 months, so families register during pregnancy. Full-day infant care costs about S$1,900 to S$2,600 a month for a foreign child: the ECDA Basic and Additional Subsidies are for Singapore citizen children only, so you pay the centre's full published fee. Checked against ecda.gov.sg on 21 September 2026.

Who it applies to

Everyone having a baby in Singapore

On your timeline

Paperbump schedules this usually between week 20 and week 26 of the pregnancy

Official source

ecda.gov.sg

Last checked

21 September 2026

What else to know

The alternative most expat families weigh is a live-in migrant domestic worker, who costs a salary plus a monthly government levy and needs a work permit you sponsor. Neither is quick to arrange, so decide the direction now and start the paperwork or the waiting list.

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Part of

• Childcare in Singapore for expats: infant care, helpers and confinement nannies 3 steps
• Childcare costs in Singapore for a foreign child what each route costs, and who pays for it
• Singapore baby admin, in plain words ECDA and 16 others explained

Around the same time

• Paternity leave: four weeks for a citizen child, none by law otherwise usually between week 20 and week 22 of the pregnancy
• Book the hospital and put down the deposit usually between week 22 and week 24 of the pregnancy
• Tell your employer, and check which maternity leave you get usually between week 16 and week 18 of the pregnancy