Nannies in Denmark

[Spacetravel]

Does anyone know of a nanny agency or any other way of getting in touch with qualified nannies in Denmark? We are only there temporarily (3 months) so can't enrol our son into nursery. He is 9 months old and we need someone to look after him 2 to 3 days a week. I have looked and looked but can't find anything!

Not 100% sure about Denmark but in Sweden, nannies are hard to find.
You can put him in day care at a year old but before that I think you are on your own.
The day care is so reasonable here (sweden) and everyone is entitled to it that there isn't the need for independent nannies.
Not much help I know but maybe a little insight.

DH is Danish and I asked him. He said the high labour costs have priced out nannies. Those who want a nanny get an au pair instead of a nanny. His cousin is self employed and with four kids she tries to keep 3 au pairs going because they jump ship to other Danish families with less children. She ususally gets Swedish au pairs as the language isn't that different.

Check out NannyCPH, pricy though! always lots of highly qualified non-Danes looking for work too. It's hard to get work if you don't speak Danish. You could advertise on the expat Facebook pages

Thanks everyone - the nanny cph website seems to be down, and I think you're right - there just aren't really nannies in Denmark. I am a bit concerned about leaving a baby with an au pair. We've been in touch with a few and they sound eager but totally inexperienced ...

I totally hear you on not wanting to leave a baby with an au pair. Have you considered a Norland Nanny for the first few years. The difference in cost is probably minimal. DH was telling me that the minimum wages are all governed by union contracts and that there is no minimum wage for non-union employees. He then told me everyone who is Danish is part of the union. For a semi-skilled role he said union contracts that he was aware of in his workplace have the minimum wage as $25-30/hr and increase with experience. Im using USD btw.

DH said he personally would be very hesitant to hire a Danish nanny if they were in a union because all the union contracts he has dealt with all have overtime at 1.5x after 37 or 40 hours of work.

Im sorry that you are going through this. I know I couldn't live in Denmark because of the lack of choices you have in so many areas. Its not just daycare.

Im sorry that you are going through this

yes, it's frightfully difficult not being able to exploit people and being forced into paying a minimum wage to someone looking after one's child And the OP is only going for 3 months not several years.

Yes, we are only going for 3 months so we don't need to find a long-term nanny. But thanks for your advice want2b. iOS strange how I never considered childcare to be a cultural issue, but it obviously is! I think the best we can hope for is a personal recommendation once we are there. I will update if j find out any more useful information.

Dane here! (Namechanged not to out myself)

It's true, nannies are few and far between in Denmark, for many reasons, yes, they Re expensive, salaries a higher than the UK across the board (as are taxes) so naturally would be for nannies too. Child care in nurseries ( and i think council employed childminders too) is heavily subidised and unbelievably cheap compared to British standards ( what bought my friend in Denmark a month's worth bought me 4 days in outer London 10 yrs ago)

For such a short period I think your best bet might be to
Look at a private childminder ( dagpleje) they do exist ( who looks after baby in their home) I'm not sure if you would be able to register for a council one. But I wouldn't be shy to phone the council in the area to ask. Most Danes speak very good English.
Alternatively, bring a nanny with you. - or maybe you know a young Brit ie family or family friend, whom you would trust who might like to come along as an au pair?

OP which area are you going to?

Thanks viking! We will be in Copenhagen. I have not heard of childminders in Denmark- are they registered and qualified like in the uk?

Space, have had a quick google, bear w me for a day or two and I'll see what I can dig out for you. On my way to a wedding, so not ideal for proper answer. I'll be back!

Thank you!

Hi Op
Ok I've surfed a bit and I'd definitely try phoning the council in Copenhagen. I'm guessing that for 3 months a council place won't be relevant, but they may well be able to point you in the right direction. Also, there seems to be different kinds of choldminders, so it would probably be helpful to speak to someone in the know.
As far as I am aware, the council also inspect private childminders, but like here, a childminder is not necessarily formally qualified. The council contacts are here:
subsite.kk.dk/sitecore/content/Subsites/Institutionsportalen/SubsiteFrontpage/VuggestueOgDagpleje/Dagpleje.aspx

I would have a browse around that site using google tranlate, unfortunately I can't check how well that works as my pc has crashed( grrr) so writing from my phone.

Here is the 'notice board' advertising private child care on the council website
www.opslagstavle.kk.dk/

Here is another place where private childminders advertise
bornibyen.dk/koebenhavn/search?category_id=157&kind=place

Again hopefully Google Translate will be your friend.

Search words if you want to search more:
Privat dagpleje / private børnepassere ( private Childminder/childcarers)

Hope some of this might help

Oh and adding 'København' ( Copenhagen ) to narrow Your search! May be an idea

Thank you! This is very helpful! Thank you so much

Also worth asking expat groups as there are loads of well qualified ladies around who could be persuaded to child mind for 3 months. Plenty of teachers etc who might go for something flexible.

Is it Copenhagen Kommune you will be in or one of the outer ones? What area will you be in?

There are lots of childminders in Copenhagen Kommune as there are long waiting lists to get children into daycare, it would be different in other Kommune. I am in gentofte and there are no waiting lists.

Hello Spacetravel,

I could see you are looking for a nanny for 3 months.I had some years of experience in looking after children.I did this for years in UK but currently in Copenhagen with my family.

Apart from being a nanny,personally I love children and have all it takes to look after them and understand their feelings at all times.

If you won't mind,you can send me a message on [email protected] to talk about this.

Stay good.

We have had au pairs for several years now! Almost all have been amazing! Is this a one off move? If suggest listing with au pair world. A nice Aussie/kiwi girl would love this experience teamed with some uk or other European time!

hi i live here permanently. ds goes to dagpleje and honestly we couldnt be happier. occasionally he has to go to the nursery if she is on a course or is ill. she is trained as a carer, thiugh more geared towards older people and hospitals. Dagpleje have a 3 week basic course. she takes much better care of ds than the ones in tje nursey wjo are better qualified. eg the weather forecast said rain, but they only put the kids in jackets, not the waterproof trousers that were in the same bag. so all the kids had to wear their extra set of clothes.

Hi Spacetravel, I live in Denmark too in jylland. Childcare is very cheap compared to the uk. My (Danish) husband and I have to pay full price for dagpleje as we are over the threshold. We pay around £300 a month for childcare from 6:30 to 16:30 monday to thusday and on friday the childminder finishes 15 minutes early. That is the standard hours for a childminder. Like most danes she speaks English. If she is ill we are sent details of her replacement by text and have to say yes/no to my son going to the alternative dagpleje.

If you look on meetup for international groups in Copenhagen you might also find a non Danish nanny.

Hi @Spacetravel - I know this is many years later, but I am now in the same position as you - hoping to spend 3 months in copenhagen next summer (so in a year, but just doing my research), and looking for some childcare. I hope it worked out for you...Could you let me know how you resolved your situation/what you could recommend? Many thanks!

Hi @Spacetravel - I know this is many years later, but I am now in the same position as you - hoping to spend 3 months in copenhagen next summer (so in a year, but just doing my research), and looking for some childcare. I hope it worked out for you...Could you let me know how you resolved your situation/what you could recommend? Many thanks!

Hi @Spacetravel - I know this is many years later, but I am now in the same position as you - hoping to spend 3 months in copenhagen next summer (so in a year, but just doing my research), and looking for some childcare. I hope it worked out for you...Could you let me know how you resolved your situation/what you could recommend? Many thanks!

Hi @Spacetravel - I know this is many years later, but I am now in the same position as you - hoping to spend 3 months in copenhagen next summer (so in a year, but just doing my research), and looking for some childcare. I hope it worked out for you...Could you let me know how you resolved your situation/what you could recommend? Many thanks!