The Singapore Forum

There are much info on Child Care Centres but seems like Infant Care Centres info are lacking when I did a bit of googles last night.

I will return work after confinement. Athough my mum said she could help to take care of the baby during the day; I doubt I want to trouble her since my sister-in-law's newborn is just 1 month older than mine.

Anyone has a good Infant Care Centre to recommend? What's the charge likely to be? I need one that will open until at least 7pm as both of us will work until 6:00pm and occasionally beyond that time.

Thanks in advance.

I'm just curious, don't you get at least 3 months of maternity leave, SAR?

I don't know how they do it here, but I think a lot of day care places in the US won't even take a baby until it's at least 3 months old. I know my brother and sister-in-law had some issues with that as their baby was born premature, so my SIL had used up all her allotted maternity time off by the time the baby was just 2 months old (and her crappy boss couldn't/wouldn't figure out a way to help her out). Luckily my brother had some paternity leave available and his MIL was able to help out until the baby was old enough for day care (3 months).

Slinky, yes, I am entitled to 4 months maternity leave. Just being 'kaisu', I would like to go to visit some of the recommended Infant care centres before making up my mind which to put my baby.

I am also tossing my mind if I should hire a domestic helper - I would prefer to spend at least 1 month with the maid before returning to work. But honestly, I don't feel secure to leave my baby with her. Somehow, I prefer a day care centre to a maid; some of you may think that I am weird.

I don't think it's kiasu at all -- I'd be looking them over pretty carefully too if I were going to send a baby there. It's not something I've used, so I can't offer any suggestions - good luck finding one that suits you

I think a day care is the way to go.. definitely will not leave a toddler and baby with a maid alone. Unfortunately, no suggestions but you should get a covenient one where you can pick the baby up on teh way home etc. And I think there are some subsidies etc so enquire about that. Finally, the baby will be a Singapore citizen since one parent is. This means you will be entitled to baby bonus etc which in turn means you can use the funds to pay for day care partially/fully so do enquire on that. I think you will get $4K lump sum over several months into you r own account and a total of $6K if you put in $6K into the child's a/c (Govt will match half ). I think the agency to enquire from is the MCYS.. can't remember.

PS I was informed by HR that maternity leave is not 4 months but 16 weeks. I think this is about 2 weeks shy of 4 months.

PS II: One of my friends sent her daughter to a childare at NTU alumni at the biopolis and she said it was about $700. But this was 4 years ago. I think it ranges from that to about $1300. (you can see why most opt for the maid looking after child option).

Gosh, aren't the forum ladies full of surprises? I've clearly missed something. Congratulations both of you.

Slinky & Tack, thanks
A scan last week, the gynae said: 'it could be a girl but it may change, you know'.

Sate, according to my my female colleagues said that for first 2 surviving babies, the maternity leave starts from the date the baby is due for 4 months. Thereafter (3rd baby onwards), the calculation would be based on weeks(public holidays inclusive) upto 16 weeks. I'll double check with the HR Specialists on this entitlement; thanks for reminder

SAR: "it may change"?!

so let me get this straight ... the 4 months is only for your first 2 children, and then you get less leave for subsequent births? what's the logic in that? do they think you'll be so 'pro' at having babies that you won't need as much time off work?

I rang up the HR early this morning and got someone very patience to explain/clarify maternity leave entitlement to me. As Sate has pointed out, it is 16 weeks (public holidays inclusive but exclude weekends).

Furbaby, a detailed scan has been scheduled in my next visit to the gynae, so by then the gender will be confirmed. As long as the baby is healthy, either a boy or a girl is fine

I have nothing constructive to add - just wanted to say that I'm also looking for an infant care place - in fact I logged in to pose the same question as SAR!

My little one is 3 months old now and I'll be working part-time from August. We have a maid right now but we're not loving having her as much as we thought we would so are considering our options.
I know if anything exists in Singapore then it's going to be expensive - probably much more expensive than having a full-time maid. Maybe even so expensive that it doesn't make sense for me to go back to work.... sigh. Or maybe we just have the "wrong" maid for our family.

Anyway, congratulations to everyone else with or about to have new little ones!

I'll be watching this thread with interest, so if anyone does hear about infanct care places I'd love to know!