Choosing between a maid and an infant care centre comes down to cost structure, hours and who you want caring for your baby. Infant care centres take babies from 2 to 18 months, and ECDA gives Singapore Citizen children a Basic Subsidy of $600 a month for full-day infant care if the mother works, plus up to $710 Additional Subsidy depending on income. A live-in maid costs salary plus MOM's monthly levy ($60 if you have a citizen child under 16) and compulsory insurance, but gives care at home, every day.
Maid vs infant care centre at a glance
| Live-in maid (MDW) | Infant care centre | |
|---|---|---|
| Age range | Any age | 2 to 18 months (infant care programme) |
| Government support | Levy concession: $60 a month instead of $300 with a Singapore citizen child under 16 | ECDA Basic Subsidy $600 a month (working mother) or $150 (non-working), plus up to $710 Additional Subsidy |
| Fixed costs set by government | Levy, $5,000 security bond, medical and personal accident insurance | None; centres set fees, you pay fees net of subsidy |
| Where care happens | Your home | The centre |
| Other duties | Household chores too, at your address only | Childcare only |
| Days off | One rest day a week | Centre opening days |
Sources: ECDA: infant and childcare subsidy scheme, MOM: Paying levy and MOM: Levy concession.
Infant care centre: what ECDA sets out
- All Singapore Citizen children at ECDA-licensed infant or childcare centres get a Basic Subsidy.
- Additional Subsidy applies if the mother (or single father) works at least 56 hours a month and gross monthly household income is $12,000 or below. ECDA says this rises to $15,000 from 1 January 2027.
- Subsidies are paid to the centre. You pay the fee after subsidy, and there is a minimum co-payment.
- Your child must attend at least one day in a month to get that month's subsidy.
Maid: what MOM sets out
- Levy is $300 a month for a first helper, or $60 at the concessionary rate. For a parent, the concession for a citizen child starts automatically from the birth date.
- You buy a $5,000 security bond (except for Malaysian helpers), medical insurance with at least $60,000 annual cover, and personal accident insurance of at least $60,000.
- If any child under 7 at home is not fully vaccinated against measles, the helper must have measles immunity.
- She gets one rest day a week, and works only for your household at your registered address.
How to decide
- Compare your centre quote after ECDA subsidy with the monthly cost of a helper: salary, levy at your rate, insurance and food.
- Consider hours. A centre works to its opening hours; a helper lives in but must get her rest day.
- Think beyond infancy. A centre's infant programme ends at 18 months; a helper can stay with the family as the child grows.
- Some families use both: a centre for the baby, a helper for the household.
If you go the helper route, see our guide to finding a maid agency for infant care, or browse helpers with baby care experience.
Related guides
- Maid salary and total cost in Singapore
- Checklist before a helper starts infant care
- MDW levy concession: employer guide
This is a practical guide, not MOM or ECDA. Rules, fees and subsidies change, so confirm on mom.gov.sg and ecda.gov.sg before you decide. Last reviewed: 11 October 2026.
