When a baby is on the way, working out who will help at home can feel as pressing as the birth itself. Many parents start by searching for a nanny in Singapore or an occasional babysitter, then realise there are several quite different arrangements behind those words. This guide compares babysitters, nannies, licensed infant care, the government’s childminding pilot, confinement nannies and a live-in domestic helper, so you can match the option to what your household actually needs.
Sleepless nights, feeds every few hours and nappy changes are only part of the picture. Meals still need cooking, laundry piles up quickly and, if both parents are going back to work, someone has to be there through the working day. The right choice depends on how many hours of help you need, whether you also need household support, and where your baby will be cared for.
For many Singapore families, a full-time live-in helper turns out to be the most practical fit, because she can share newborn care and keep the home running. That is not true for every household, though, and the other options have real strengths. We set out each one honestly below, with links to the official sources.
Nanny, babysitter or helper in Singapore: the key differences
The words are used loosely, but they describe different kinds of arrangement.
Babysitter
A babysitter gives occasional, short-term care: an evening out, a weekend commitment or a few hours when you need to step away. The scope is narrow. The sitter watches the child and leaves, with no expectation of cooking, cleaning or laundry. A babysitter SG parents find through friends or online can work well for occasional cover when other help is already in place. Whoever you engage, check their experience with infants, and make sure anyone you pay is legally able to work in Singapore.
Nanny
A nanny works regular hours with a focus on the child’s routine and development, and may be live-in or live-out. The trade-off is scope. A nanny’s work centres on the child, so meals, laundry and housework need separate arrangements, which adds cost and coordination.
Live-in domestic helper
A full-time live-in helper on a Work Permit can share feeds, nappy changes and bath time while also handling cooking, laundry and the daily tasks of the home. You employ one person under one set of MOM rules, rather than juggling two arrangements with different schedules.
Licensed infant care and the childminding pilot
Two government-regulated options sit alongside home help, and they are worth knowing before you decide.
Infant care centres. According to ECDA’s guide to choosing a preschool, licensed infant care centres take children from 2 months to 18 months, with a full-day programme from 7am to 7pm. Services run 5 or 5½ days a week, excluding Sundays and gazetted public holidays. Infant care suits families who want a structured setting and can manage drop-offs, but it does not cover evenings, nights, weekends or sick days at home.
Childminding Pilot for Infants. ECDA is running a childminding pilot from 1 December 2024 to 31 December 2027 for Singapore Citizen infants aged 2 to 18 months who are not enrolled in a licensed infant care centre. Each childminder cares for one to three infants at a time, at the childminder’s home or in a community space. ECDA lists fees of $16.50 for a half day of 5 hours and $33.00 for a full day of 10 hours, before GST, with government subsidies applying on weekdays between 7am and 7pm, excluding public holidays.
Both options start at 2 months, so they do not cover the first weeks after birth, and neither brings help with the household. Some families combine them with a live-in helper who covers mornings, evenings and the home.
Confinement nanny or domestic helper?
Confinement nannies are a separate role. They focus on the mother’s recovery and newborn care in the weeks after birth, often including confinement meals and support with feeding and bathing.
MOM runs a dedicated Work Permit for confinement nannies. The nanny must be Malaysian, aged at least 23 and below 70 when you apply, and must work at your residence. You must be 21 or above and have a newborn under 4 months old. The permit lasts up to 16 weeks from the child’s birth and cannot be renewed. The monthly levy is $60 if the newborn is a Singapore citizen and $300 if not, and medical insurance is required.
The two roles can complement each other. Some families engage a confinement nanny for the first weeks, then hand over to a domestic helper. If you plan that, try to arrange a few days of overlap so your helper can learn the baby’s routine before taking over. For families who want live-in help from the start, we place helpers for newborn and confinement care.
Why many families choose a domestic helper for newborn care
When you are recovering from childbirth, short on sleep and getting to know your baby, thinking about dinner or a pile of laundry is draining. A live-in helper takes much of that load off, so more of your energy goes to your baby and your own recovery. Because she lives in, she can also help with night routines in a way that day-only care cannot.
There are practical advantages too. If your child is a Singapore citizen, MOM’s levy concession lowers the monthly levy from $300 to $60 for a child below 16. If you are the parent, the concession runs from the child’s birth. Our guide to the maid levy explains how it is applied.
A helper’s employment comes with responsibilities, so plan for them from the start:
- Rest days. She is entitled to a weekly rest day, and at least one rest day a month cannot be compensated away. Plan cover for those days in advance. Our guide to rest day rules sets out the details.
- Where she works. She may only work at the address declared to MOM. Caring for your baby at a grandparent’s home is allowed only if you notify MOM first and meet the other conditions in MOM’s employment rules.
- Measles immunity. Since 1 September 2025, employers with a child below seven in the household must make a measles immunity declaration when the helper’s permit is issued or renewed. If any young child is not yet fully vaccinated, the helper must be immune to measles or have a vaccination booked. Newborns are not yet fully vaccinated, since the childhood schedule gives the measles-containing doses at 12 and 15 months.
What to look for in a helper for a newborn
Not every helper is suited to a newborn. Infant care calls for a calm temperament, patience and comfort with irregular sleep, frequent feeds and constant attentiveness in the early months. When you review candidates, look for real experience with young babies, willingness to work through disrupted nights and a steady, gentle manner.
Ask practical questions in the interview. How would she settle a crying baby? How does she prepare and clean feeding bottles? What would she do if the baby had a fever while you were out? Her answers tell you more than a list of skills. We can share profiles of helpers with infant care experience on request through our maid profiles page, and our guide on hiring a maid for newborn care covers the process in more depth.
Judge each candidate as an individual. Nationality says little about how someone will handle a newborn. Experience, references and how she answers your questions say much more.
Preparing your home and your helper
A little preparation makes the first weeks far smoother.
- Write a simple daily brief. Note feeding and nap times, what she should prioritise while the baby is awake, and how housework fits around the day. It will change as the baby grows, but a starting point helps.
- Agree safe sleep rules. HealthHub’s baby sleep guidance says to place babies wholly on their back for every sleep, including naps, until age one, on a firm mattress with a well-fitted sheet and no pillows, bumpers, soft toys or loose blankets. It also advises against unsupervised sleep in baby hammocks or yao lans, and never on a sofa or armchair. Make sure everyone who cares for the baby follows the same rules.
- Set out emergency steps. Write down your numbers, your paediatrician’s details and your home address. Tell her to call 995 straight away in an emergency, such as breathing difficulty or a baby who is hard to wake, and to contact you or a doctor promptly if she is worried about the baby’s health.
- Plan her arrival. If she needs somewhere to stay before starting, our boarding house for helpers is an option, and our helper transport covers airport and medical runs.
Clear communication at the start is the foundation of a good working relationship, and it gives your helper the best chance of getting things right from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a nanny or a domestic helper better for a newborn in Singapore?
It depends on what you need. A nanny focuses on the child, while a live-in domestic helper can share newborn care and also handle cooking, laundry and housework. If you need household support as well as help with the baby, a helper usually covers more of the day for one arrangement.
From what age can my baby attend infant care?
ECDA-licensed infant care centres take children from 2 months to 18 months old, with full-day programmes from 7am to 7pm. ECDA’s Childminding Pilot for Infants also covers Singapore Citizen infants aged 2 to 18 months who are not enrolled in an infant care centre.
Can I hire a confinement nanny from Malaysia?
Yes. MOM’s Work Permit for confinement nannies covers Malaysians aged at least 23 and below 70. You must have a newborn under 4 months old, and the permit lasts up to 16 weeks from the birth and cannot be renewed. You pay a monthly levy and buy medical insurance for her.
Do I pay a lower levy for a helper if I have a baby?
If your child is a Singapore citizen below 16, you can qualify for the concessionary levy of $60 a month instead of $300. For parents, the concession runs from the child’s birth, and MOM applies it automatically once the conditions are met.
Can my helper look after my baby at my parents’ home?
Only if you notify MOM first and meet its conditions, including her written agreement and not making her do the full housework of both households. Otherwise she may only work at the address you declared to MOM, and illegal deployment can lead to a penalty.
Conclusion
Choosing between a babysitter, a nanny, infant care or a domestic helper comes down to what your household needs. A babysitter suits occasional evenings. A nanny suits families who want child-focused care and already have household help. Infant care and the childminding pilot suit families who are comfortable with care outside the home from 2 months. A confinement nanny covers the first weeks. If you need steady help with your baby and with the home, day and night, a live-in helper is often the most practical answer.
Whatever you choose, plan early, put expectations in writing and make sure everyone caring for your baby follows the same safe sleep and emergency rules.
If you are weighing up help for a newborn and want to talk through the options, our consultants are glad to help. 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.
