Advice on moving to Geneva please!

[GenevaMaybe]

DH is fairly close to signing a contract for a new job in Geneva.

I am half excited and half scared. We have a 9-month old DS and I'd like another baby next year.

My main questions are around childcare for our baby and healthcare in pregnancy and birth. Do people have nannies or Do most babies go to nurseries? Is it heinously expensive?

Most likely we will live in the Cologne Bellerive area with friends for a bit when we first arrive but then we'll be looking for a place to live. So many questions actually I don't know where to start. Gaaaaagh. Just any advice would be so so gratefully received.

I'm not in Geneva but Vaud, which is just next door.

Childcare is expensive, if you want to work you may find a nanny is best. A garderie is the equivalent of a nursery in UK. If you don't want to work and just want some time alone with DC2 then think about a Jardin d'enfants. They tend to be open morning or afternoon throughout the week. You may well be restricted in how often you can leave your DC there (for us only 2 mornings a week allowed) but it gave me some time alone with baby DC2.

Health insurance is mandatory and private cover may not cover you for maternity immediately. DC2 was born within a year of us arriving so i was only covered for state care, but that was more than adequate for me. The care was amazing; two midwives, an obstetricians and a gyno throughout the birth and a complete back up team waiting in the wings when DC2 got stuck. I never got anywhere near that level of care in UK. You will see a gyno throughout your pregnancy, i saw mine every month and had a full scan every month, which was great.

Goodluck!

Thanks so much for writing back.

We will initially live with friends in collonge bellerive and then move in closer to town, probably champel or eaux-vives. The driver is commuting time as my husband will have to work long hours and doesn't want to then be stuck in traffic for ages to get home. Do you think those places will be family friendly or are we better off being out of town a bit?

I heard nannies are absolutely exorbitant, is that true? I will probably be working (just need to find a job first!)

My friend is a nanny, she earns 35CHF an hour. I only know of her costs though, never tried to find myself a nanny.

Living or not living in Geneva is a personal choice. I personally would choose a village outside Geneva and have your DH commute in, but that may not suit you. Apartment living with DCs can be hard; restrictions on noise, restrictions on access to washing machines etc mean that a lot of expats prefer houses. But again that is personal choice.

Hi Maybe

I live in Geneva with two young children. I've been here for three years. Happy to answer any questions. Feel free to message me.

There are a few options for childcare: a nanny, maman du jour (usually a mum who takes your kids in to her house with hers and maybe a couple of othes) and nursery. If you want the cheaper nursery option you will need to register on the state waiting list, known as BIPE. They allocate places but priority is given to families with two working parents etc. We opted for a private nursery. It's very small and in the scheme of things here not too expensive.

I've been in Geneva for five years, two children born here. Is true that you will only have basic state care if you get pregnant in the first year, but medical care is awesome here. For cr??ches - it is a real struggle to get a place, becais ethe level of provision is nowhere near the level of demand. That being said, we got a place for ds1 born in October for the following September, no problem although we did register as soon as I got pregnant. Anyway, much like healthcare, the standard is very high if you do get a place.
Feel free to pm.