A good helper childcare routine is what turns a capable helper into a calm, reliable presence in your children’s day. For many Singapore families, she is the person who does the school pickup, warms the after-school snack, runs the bath and reads the bedtime story. This guide covers what a helper can realistically take on at each age, how to write the daily schedule, how to hand over properly, which official guidance to build in, and how to keep the arrangement working as your children grow.
Whether your helper will be the main carer while both parents work, or a second pair of hands alongside a parent working from home, the principles are the same. Clear duties, a written structure and regular check-ins remove most of the friction before it starts.
If you are still deciding whether to hire, our page on full-time live-in helpers explains how placements work. If you already have a helper, read on.
What a helper can realistically do for your children
A helper’s childcare scope depends on your children’s ages, her experience and your household. Treat the lists below as a starting point for your own.
Infants and toddlers
- Feeding, including bottle feeds and, once your doctor or polyclinic says your baby is ready, introducing solids the way you have agreed.
- Bathing, nappy changes and basic hygiene.
- Settling for naps and night sleep, following the method the parents have chosen.
- Supervised play, songs, reading and sensory activities.
- Noticing signs of illness or discomfort and telling the parents straight away.
School-age children
- Walking to and from school or the school bus stop.
- After-school snacks and meals.
- Homework supervision: sitting with the child and keeping them on task, not teaching.
- Bath and bedtime routines.
- Supervised play indoors and at the playground.
What stays with the parents
Medical decisions, discipline methods you have not explicitly agreed, and situations that need a professional, such as a developmental concern, stay with the parents. Say so at the start so she never feels she has to improvise under pressure.
Building a helper childcare routine that sticks
Children, particularly under fives, rely on predictability, and that is where a live-in helper can genuinely shine. Unlike parents juggling meetings and commutes, her main job during care hours is to be present and consistent.
What works best is a written daily schedule. Not a minute-by-minute timetable, but a clear structure: wake-up, breakfast, activity, nap, lunch, outdoor play, snack, quiet time, bath, dinner, bedtime. Put it on the fridge and keep a copy on her phone.
Build the schedule around Singapore’s climate. Outdoor play is usually most comfortable in the early morning or late afternoon, and a water bottle, hat and a change of clothes in the bag save a lot of trouble on hot, humid days.
Then review it. A schedule for a six-month-old will not fit a toddler, and Primary 1 changes the whole family’s week. A ten-minute monthly check-in catches problems early.
Official guidance to build into the routine
Your helper will follow your rules, so make sure your rules match current official advice. These are the points we suggest every family writes into the routine.
Screen time
The Ministry of Health updated its guidance on screen use in children in January 2025. At the Grow Well SG press conference, the Health Minister said children below 18 months should have no screen time, including background TV, and that for children from 18 months to six years, screen use outside school should be capped at one hour at most. MOH also strongly recommends no screens while eating or before bedtime. For children aged seven to 12, MOH advises less than two hours a day outside school, unless it is for schoolwork. Tell your helper plainly that a tablet is not a tool for keeping a child quiet at meals.
Safe sleep for babies
HealthHub’s baby sleep guidance says to place a baby wholly on the back for every sleep, including naps, until the first birthday. The baby should sleep on a firm mattress with a well-fitted sheet, never on a sofa or nursing pillow, and loose blankets, bumpers, pillows and soft toys should be kept out of the sleep area. Make sure your helper follows this for every nap, not just at night.
Home safety
HealthHub’s advice on a safe home for your baby is direct: never leave a baby unattended in the bath, even for a moment. Keep medicines and sharp items out of reach and latch low cabinets, and treat small objects such as coins, buttons and toy parts as choking hazards. Agree with your helper that bath time means no phone and no leaving the room.
Illness and emergencies
Write down who she calls first, your family clinic’s address, and where the children’s medical documents are kept. Decisions about medicine or seeing a doctor go through you. For an emergency, such as a child who is not breathing properly, is unresponsive or is having a fit, she should call 995 for an ambulance first and then call you. Practise this once together so she knows the address to give.
Handing over childcare properly
The most common mistake we see is assuming a new helper will pick up childcare by watching. That leads to guesswork on her side and frustration on yours. A proper handover covers five things.
- The schedule in writing. Timings, meals, activities and anything time-sensitive, such as medication or nap windows.
- Each child’s needs and quirks. What soothes your toddler, what your son needs to wind down, which foods your daughter refuses, and any allergies.
- Your approach to behaviour. If you use time-outs, show her how. If you do not want treats or screens used as rewards, say so. She should never have to guess on discipline.
- Illness and emergency steps. As above, written down and kept somewhere easy to find.
- How you want updates. Some parents want a message after lunch and nap. Others want contact only if something is wrong. Tell her which.
Spend the first week doing the routine alongside her. Our guide on training your maid in simple routines has more on how to teach a task step by step.
Building a warm, boundaried helper-child relationship
If she is the main carer during working hours, the bond between your helper and your children is one of the most important in the home. A few habits help it grow well.
- Speak about her respectfully. Children take their cue from you, including how you address her and how you thank her.
- Back her authority. Children should know that when you are at work, her instructions count. Overruling her in front of them undermines her.
- Talk openly about attachment. Warmth between a helper and a child is healthy. If it ever worries you, raise it calmly with her.
If you use home cameras, tell her where they are. MOM’s accommodation guidelines say employers must inform the helper about cameras and must not place them where she sleeps, changes or bathes.
MOM rules that affect childcare arrangements
A few MOM rules shape how childcare can be arranged, and they catch families out.
- Where she works. Under MOM’s employment rules, she may only work at the address declared to MOM. If you want her to look after your child at a grandparent’s home, you must notify MOM first, get her written agreement and make sure she is not doing the full housework of both homes.
- Rest days. She is entitled to one rest day a week, and at least one a month cannot be compensated away. Households with young children need a cover plan, such as a parent or grandparent. Our rest day guide explains the rules.
- Levy concession. If you have a Singapore citizen child below 16 in the household, you may qualify for the concessionary levy of $60 a month instead of $300. See MOM’s levy concession page for the conditions.
Hiring a maid for childcare in Singapore: what to look for
Not every helper has strong childcare experience, and not every family needs the same level. If childcare is the main reason you are hiring a maid for childcare in Singapore, focus on these points when you browse helper profiles.
- Ages she has cared for. Infant care is a different skill from managing a school-age child after school.
- Your specific situation. If your child has allergies, special needs or a medical condition, ask whether she has handled something similar.
- Fit with your approach. If you follow a particular sleep or discipline approach, check she is comfortable working within it.
- How she communicates. In the interview, notice whether she asks about the child’s routine or simply waits to be told.
For a newborn, the needs are different again. Our guide on hiring a maid for newborn care covers what to ask. At Femme5 we match families with helpers based on what the role actually demands, so tell us early if childcare is your main need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a domestic helper be the main carer for my baby while I work?
Yes, many Singapore families rely on a live-in helper as the main daytime carer, provided she has suitable experience, a written routine and a proper handover, and the parents keep medical and discipline decisions. Agree in advance who covers on her weekly rest day.
Can my helper look after my child at my parents’ home?
Only if you notify MOM before the arrangement starts, have her written agreement, and make sure she does not take on the full housework of both households. A helper may otherwise only work at the residential address declared to MOM, and illegal deployment can lead to a penalty of up to $10,000 and a ban on employing helpers.
How much screen time should my helper allow my children?
Under MOH’s January 2025 guidance, children below 18 months should have no screen time, including background TV, and children aged 18 months to six years should have at most one hour a day outside school. MOH strongly recommends no screens during meals or before bedtime, and less than two hours a day outside school for children aged seven to 12, unless it is for schoolwork.
Do I pay a lower levy if my helper looks after my young child?
You may. MOM’s concessionary levy of $60 a month, instead of $300 for a first helper, can apply when a Singapore citizen child below 16 is in your household and the conditions are met. It depends on the child’s eligibility, not the helper’s duties.
What should my helper do if my child has a medical emergency?
She should call 995 straight away for anything life-threatening, such as a child who is not breathing properly, is unresponsive or is having a fit, and then call you. For anything less urgent, she should call you or the person you have named, and decisions about medicine or seeing a doctor should stay with you.
Conclusion
A helper can make a real difference to your children’s day, but only when the role is set up deliberately. Decide what she does and what stays with you, write the schedule down, hand it over properly, and build in official guidance on screens, sleep and safety. Then keep talking, because the routine that suits a baby will not suit a seven-year-old.
If childcare is the main reason you are hiring, we can help you find a helper whose experience fits your children’s ages and your routine. You can get in touch with the Femme5 team to discuss your family’s needs, read more about how we work with employers, or explore what a good placement looks like.
The Femme5 Team
Maid placement specialists, Femme5 Maid Agency
Our consultants work with Singaporean and expatriate families on helper matching, contracts and MOM compliance, and we verify the regulatory guidance in our articles directly against the Ministry of Manpower’s published requirements.
