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Original poster

Expat nannies or child minders in Singapore?

29 replies

makingitup · 25/11/2012 03:25

Anyone know any expat nannies or child minders in Singapore?
Full time nurseries, helpers or singaporeon nannies seem like the only childcare options in Singapore from my research.
I currently work 3 full days a week and my 2 and 1/2 year old boy goes to a great pre-school for 3 hours each morning. Currently we have a helper who picks him up from school and plays with him during the afternoon until i get home early evening. We're not entirely happy with the situation for various reasons and would much prefer a child minder or another parent if at all possible.
Any advice out there? Does this exist?
Cheers
Cathy

OP posts:
laptopwieldingharpy · 25/11/2012 10:45

Let me ask around. Quite common here in hong kong, but never come across one in singapore.
You looking for a live-in?

forevergreek · 25/11/2012 11:55

If you are prepared to pay you could find an English nanny from a London agency who will work abroad. They don't come cheap though and will require a visa and accomadation provided

Original poster
makingitup · 25/11/2012 14:59

Thanks for the responses guys. Not looking for live-in - would be great if you could ask around - thanks so much. Good idea about London agency... prob out of our price range but worth looking into.

OP posts:
laptopwieldingharpy · 26/11/2012 03:09

Hi, no personal recomendation am afraid.
Have you posted on the noticeboards at the british club, TTS or Dover court?
How about mother and child at tanglin mall? The health visitors might be able to point you the right direction?
Also thinking through the doulas at parentlink?

Merlion · 26/11/2012 03:36

I know of one who is just about to go back to Oz but I will ask her if she knows of anyone else (she was live-in though).

butterfliesinmytummy · 26/11/2012 06:43

If you are looking for local nannies (not expat but trained in childcare and experienced) try an agency called innovon. We used them when we were looking for a babysitter when dd2 was very small. The lady who came (and babysat on and off for a couple of years) was Singaporean but a (young) grandma herself and worked every day as a nanny for another expat family (7-7 I think).

I've never heard of expat day nannies in singapore I'm afraid but ask around, doesn't mean they don't exist!

Moving2Zurich · 18/01/2013 06:50

Hi makingitup

Are you still looking for a nanny? My current nanny is Srilankan, she has been with us for over a year and is Infant & Child First Aid certified. She used to run her own home nursery back home. We will be relocating to Zurich and I'd like to help her find another posting.

Original poster
makingitup · 11/02/2013 08:43

Hi there
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you - when are you leaving? Have you already found a job for your Sri Lankan nanny?

OP posts:
IWasTheBadOne · 25/02/2013 07:38

Hi OP

Not sure if you're still looking for a nanny, but I found your post very interesting. I am a British mother living in Singapore with my two children. I am NNEB qualified and now that my younger son is in mostly full time school I am starting to investigate going back to work, and would prefer part-time so I can be with them as much as possible. Kindergartens seem to have such long hours that I think I have to rule them out, but would be open to the possibility of working as a nanny. Feel free to PM me if you are interested in talking more.

kday · 25/02/2013 12:40

Iwasthebadone - if you find that the OP has already found someone - please let me know. I am hoping to go back to work this year and would love to find an expat nanny for my almost 2 year old, and two older daughters who are at school (5.5 and 4).

soapnuts · 25/02/2013 12:45

Same here! If neither of the previous posters work out I'd be interested in a part-time expat nanny or childminder. I want to go back to work part time but cannot face having any live in help. PM me if you'd like to have a chat.

IWasTheBadOne · 25/02/2013 13:23

This is very interesting! This is the first time I've considered doing nannny work. I suppose because so many people have live-in help that I assumed it wasn't possible here. I certainly don't know of any other expat nannies,but I'm sure there's no reason it can't be done.

Not entirely sure how to approach this. I think the best thing to do is PM anyone interested with some details about me, and you can decide if you want to go ahead with anything.

kday · 25/02/2013 13:25

The biggest issue might be a visa one....

kday · 25/02/2013 13:34

I've sent you a PM!

laptopwieldingharpy · 26/02/2013 00:49

OMG Kday!!!! just realised never answered your PM Blush
You still looking?
sending you a message in a second
sorry for highjack

Agree visa will be difficult to obtain. Not sure under which category it would fall. I suppose a "nanny" would be considered under the domestic helper category, unless you have valid qualification for teaching early years?

nicweatherhead123 · 15/07/2013 13:54

Hi

Are you still looking for nanny work? I have a 7 month old and I'm interested in a p/t nanny.

Thanks
Nic

UsefulBonders · 03/03/2014 02:55

Hi. I am a mother of 2 teenagers who are mostly in school in the mornings till early afternoon. I would like to mind a child/children in the mornings at least 3 hours. Am articulate in the English language, great storyteller, good bonding skills and generally good with children. I'm also trained in Early Childhood. You may contact me at [email protected]

cassandra22 · 22/05/2014 15:43

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

ntvirus · 31/08/2017 20:01

Hi ladies, We have just moved to Singapore from London (still in serviced apartment). It is an easy place people tell me but I am feeling a bit daunted and clueless.. like to get the feel by walking around which is not an option in this weather. Surely will find my feet soon.
I am looking for a British nanny for my daughter aged 2&1/2. My requirements are pretty flexible. I am basically looking for someone friendly and creative to play with her indoors and take her out occasionally to parks/malls. Please let me know if you know of one.

Kuriusoranj · 02/09/2017 02:30

Hi ntvirus - you probably will get more response if you start your own thread, given that this one is so old.

Generally - welcome to Singapore! you will definitely find your way around pretty quick. You may even find you can bear the heat. There are expat nannies around - I had a friend who was one although she's gone home now. Things have got a bit more difficult for trailing spouses in the last year - it's much more difficult to set up and work for yourself. So in the past you may have got someone who was qualified but was working on a DP, that will be very difficult to do now - they will have to be employed by a nanny company of some sort in most cases, or PR.

However, don't rule out the helper option either, particularly if you are just looking for someone to do very basic childcare. It is the easiest way to do things here and you can make it work it the way you want to. It doesn't have to be exploitative and awful.

ntvirus · 03/09/2017 12:48

Thanks Kiriosorang for your reply. I will definitely get help but for childcare I was keen on someone a bit more experience particularly on the communication side. I did not know about the changes for DP .. i myself am on one and will soon be looking for a job!!!

Kuriusoranj · 04/09/2017 14:42

Yes, the DP changes have caught out a number of my friends. It used to be seen as quite an easy way to work - you'd set up as a sole proprietor, then issue yourself a Letter of Consent to work for that business, effectively. That's been stopped - not sure you can work as a sole proprietor at all anymore. I've had friends have their LOC renewals refused, had a friend of a friend actually have to leave as she couldn't afford to stay without working and would no longer be allowed to work for herself. You can still get employed on a DP with an LOC, but word is that it is getting harder to get a 'proper' job on a DP as well. It's not impossible, but I generally would not be relying on it. I and all of my working friends are working on full EPs, even though most of us came as trailing spouses.

Good luck with the settling in - it really is a lovely easy place to be, once you're over the initial hump. Use any and all sources of help you have - we've all been there and most of us like to pay it forward when we can.

AD93 · 10/05/2018 22:27

Hi ntvirus, Kuriusoranj and all of the other people who have posted on this thread (although not sure anyone will see these messages as it's not recent?)

I was interested to read your posts as I am an English nanny and I am looking for a job in Singapore for later in the year as we are moving over with my partners job. All very confusing it seems, but it has been confirmed that an expat nanny can be hired. Just wondered if you have come across any expat nannies yet, or know of anyone who was looking to hire a nanny? I have seen a few jobs advertised but not many! I think most would prefer a domestic helper.

It would be great to hear from you.

Annabelle

Saltedcaramellavacake · 11/05/2018 01:05

What visa will you be on Annabelle? You can’t work on a dependant’s pass but you may be able to get a letter of consent. Otherwise helpers get a foreign domestic worker visa but they have to come from certain countries in the region (Philippines, India etc). I only know of one or two from England who managed to get an FDW visa but they worked for very, very senior expats in key industries for Singapore and the companies arranged.

AD93 · 11/05/2018 08:37

Hi there,

Thanks for your reply. If I can get a job then we're hoping that I can get an FDW, if not then we'll try for an LTVP and potentially just volunteer/look at ways to work. A dependents pass wont be possible unless we are married but these are all things to think about.
Yes, I know what you mean about the type of job and it's not the sort of job I have worked in before but i'm going to give it a go.
Thanks again for your reply. If anyone is considering an expat nanny, please get in touch :)