Working parents in Singapore may have difficulty finding the best childcare for their children. One of their main priorities should be finding reliable child care without going over their budget while they pursue their new career. In this article, we will help you make some wise decisions regarding childcare alternatives and costs.
How much does child care cost in Singapore?
The cost of child care in Singapore varies widely based on which center you opt for, who looks after your child, and the work arrangement you can agree on. You may pay from $0 to as much as $2,000 monthly.
Let’s have a look at your options, starting with the cheapest and working our way up to the priciest.
Flexible Working Schedule
One of the easiest ways to save money while still being able to play an active role in raising your child is to negotiate for more flexible work hours. But this only works if your job enables you to do so.
Working from home part-time or full-time is one example of flexible working, but there are other workplaces where employees can choose their schedules.
You may request flexible work options from your workplace or seek an employer who currently provides them. If your household budget can accommodate the varying income, freelancing can be a great option that allows you to spend more time with your child.
A trustworthy Family Member
Your child may feel more at ease if you seek assistance from someone you trust, such as your parents, in-laws, or siblings from the same household. However, the amount of time and attention they can provide depends on their abilities and commitments.
Moreover, keeping up with the demands of a hyperactive toddler can be difficult for elderly parents who are getting on in years, and younger family members may not have the time or resources available.
This arrangement may benefit you and your family more if you have a babysitter or childcare center.
Nanny
Although there is no apparent distinction between a babysitter and a nanny, we can define a babysitter as someone who only watches the child. In contrast, a nanny is someone who also helps with the house and frequently stays overnight.
You may want to consider hiring an amah or nanny if you’re tired of waking up in the middle of the night or if you need help around the house in addition to babysitting. Amahs or nannies are usually older women with extensive expertise in caring for children and can assist with various chores other than merely watching the infant. Before bringing on a new employee, make sure to tell them exactly what their responsibilities will be.
Nannies and amahs are recruited the same way as the conventional way of hiring babysitters.
On the other hand, nannies have several certifications that might indicate how well-versed they are in their field. AECES and Adventlinks-SAUC Education Center are two organizations in this field. Other organizations like Wings-KKH Confinement Nanny Training Program and Thomson Medical Centre, both WDA-approved, also provide confinement nanny work and caregiving certifications. Many elderly nannies may lack these qualifications, but they may be capable of compensating for it with their years of service. The choice is yours.
The average salary in Singapore: $750 (daytime only, including meal costs) to $1,500 (overnight or stay-in). Make sure you’re resourceful and inquire about Amahs (unmarried, elder Chinese aunties) ready to work as a stay-in assistant for roughly $700 a month.
Domestic Helper
If you need some assistance with childcare, hiring a domestic worker specializing in children will make sense, primarily if you work long hours or have other responsibilities when you get home. However, you may have to take on more responsibility if you choose this alternative.
Domestic assistants are legally your workers; thus, you must take care of their daily needs, such as food, clothing, and medical care. However, there are ways you can eliminate your financial risks as an employer. One is through Great Eastern Life’s MaidGR8 Insurance, which provides comprehensive yet cheap insurance for your domestic helper.
MaidGR8 provides the necessary coverage required by the Ministry of Manpower for your helper while she is in Singapore. MaidGR8 Insurance Plans offer 24-hour coverage of up to S$60,000 for death and permanent disablement and up to S$3,000 for medical expenses.
Hiring a new domestic assistant from a reputable agency also comes with certain upfront costs. Hiring one of the many domestic assistants currently employed by another family and wanting to shift to a new home can reduce the costs. This practice is known as a “maid transfer” in Singapore.
In addition to the upfront fees, be sure you have enough money to cover the wages and expenses of your hired helper. Her monthly take-home pay might range from $450 to $570, depending on where she is employed and where she lives. It’s essential to remember that those who have worked in Singapore for a long time might get a higher salary.
You’ll also need food, utilities, and a transportation budget for her to live. Based on our best estimates, the monthly costs will be around $269.90.
Lastly, there’s a maid levy that we must take into consideration. This is collected on a monthly basis. You will have to spend a $60 concessionary rate since your helper is most likely caring for a minor.
Average cost per month: $779.90 – $899.90
Babysitter
Hiring a babysitter is a brilliant option if you’re uncomfortable with having a live-in helper or need a caregiver during working hours. There are many types of babysitters, ranging from college students seeking additional income to actual experts.
Some are older and more experienced, while others are students trying to make a little extra cash. Depending on your needs, you may book a babysitter in advance or just when needed and take your child to them. Some may also opt to go directly to your place.
Make sure the babysitter you choose has expertise with newborns and knows how to handle breast milk and sterilize bottles and diapers while caring for a small child.
How much are babysitters paid?
Singaporean babysitters may be hired for as little as $700 per month to watch your child for 10-12 hours per day, five to a half days per week. It is possible to get a lesser price if you leave your child with the babysitter and are willing to allow her to care for other children simultaneously.
The hourly wage ranges from $15 to $40. In Singapore, the cost of a babysitter can vary widely based on a variety of factors:
- Where you get your child’s caretaker from. If you hire a babysitter directly, you may be able to get a better deal. There are babysitting services like Nanny Pro, Find a Nanny, and Baby Carers, where you may find a nanny for a flat fee.
- Where the babysitting occurs. Babysitting your child in your house is more expensive than dropping them off at the babysitter’s house. Outdoor childcare is also more costly than indoor babysitting.
- Regular versus ad hoc service. It can be more expensive to hire a babysitter for a few months or even a year than to hire an ad-hoc service.
- What time the babysitting will take place. For example, overnight babysitting at Nanny Pro may cost up to $45 per hour for evenings, weekends, and public holidays.
These are only preliminary estimates, so look into the costs quoted by each babysitting service.
If you’re interested in hiring a nanny, consider these agencies:
A Child-Care Center
As a working parent, infant care or daycare center is probably your best option if you cannot be there for your child on weekdays.
Once your child has outgrown the newborn stage, enrolling them in a daycare center may still be more cost-effective than employing a babysitter or nanny for the same length of time (i.e., at least 18 months old). The cost of child care is significantly higher.
Some centers in Singapore cater only to babies under 18 months, and childcare centers with on-site baby care. Centers offering care for children as young as 3 months old up to six years old are becoming increasingly popular as centers adapt to meet the needs of parents who cannot afford to stay home with their children.
It’s essential to keep in mind that a daycare center isn’t just a location where your child is cared for while you are at work. Typically, each childcare center includes an educational program.
Despite Singapore’s low birth rate, most families are dual-earners, making it difficult to find a good childcare center. As you might expect, Singapore’s childcare market is highly competitive.
No one-size-fits-all answer to how much you’ll have to spend for an educational facility. Children can benefit from socialization in a safe environment at a daycare center, where professional staff members watch over them. Most centers typically offer preschool and after-school care for children up to 14, offering organized programs for children under the age of 7.
Many childcare options are available depending on a kid’s requirements, curriculum choices, and money. Listed here are the prices you may anticipate spending for each of the following:
Premium Childcare Centers
Most Premium Childcare centers often focus on a teaching style that they claim can transform your child into a genius. Premium privately-owned childcare centers offer a unique curriculum based on teaching philosophy. Others specialize in art, speech, and theater programs, while others specialize in multilingual classes. In addition, they provide primary school preparedness programs and a larger teacher-to-student ratio, allowing your kid to get more individualized attention.
Average cost per month:$1,000 – $2,500+
Anchor Operators
Anchor operators are privately operated childcare centers that receive funds from the Anchor Operators Scheme. Like premium childcare centers, they feature a curriculum focused on early childhood education. The significant difference is that anchor operators receive money that limits their monthly rates to $720 for full-day daycare, $1,275 for full-day infant care, and $160 for kindergarten.
Examples:
Average cost per month: up to $720 (for full-day childcare) – $1,275 (for full-day infant care)
Partner Operators
Like anchor operators, partner operators get government support to maintain the affordability of early childhood education in Singapore. As of October 2020, their rate ceilings for full-day child care are $800 for children and $1,400 for infants. In 2021, these fees will be expected to decrease to $760 and $1,330, respectively.
It’s critical to pick a daycare center that fits your child well. The Early Childhood Development Agency ECDA) provides a comprehensive directory of childcare centers in Singapore that you can use to find the best fit for your family’s needs. You can use the ECDA’s Preschool Search Portal to locate a nearby preschool.
Average cost per month: up to $800 (full-day childcare) – $1,400 (full-day infant care)
Subsidies
Don’t let the high expense of daycare in Singapore discourage you. All parents who meet the eligibility criteria will receive increased subsidies for child care beginning in 2020. The following grants are available to Singaporean citizens whose children are enrolled in an infant or child care center licensed by the ECDA. The ECDA’s subsidy calculator can also help you determine your amount of aid.
Come up with a plan that works for you and your family.
Parents always seek the greatest daycare alternative that will suit their children’s demands while allowing them to keep up with their professional and personal lives.
Aside from the costs, it’s essential to consider what’s most important to you and your family. Choosing the cheapest choice may save you money but also jeopardize your professional prospects or damage your family ties. Paying more for child care may be worth it if it allows you to meet other demands.
Singaporeans can take advantage of incentives to lower the cost of high-quality child care. You may rest assured that your child’s needs will be met while you are at work if you do some cautious budgeting.
Choose a personal accident plan like Great Eastern Life’s Great Junior Protector to safeguard your children while giving yourself peace of mind. If your child becomes too unwell, the program reimburses you for childcare costs if they are covered under the plan’s six infectious illness coverage options (which include HFMD and dengue).
Learn how to appropriately safeguard and plan for the future of your children right now.