Baby on the Way? Add These Confinement Costs to Your Budget

Key takeaways

• A 28-day live-in confinement nanny package in Singapore typically costs around S$3,700 to S$4,200, while daytime arrangements may range from S$2,000 to S$3,500, according to Singapore Motherhood.

• The quoted nanny fee is only part of the total cost. You may also need to budget for ang baos (red packet), transport, confinement ingredients, meals for your nanny and family, as well as other household items like bedding.

• Compare confinement nanny options based on the all-in cost and inclusions, not just the package price. Hiring through an agency versus engaging a freelance nanny can affect what is included in the price, such as administrative support, transport arrangements, insurance, and replacement assistance.

• If you hire a Malaysian confinement nanny, factor in MOM Work Permit requirements, including the application fee, monthly levy, and required insurance coverage.

With a baby on the way, there is already plenty to prepare for, from setting up the nursery to stocking up on nappies and feeding essentials. Confinement is another part of that preparation, and the costs may add up more quickly than expected.

The last thing you want is to deal with unexpected confinement expenses while adjusting to a brand-new routine.  Planning for these costs earlier gives you a clearer picture of what those first few weeks at home may actually cost and one less thing to think about when your baby arrives.

Confinement nanny or domestic helper in Singapore

When comparing confinement nannies and domestic helpers, consider how long you need help for and which responsibilities matter most during the first few weeks after birth.

If you need ongoing help with household chores, cooking, laundry, and general caregiving, a domestic helper may better fit your longer-term needs.

If you want short-term help focused on postpartum recovery, newborn care, and confinement meals, a confinement nanny may be a better fit.

How much does a confinement nanny cost in Singapore?

If you decide to go for the confinement nanny route, you can choose between an full-time or daytime nanny. 

A full-time nanny, also known as live-in confinement nanny, in Singapore typically costs between S$3,700 and S$4,200 for a 28-day package, according to Singapore Motherhood.

For daytime or part-time nannies, fees generally range from S$2,000 to S$3,500. While this may cost less than a live-in arrangement, part-time nannies still need to account for their own accommodation and daily transport.

Agency vs freelance confinement nannies 

Another decision to make when hiring a confinement nanny is whether to book through an agency or engage a freelance nanny directly. It may not always be clear which is cheaper, since the quoted fee may cover very different services.

Agency confinement nanny

An agency package may include services beyond the nanny’s stay, such as nanny matching, administrative arrangements, and replacement assistance if your assigned nanny becomes unavailable.

Before booking, check whether the quoted package includes:

• Work Permit application arrangements

• Insurance

• Transport to and from Singapore

• Replacement support

• Agency or administrative fees

Freelance confinement nanny

Hiring a freelance nanny means arranging the confinement period directly with her. This may give you more flexibility to discuss dates, duties, and household preferences, but you may need to handle more of the administrative work yourself. 

As such, a lower upfront fee does not necessarily mean the overall cost of hiring a confinement nanny will be lower.

Confinement costs to consider

Your nanny’s fee may be the biggest line in your confinement budget, but it is not necessarily the last one. A few smaller expenses can quickly add up over four weeks.

Cost #1: Ang baos for your confinement nanny (SS$138-S$588)

It is customary for some families to give their confinement nanny two ang baos: one when she arrives as a welcoming gesture, and another at the end of the confinement period as a thank-you. 

If you are booking through an agency, check whether it provides guidance on customary amounts, as practices may differ between providers.

Cost #2: Extra household items for your nanny’s stay (S$200-S$400)

A live-in nanny will need a comfortable place to sleep, so you may need to buy a mattress, bedding, or other basic items if you don't already have a suitable setup at home.

There may also be a few additions to the kitchen. Depending on how your confinement meals are prepared, your nanny may use equipment such as a slow cooker, double boiler, or thermal flask. This is because confinement meals rely on slow extraction methods (gentle simmering and double-boiling) to retain nutrients and active medicinal properties without burning delicate herbs.

Cost #3: Confinement herbs & ingredients (S$200-S$300)

Your grocery list may look quite different during confinement. Depending on your family’s practices and the meals your nanny prepares, you may need to stock up on nourishing ingredients such as old ginger, red dates, goji berries, sesame oil, black vinegar, herbal soup packs, chicken, pork, and fish.

Some of these ingredients are used frequently throughout the 28-day period, so the cost can add up beyond your usual weekly grocery spend. Ask your nanny for a suggested shopping list before confinement begins.

Cost #4: Meals for your nanny (S$420-S$560)

A live-in nanny will also need meals throughout her stay.

Most families do not pay a cash food allowance. Instead, the nanny eats from the main household groceries, sharing non-tonic dishes like rice, leafy vegetables, chicken, or steamed fish cooked alongside the mother’s meals.

If the family prefers not to share grocery duties or has specific dietary habits (e.g., vegetarian or halal home), families may provide a daily food allowance of S$15-S$20/day (~S$420–S$560 for 28 days) so the nanny can purchase her own meals.

Cost #5: Transport allowance (S$100-S$300)

Whether you hire a live-in or part-time confinement nanny, transport may be a separate cost to check. This could include her journey to your home at the start of the arrangement, local transport during the confinement period, or her return journey once the booking ends.

Before confirming your nanny, ask which transport costs are already included in the quoted fee and which you will need to cover separately.

Cost #6: Work Permit & other admin costs (S$95, exlcuding insurance)

If your nanny is coming from Malaysia, there is some paperwork to settle before she starts helping with the baby.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Work Permit for confinement nannies applies to Malaysians aged 23 to 70 who work at the employer’s residence. 

As the employer, you must be at least 21 years old and have a newborn below four months old. You can apply yourself or appoint an employment agency. The key requirements include:

• S$35 Work Permit application fee

• S$60 monthly levy if your newborn is a Singapore citizen

• S$300 monthly levy if your newborn is not a Singapore citizen

• Medical insurance that meets MOM requirements

You do not have to wait until you are home from the hospital to start sorting this out. MOM allows applications from four weeks before your expected delivery date up to 16 weeks after your child is born, and applications are generally processed within one week unless more information is required.

If you are using an agency, check which of these arrangements it handles for you and which costs are already included in your package. If medical insurance is not already included in your package, you will need to account for it separately. 

MOM requires employers to provide medical insurance with an annual claim limit of at least S$60,000 for inpatient care and day surgery. There is also a separate personal accident insurance requirement of at least S$60,000 per year, covering accidental death or permanent disability.

One option you may wish to consider is Income’s Domestic Helper Insurance, which can be bought for your confinement nanny:

• Protect your helper with up to $80,000 personal accident coverage¹.

• Local and emergency overseas hospitalisation² coverage for your helper (including COVID-193).

• Claim wages compensation if your helper is hospitalised or on hospitalisation leave and is unable to carry out her duties (up to 30 days). Available for Standard or Enhanced Plan.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about confinement nanny costs in Singapore

1. When should I book a confinement nanny in Singapore?

You should start looking around six to seven months before your estimated delivery date (EDD), which usually means starting your search during the first trimester or early second trimester. 

Some agencies recommend booking even earlier if you have a specific nanny in mind or if your confinement period falls over a busy festive season such as Lunar New Year.

2. What should you ask before paying a confinement nanny deposit?

Before paying a deposit, focus on three questions that can prevent the biggest misunderstandings later:

• What exactly is included in the quoted fee? Confirm the nanny’s core duties and which costs, such as transport, extra family meals, festive surcharges, Work Permit arrangements, or insurance, will be charged separately.

• What happens if your delivery date changes? Babies do not always arrive on schedule, so ask how an earlier or later birth will affect the nanny’s start date and whether any additional fees apply.

• What happens if the nanny becomes unavailable? If you are booking through an agency, check whether they will provide a replacement and on what terms. For a freelance nanny, ask what arrangements, if any, are available if she cannot take up the booking.