Maid Agency for Infant Care in Singapore: What to Check Before You Sign

Preparing for a new baby is busy enough without worrying about who will help at home. Choosing the right maid agency for infant care makes the search much easier: a good agency asks about your baby's routine, checks each helper's hands-on experience, and is honest about what it could not confirm. This guide explains what to check before you sign, and how to compare infant care maids from licensed agencies on SmartMaid.

Infant-care helper or confinement nanny?

Many families use both, one after the other, so it helps to be clear about the difference.

• A confinement nanny supports the mother and newborn in the first weeks. MOM's Work Permit for confinement nannies is for Malaysians aged 23 to below 70, lasts up to 16 weeks from the baby's birth and cannot be renewed. The employer must be 21 or older, have a newborn under 4 months old, pay a monthly levy and buy medical insurance.
• A migrant domestic worker (MDW) works with you on a Work Permit that can be renewed, and can care for your baby as they grow alongside household duties.

If you plan to have a confinement nanny first, start your helper search early so there is a smooth handover. Check the current rules on MOM's confinement nanny page.

What the agency should verify

"Baby care" on a biodata can mean very different things: looking after younger siblings at home, helping a previous employer with a toddler, or full-time care of a newborn. A good agency should be able to tell you:

• Ages cared for: newborns, infants under one, or toddlers.
• Tasks: bottle preparation and sterilising, feeding, bathing, nappy changes, settling to sleep, night feeds.
• Where and how long: in Singapore, overseas or at home, and for how many months or years.
• How it was confirmed: a previous employer's reference, a training certificate, or the helper's own account.
• How she was interviewed: in person, by video or by phone.

Our guide to interview questions for infant-care helpers covers practical ways to test skills in an interview.

Questions to ask the agency

1. How many of your current helpers have hands-on newborn experience, rather than willingness to learn?
2. Can you arrange a video or in-person interview where I can ask her to talk through a feeding and sleep routine?
3. What training has she completed, and when?
4. If the placement does not work out, what is your replacement policy, and is it in writing?
5. How do you support the helper and my family in the first months?
6. Are all fees itemised in the service agreement?

Listen for specific answers. An agency that says every helper is "very good with babies" without detail has not done the matching work for you.

Transfer or new hire when the baby is due

Timing matters when there is a due date.

• A transfer helper is already working in Singapore and can usually start sooner. MOM asks the new employer to apply with written consent from her current employer, and the in-principle approval states the transfer date. She must not start work for you until the new Work Permit is issued in your name.
• A new hire from overseas needs more time: the application, security bond and insurance, travel, and for a first-time helper the Settling-In Programme within 7 days of arrival and a medical examination within 14 days.

Build in a buffer of a few weeks before the due date, so your helper has time to settle in and learn the home before the baby arrives. Our transfer maid guide explains the process step by step.

Compare live infant-care biodata by agency

On SmartMaid, the infant care listing shows about 4,710 biodata from 12 licensed agencies (snapshot: 29 September 2026). That figure includes helpers who are willing to care for infants. About 3,900 of them record hands-on infant care experience, about 530 of those also record work in Singapore, and 40 are transfer helpers already here.

Use the listing to compare agencies, not just helpers:

• Which agencies publish detailed infant-care experience, with ages and duties?
• Which record how the helper was interviewed?
• Which respond quickly and specifically to your enquiry?

Filter by language and experience, shortlist five to ten profiles, and note the agency behind each one. Then check those agencies on MOM's EA Directory before you enquire.

Red flags when choosing an infant-care agency

• Every candidate is described as experienced with newborns, but nobody can say how old the babies were or what she did.
• The agency discourages you from interviewing the helper yourself.
• Pressure to decide or pay on the same day because "she will be gone tomorrow".
• Replacement and refund terms are only explained verbally.
• The agency or its staff cannot be found on MOM's EA Directory.

One red flag is not always a reason to walk away, but it is a reason to slow down and ask more questions before you sign anything.

Levy concession after the baby is born

If your child is a Singapore citizen below 16, you may qualify for the concessionary levy rate for your helper. MOM grants it automatically from the child's date of birth for parents; for other relatives, it starts from the date the child is added as a household member in FDW eService. The new rate and any backdated adjustment appear within your next two levy bills. See our guide to applying for the levy concession after a baby is born.

Setting expectations before she starts

Agree the basics in writing: night duties, rest time the next day, her weekly rest day, and which household tasks come second when the baby needs attention. Our guide to night shift expectations for newborn care covers this in more detail.

FAQ

Should I only consider helpers who have cared for newborns?

Hands-on newborn experience is valuable, but a helper with strong toddler experience and a willingness to learn can also do well, especially if you or a confinement nanny can guide her in the first weeks.

Can I hire a confinement nanny and a helper at the same time?

Many families do. The confinement nanny has her own Work Permit of up to 16 weeks from the birth. Check MOM's current conditions for both passes before applying.

How early should I start looking?

For a new hire from overseas, start a few months before the due date. For a transfer helper, a few weeks can be enough, but choice is more limited.

Related guides: hiring an infant care maid with experience · first-time employer guide.

Last reviewed: September 2026. Biodata figures are a snapshot of the SmartMaid catalogue on 29 September 2026. Rules change, so confirm current requirements on mom.gov.sg.