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8 Best Maid Agencies for Childcare in Singapore (August 2026)
My pick of the best maid agencies for childcare in Singapore for 2026, plus the context that matters.
1 Homekeeper Maid Agency
Why it's No. 1 This guide is part of Terris Recommends, my researched, hands-on picks of the best local businesses and services in Singapore. Every recommendation is researched and ranked by me.
See all recommendationsHiring a maid for childcare in Singapore is a very different brief from hiring a general helper, and treating the two the same is how families end up disappointed. Caring for young children means feeding and nap routines, safe play, hygiene, spotting when a child is unwell, and endless patience, all while the household keeps running. A helper who cleans beautifully but has never minded a toddler is not the match you need.
I have spent a lot of time researching how the maid industry in Singapore works, including how agencies screen for and match specialised skills like childcare, and how MOM publishes their retention and transfer data. This guide is built on that research, not on marketing claims.
Below are eight agencies I would trust to find a helper with genuine experience caring for young children, plus the context that matters: how to verify real childcare history, how a helper differs from a confinement nanny, and what to expect on cost. If you are choosing nationality first, my guide to the best maid agencies in Singapore covers the wider field.
Childcare sits on a spectrum, and the age of your child changes the experience you should be screening for. Be honest with the agency about where your child sits, because a helper who is wonderful with a school-age child may be out of her depth with a newborn:
- Infants and babies. Feeding, bottle sterilising, safe sleep, and recognising when something is wrong. This is the most demanding end and needs proven infant experience.
- Toddlers. Constant supervision, safe play, tantrums, and toilet training. Energy and patience matter as much as technique.
- Preschoolers and older. School runs, meal prep, homework support, and structured activities alongside light housework.
- Safety awareness. Choking hazards, hot surfaces, and never leaving a young child unattended. Ask what child-safety training the agency provides.
- Language and warmth. A helper who talks and plays with your child, ideally with some shared language, does far more for development than one who simply supervises.
One honest caveat that matters most for the youngest children: never leave an infant solely in the care of an untrained or unproven helper, especially in the first weeks. Supervise closely at the start, whatever the biodata says.
A live-in helper is the right answer for many families, but not every childcare need is the same. Here is how the main options compare so you can match the choice to your child honestly.
| Domestic helper | Confinement nanny | Infant / child care centre | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Ongoing daily care at home, any age | Intensive newborn support, first month | Daytime care and structure for working parents |
| Duration | Long-term, live-in | First 1 to 3 months | Daytime, ongoing |
| Scope | Child plus household | Mother and newborn focus | Child only, in centre |
| Indicative cost | S$600 to S$800+/month salary | S$3,000 to S$4,500/month | From ~S$700/month after subsidy |
Many families combine these: a confinement nanny for the first month, then hand over to a helper who has genuine infant experience, with a centre added once the child is older. The agencies below are the ones I would trust to find the helper part of that picture.
A generic childcare line on a biodata sheet is not enough, because minding a ten-year-old is nothing like caring for a one-year-old. Work through this with the agency before you commit, and start by confirming the agency itself is legitimate on the Ministry of Manpower Employment Agency directory, where you can also read the FDW employer rules:
- Specific childcare history. Ask for the ages of the children she has cared for and for how long, not just a tick in a childcare box. Infant experience and preschool experience are very different.
- References you can actually speak to. A previous employer who can confirm she handled feeds, naps, and a distressed child calmly is worth more than any certificate.
- Child-safety training. Some agencies run infant-care or child-safety orientation. Ask what hers covered, from safe sleep to choking hazards.
- A real interview. A face-to-face or video interview tells you more about temperament and warmth than any document. Insist on one.
- Honest matching by age. A strong agency matches the helper to your child's age and stage rather than pushing whoever is available.
A good agency will happily walk you through all of this. If one rushes you past these questions toward the first available candidate, that tells you something.
With more than 20 years in business and over 80,000 families served, it has the scale to put genuinely child-experienced candidates in front of you, and its trainers update the syllabus to reflect current health concerns. It holds a 4.8-plus Google rating and multiple MOM licences. For families whose priority is a helper properly prepared for young children, this is the natural first stop.
- Best known for
- A dedicated children-care training syllabus for young families.
- Location
- Singapore, with local and overseas training centres
- EA Licence
- 09C5350, 09C5352, 22C0891
- Website
- homekeepermaidagency.com
Rather than hand over a stack of biodata, its consultants walk through each candidate's childcare history in detail and match it to your child's age. It maintains a 4.9-star Google rating with branches in Katong, Ang Mo Kio, and Bugis. The one caveat: ask for a full fee breakdown upfront, as transfer pricing is not always published.
- Best known for
- Detailed childcare matching and a caregiving specialisation.
- Location
- Katong, Ang Mo Kio, and Bugis
- Website
- intergreat.sg
The transparency helps too. JForce publishes helper salaries by nationality, manages the whole process end to end, and helps eligible families with young children tap the concessionary maid levy, which brings the monthly levy down to S$60. With branches in Boon Keng, Ang Mo Kio, and Jurong East plus a quick WhatsApp line, getting a straight answer about a candidate is easy.
- Best known for
- Strong childcare screening plus hands-on levy concession help.
- Location
- Boon Keng, Ang Mo Kio, and Jurong East
- EA Licence
- 14C717
- Website
- jforce.com.sg
In business since 1996, it takes time to understand your household and your child's needs rather than pushing the first available candidate, and it can advise on whether a full-time live-in helper or a part-time arrangement suits your family. Nearly three decades of placements stand behind that advice.
- Best known for
- A consultative process, caregiving training, and deposit protection.
- Location
- Three branches
- Website
- besthome.com.sg
The brand has been placing helpers since 1993, had 2,517 work passes approved in the previous 12 months on the same directory data, and runs five service centres. It won the Singapore Prestige Brand Award in 2025 and held a 4 out of 5 customer rating across 1,040 MOM directory reviews. Ask specifically for candidates with verified experience at your child's age and its structured process handles the rest.
- Best known for
- Careful, data-backed matching on experience and temperament.
- Location
- Five service centres
- Website
- nation.sg
Operating since 1986 with a 75.35 percent retention rate, well above the 63 percent average, Universal has the institutional knowledge to match carefully. If you want an experienced helper who is already settled into life here and can step into a childcare routine fast, it belongs on your shortlist.
- Best known for
- An experienced transfer maid who can start fast.
- Location
- Three branches island-wide
- Website
- universal.sg
That patient matching is exactly what you want when you are entrusting a helper with young children. Green holds embassy accreditations from Indonesia and the Philippines, so the sourcing quality is there, and the team will not rush you toward a candidate who is not right for your child.
- Best known for
- Patient, first-timer-friendly matching for young families.
- Location
- Toa Payoh and Serangoon
- Website
- greenemployment.sg
Serving over 10,000 families since 2007 with a 0.75 percent transfer rate over 19 years, A1 provides structured pre-deployment training and sources from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Myanmar. Ask for candidates with genuine childcare history at your child's age and lean on the guarantee for peace of mind.
- Best known for
- Strong refund and replacement guarantees on a high-stakes placement.
- Location
- Singapore (see website for branch details)
- Website
- a1maid.com.sg
Every agency here is one I would trust with a childcare placement, but they lead with different strengths. This is how I would summarise the trade-offs.
| Agency | Childcare focus | Matching approach | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homekeeper | Dedicated children-care training | Trains then matches | A helper prepared for young children |
| Inter Great | Infant and child care service | Detailed history match | Verified childcare experience |
| JForce | Core childcare specialisation | Screening plus training | All-rounder with levy help |
| Best Home | Caregiving training | Consultative | Deposit protection and advice |
| Nation | Experience-based matching | Data-led | Careful, evidence-backed matching |
| Universal | Experienced transfer pool | Meet before you commit | A fast, reliable start |
| Green | First-timer guidance | Patient matching | First-time parent employers |
| A1 | Pre-deployment training | Guarantee-backed | Low-risk, high-stakes hiring |
Match the strength to your priority: dedicated training with Homekeeper, verified history with Inter Great, or a guarantee with A1.
Beyond the agency you choose, the real cost is the sum of the placement fee, the monthly salary, the mandatory bond and insurance, and the one-time setup. Here is a realistic picture for 2026. Figures vary by nationality, experience, and agency, so treat them as a guide and always ask for a full written breakdown.
| Cost item | Indicative 2026 range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Agency placement fee | S$1,000 to S$3,000 | Varies by nationality and whether the helper is new or a transfer |
| Helper monthly salary | S$600 to S$800+ | Childcare-experienced helpers command a higher salary |
| Security bond and insurance | S$300 to S$600 for the year | Bond bought as insurance, plus medical and personal accident cover |
| Settling-in, medical, work permit | S$400 to S$700 | One-time setup, including the Settling-In Programme |
| Monthly levy | S$300, or S$60 concessionary | The S$60 rate applies to eligible households with a child under 16 |
| Typical total upfront | Roughly S$2,500 to S$4,500 | First month salary plus fees, insurance, and setup |
The levy concession is the biggest lever most young families overlook. A good agency will confirm your eligibility and handle the application as part of the process.
Budget for a total upfront cost of roughly S$2,500 to S$4,500, made up of the agency placement fee (S$1,000 to S$3,000), the first month salary (S$600 to S$800-plus for a childcare-experienced helper), the bond and insurance, and one-time setup. After that you pay the monthly salary and the levy, which drops to S$60 for eligible households with a child under 16.
Yes, a domestic helper can look after your baby, and many households rely on one, but only match a young infant with a helper who has genuine, verifiable infant-care experience. A first-timer with no newborn history is a real risk in the early weeks. Speak to references, interview her, and supervise closely at the start rather than leaving an infant solely in an unproven helper's care.
They do different jobs. A confinement nanny supports you intensively for roughly the first month after birth, then leaves, while a domestic helper is a long-term, live-in arrangement who cares for your child and the household over the years. Many families use a nanny first, then hand over to a helper who has infant experience. See my confinement nanny guide for the short-term option and my newborn care guide for the youngest babies.
Ask the agency for candidates with verifiable childcare history, including the ages of the children she has cared for and contactable references, then interview her face to face or by video. A general childcare line on the biodata is not the same as proven experience with a child your age, so dig into the specifics.
Search the agency on the Ministry of Manpower Employment Agency directory and check its licence, retention rate, transfer rate, and demerit points. Above 65 percent retention, below 1 percent transfer, and zero demerit points is a strong sign. Also look for CaseTrust accreditation, which protects your deposit.
Childcare is a role where the right match shapes your child's day and your own peace of mind, and the wrong one adds stress you can least afford. The agencies above are the ones I would trust to find a helper with genuine experience caring for young children, from Homekeeper and its dedicated children-care training to Inter Great and its detailed childcare matching.
Be honest about your child's age and needs, verify the experience, speak to references, and interview before you commit. If you need short-term support for the first month see my confinement nanny guide, for the youngest babies my newborn care guide, and for an ageing parent my elderly care guide. For the wider field, see my guide to the best maid agencies in Singapore.
And if you run a maid agency, a clear, fast website with strong local SEO is what turns Google searches into real enquiries. That is exactly what I do at Terris. Take a look at my web design services or get in touch for a free consultation.
