Keep calm and leave it to the babysitter

Thinking of hiring a babysitter? Sam Ng, Co-founder and Director of Devco Technology shares his Perspective and Tips.

As the cost of living in Singapore continues to rise, it comes as no surprise that the number of dual-career couples has increased, reaching a new high of 53.8 percent in 2015. With this growth, there has naturally been a greater need for childcare services. In order to cater to the demand, the Ministry of Social and Family Development targets to add 20,000 childcare places between 2013 and 2017.

If you and your spouse both contribute to the household income, your child may already be in a childcare centre, or is perhaps taken care of by a foreign domestic worker. If you are lucky enough, you may have your parents or relatives to help out. However, these options of sending the children to a childcare centre, hiring a foreign domestic worker (FDW) or asking the grandparents to help with babysitting each has its shortcomings: