The first month as a new parent can be the most difficult time of your life, whether you are a mother or a father. Caring for the needs of a helpless little human 24/7 can be particularly daunting and (trust me) extremely stressful. That’s why postpartum nannies (children who look after newborns and help the mother recover from childbirth) are almost like a godsend for some parents.

But the cost of hiring a postpartum nanny and their services comes at a price. Be prepared to set aside a few thousand dollars if you’re considering hiring a postpartum nanny after delivery.

Here’s a guide on how and where to hire a postpartum nanny, as well as information on what you might expect to pay (plus some additional costs you may face).

What do postpartum nannies do?

Full-time postpartum nannies are babies who live with you and stay in the same household for up to a month or more. Before making a financial decision about whether to hire a postpartum nanny, consider the duties the nanny will take on, especially if you already have a housekeeper or someone you can share some duties with.

The focus of a postpartum nanny is on the well-being of the baby and the mother. This includes:

• Feeding the baby and changing diapers, including keeping a log of feeding times and number of soiled diapers

• Bathing baby

• Laundry for mom and baby

• Postpartum bath with herbs for mom

• Brewing childbirth herbal tonics

• Preparation of postpartum food

• Occasional housework such as sweeping and mopping

• Advice on baby care and post-natal recovery

The above tasks may vary from nanny to nanny. Nannies work almost around the clock and some even sleep with the babies at night so they can take care of the little ones without disturbing the mother.

Mothers who want to focus on postpartum recovery usually choose to have a live-in postpartum nanny because they don’t want to overexert themselves during the first month after giving birth. It is believed that mothers who get enough rest during this time recover better and faster and have fewer health problems in the future.

Read more: How much does it cost to hire a maid in Singapore?

Where do postpartum nannies come from and how do you hire one?

Most postpartum nannies in Singapore are either locals or come from Malaysia. Postpartum nannies are in high demand here, so if you intend to hire one, it makes sense to start looking early. You can find a postpartum nanny through:

1. BWord of mouth: Ask family and friends about their postpartum nannies, if they had one. Many reputable nannies are hired through word of mouth and such nannies are usually freelance.

2. Chat groups or forums for mothers: There are countless mothers’ forums, Facebook groups and WhatsApp chat groups in Singapore where women share their experiences with their postpartum nannies and their availability. Some mothers’ forums include MummySG.com, BabyForum.sg and others. You can also visit Facebook groups like Mummies Discussion Group, SG Mummies or Stork’s Nest Singapore.

3. About a postpartum nanny agency: There are numerous licensed agencies in Singapore that provide trained and experienced postpartum nannies. The largest agencies include PEM Confinement, Star Confinement and Caregiver Asia.

The story continues

How much do postpartum nannies cost?

Prices for full-time or part-time nannies, whether freelance or through agencies, can be similar and vary depending on individual needs.

Full-time nanny through an agency: Postpartum nanny agencies usually offer a flat rate. According to various online sources, the fees for a 28-day postpartum period are around $2,800 to $3,900 or even more. However, the prices are not always displayed on the website and you may need to call and inquire with each agency directly to get a more accurate cost depending on your requirements. Prices usually increase during festive seasons, such as Chinese New Year. The price also depends on whether it is an only child, twins or triplets.

Some agencies do not cover work permit fees and charges (if the nanny is not a Singaporean) even though they submit the work permit application on behalf of their clients. Some agencies also charge booking fees and replacement fees if families want to replace the current nanny with another one.

Part-time nanny: Some mothers prefer part-time nannies to full-time live-in nannies. Part-time nannies (or day nannies) do not stay at the client’s home and usually work there from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. They take care of the usual mother and baby tasks, cooking and doing some household chores. According to various online sources, prices range from $2,800 to $3,500 for 28 days, which is quite similar to full-time nannies, since part-time nannies have to arrange their own outside accommodation and cover daily transportation costs.

Read more: How much does it cost to hire part-time cleaners/maids/housekeepers in Singapore?

Freelance Nanny: Freelance nannies are generally a little more expensive, but some come highly recommended through word of mouth. You can expect to pay between $3,300 and $4,000 for 28 days, depending on the nanny’s popularity, duration, time of year (higher fees during Chinese New Year), number of babies (single, twins or triplets), number of floors in the house (costs more if the house has more than one floor), or if she cooks for an additional person (usually costs an additional $100 per person). Nannies from Singapore are usually more expensive, up to $1,000 extra for very experienced and professional ones.

A freelance nanny will typically require a security deposit that ranges from $200 to $300, although some nannies may charge more.

Other additional costs

In addition to the fees for hiring a nanny for a month, you must expect other costs, such as:

• Your benefits: On the first and last day of confinement, nannies must be given Ang Baos. Ang Baos for the first day range from $30 to $80, while Ang Baos for the last day range from $100 to $500. Some agencies even specify a mandatory Ang Bao amount.

• Herbs: Childbirth is about the recovery of mothers after giving birth and in Chinese tradition, some traditional herbs as well as ingredients are needed for this. Expect to spend around $200 to $300 or more to purchase herbs as well as cooking ingredients such as sesame oil, black fungus, wolfberries, red dates, etc.

• Kitchen equipment: If you don’t already own a slow cooker or thermos, you may need to purchase one for the nanny. Some nannies have very specific requirements for the equipment used to cook certain dishes, and you may need to purchase new pots and other kitchen appliances. Set some money aside for this.

• A single size mattress and pillow for the nanny to sleep on: $80 to $100 for the mattress and $20 or more for a pillow.

Hire a freelance nanny from Malaysia

If you plan to hire a freelance nanny who is currently in Malaysia and you want her to come to Singapore to work, you will need to apply for and pay for her work permit, duties, transportation and other related costs. Below is a breakdown of the estimated costs if you arrange a freelance Malaysian nanny yourself. All of these costs are in addition to the salaries you will have to pay for her.

Work permit from the Ministry of Labor: $35

Monthly fee: $60 for a newborn child with Singapore citizenship; $300 per month for a newborn child who is not a Singapore citizen.

Transport/flight to Singapore and back: From $180 (depending on flight or mode of transport) each way.

Health insurance for nannies: The standard health insurance that must be taken out for the nanny will cover any other medical expenses such as unexpected illness or injury in Singapore. The coverage for this must be at least US$15,000.

Postpartum nanny insurance plans fall under the category of maid insurance and cost between $190 and $240.

Optional medical examination: Some families require their nannies to undergo a health screening before hiring them. Such screenings can cost between $100 and $200.

The Ministry of Manpower has set further eligibility criteria and requirements for the recruitment of postpartum nannies from Malaysia, which can be found here.

Read more: Complete guide to getting household help insurance in Singapore

This article was originally published on January 22, 2021 and has been updated with new information.

The post “How much does it cost to hire a postpartum nanny in Singapore?” appeared first on DollarsAndSense.sg.