Child Care option in Hong Kong for Infants/young toddlers
15 January 2012
I'm moving with my family to HK. I will be working in the Causeway Bay area. I have a 18 month old daughter. Is she too young to be accepted into a childcare center in HK? If this option does not work, is it usual for expat moms to hire a in-house nanny to care for young child while they are at work. How much does it cost to hire an experienced nanny and what are the usual ways to find one (referals, use a service agent, etc)? In addition, If I would like to find an apt within walking distance to the MTR and childcare centers/kindergarden with good reputation, where is a good place to live?
Any suggestions? thanks a lot
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Gillian's Website
It is true not only for expat moms, but just generally moms, to be hiring Filipino or Indonesian helpers to do domestic chores around the house. While they may be great help, they aren't actually trained to take care of kids. More recently, there is an influx of professional Caucasian nannies with legit degrees to help out with expat families who gives much importance to childcare. They usually work by referral, so that is something you will need to research once you have arrived. You might get some tips from Yummy Mummy (http://yummymummyasia.com/) beforehand though.
Expats with children tend to live either in Mid Levels, where it is more convenient for school and work, or in more suburban areas like Sai Kung or Repulse Bay, which is more spacious. Anywhere within walking distance from the MTR is usually sardine packed and the air quality leaves much to be desired, so do have a second think before you take your pick. Refer to Centaline Property (http://hk.centanet.com/eng/ehome.htm) for more district info.
Hi there, I would echo Gillian's post. There are plenty of childcare options and since most Mum's here are back to work within 3 months, 18 months old children are well catered for. In my experience the most popular option among expats and locals alike it to hire a full time Philippina helper who lives with you and will help you out with cooking, cleaning and childcare. This is very cost effective and there are many reputable agencies who can help you to find someone. Having said that they aren't usually qualified to take care of children especially so you may want to look in to professional nannies or day care as well. In terms of where to live it really depends what kind of lifestyle you want while you are here and how long you are prepared to commute. I personally find Causeway Bay a very busy, noisy area, great for going out, not so great for a relaxing night at home after work! However many people do live there and if proximity to work is key for you then you should consider CB as an option. Midlevels is also a good choice, but you will find you get much less for your money there, since the market is saturated with Expats who don't want to stray too far from work! If you are keen to explore a bit further afield then Discovery Bay (a boat ride away from Hong Kong Island) is on Lantau and is an established expat community centered mostly around family life. The further out you go the more space you will get, the less money you will spend on rent. I hope this helps a little bit. Please get in touch if you would like anymore info - and welcome to HK :)
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