Close
Articles
For your first month as a mum, your confinement nanny will be the person in your home most. She’ll cook your meals, care for your baby at night and help you recover. So it’s natural to wonder how to choose a confinement nanny you can trust.
Ask any Singapore mum and you’ll hear stories, both wonderful and difficult. The difference usually comes down to asking the right questions before you book. This guide gives you 12 questions to ask, the red flags to watch for, and a simple way to compare nannies side by side.
Good nannies book up early, so start by your second trimester. If your due date falls near Chinese New Year or the December holidays, start even sooner. Chinese New Year 2027 falls on 6 February, one of the busiest periods of the year for confinement bookings.
Before you call anyone, decide on three things with your partner:
Not sure whether home confinement is right for you? Our guide to choosing between a nanny or a confinement centre can help you decide.
Both can work well. The choice shapes what you need to ask.
| Agency nanny | Freelance nanny | |
|---|---|---|
| Finding her | Agency matches you from its pool | Usually by referral from friends or family |
| Work permit (Malaysian nanny) | Agency usually arranges it | You may need to apply yourself |
| If she cancels or isn’t a fit | Agency can usually send a replacement | You’ll need to find someone new |
| Screening and training | Agency vets and often trains its nannies | Depends on her own experience |
| Flexibility | Agency terms apply | Terms agreed directly with her |
One thing parenting sites often warn about: popular freelance nannies can be booked out for months, and a last-minute cancellation leaves you with little time to find someone else (theAsianparent). Whichever route you choose, put the terms in writing.
Use these questions in your interview, whether by phone, video call or in person. Write down her answers so you can compare nannies fairly.
1. How many years have you worked as a confinement nanny, and how many families have you cared for? Experience matters, but so does recent experience. Ask when her last job was.
2. Have you cared for babies like mine? If you’re expecting twins, a premature baby or a baby with jaundice, ask whether she has handled this before.
3. How do you keep your baby-care knowledge up to date? Newborn advice changes, especially on safe sleep. A good nanny is open to current guidance from your paediatrician.
4. How do you support a mum who wants to breastfeed? Ask what she normally does during daytime and night feeds. Will she bring baby to you when baby shows early hunger cues? Will she help you get comfortably positioned, burp and settle baby afterwards, and support pumping or milk storage if needed?
A good nanny should support your feeding plan rather than impose her own. Be cautious if she routinely pushes formula, rigid feeding schedules or other practices you’ve said you don’t want without discussing them with you.
If breastfeeding becomes painful, baby isn’t feeding effectively or you are worried about milk supply, a nanny should also recognise when it is time to involve a lactation professional rather than trying to manage the issue alone.
5. How do you handle night feeds and settling? Ask how she’ll wake you for feeds, whether she’ll bring baby to you, and how she settles a crying baby.
6. What are your views on carrying, sleep and pacifiers? Many nannies have strong opinions. That’s fine, as long as she follows your decisions as parents.
7. What confinement dishes do you cook, and can you adapt them? Ask for a sample week of meals. Mention any allergies, dietary needs, or whether you want a lighter or less traditional menu.
8. Which confinement practices do you follow, and are they flexible? For example, rules on showering, drinking plain water or going outdoors. Make sure her approach matches what you’re comfortable with.
9. Will you cook for other family members? Some nannies charge extra for cooking for more people, so clarify this upfront.
10. What exactly is included in your fee? Ask about the number of days, the work permit and levy, insurance, ang bao, off days, and any surcharge for public holidays or Chinese New Year.
11. What happens if things don’t work out? Ask about replacement terms, notice periods and what happens to your deposit if she cancels. Get the answers in your contract.
12. How will you work with my helper or family? If you have a helper, agree who does what before the nanny arrives. Our guide on how to prepare your helper covers the basics.
Want to skip the guesswork? Tell us your due date and what matters most to you. We’ll talk you through how we match nannies to families. WhatsApp Baby’s Whisperer
During your conversations, pause and think twice if a nanny or agency:
Trust your instincts. If you feel uneasy in the interview, it’s unlikely to feel better at 3am.
If you are hiring a Malaysian confinement nanny to work in Singapore, she will need the appropriate Confinement Nanny Work Permit.
Under current Ministry of Manpower requirements, the nanny must be Malaysian, at least 23 and below 70 years old at the time of application, and she must work at the employer’s residence.
The permit can be valid for up to 16 weeks from the baby’s date of birth. The employer is also responsible for the applicable foreign worker levy and required medical insurance.
You can apply yourself or appoint an employment agency to handle the Work Permit application.
If you’re booking through an agency, ask clearly which administrative steps are handled for you and which costs are included in your package, so there are no surprises closer to your delivery date.
Once you’ve spoken to two or three nannies, score each one from 1 to 5 on what matters most to you, such as breastfeeding support, cooking, experience, personality and contract terms. The highest score isn’t always the winner, but it makes the trade-offs clear.
Ask your partner to join at least one interview. You’ll both be living with her for a month.
Choosing a confinement nanny isn’t only about finding someone who can cook confinement food and bathe a newborn. For the next few weeks, this person will be sharing your home, supporting you during night feeds and caring for your baby during one of the most vulnerable transitions into motherhood.
At Baby’s Whisperer, we look at the fit between the nanny and your family, not simply whether a nanny is available for your due date.
Before matching, we want to understand things such as:
Our confinement nannies are experienced in newborn and maternal care, and our approach places particular emphasis on supporting the mother — not only taking care of the baby.
A confinement nanny can make a big difference to the early breastfeeding experience.
Your nanny can support you by bringing baby to you for night feeds, helping you get comfortably positioned, observing baby’s feeding cues, burping and settling baby afterwards, and making sure you have time to rest between feeds.
But a confinement nanny should never replace professional lactation support when more help is needed.
Baby’s Whisperer is founded by Shelley Skylene Kan, a Certified Lactation Counsellor and Childbirth Educator, with years of experience supporting families through pregnancy, confinement, breastfeeding and newborn care. If you are experiencing painful feeding, difficulty latching, uncertainty about milk transfer or other breastfeeding concerns, additional hands-on lactation support can be arranged rather than leaving you and your nanny to figure everything out alone.
This is one of the biggest differences between booking through an agency and hiring completely on your own.
Sometimes a nanny may be excellent at her work but simply not be the right personality fit for a particular family. Other times circumstances can change unexpectedly.
With Baby’s Whisperer, you have a team to speak to. We can understand what is happening, help manage expectations and, where applicable under your package terms, assist with replacement arrangements.
You shouldn’t feel that once your confinement has started, you’re left to manage everything by yourself.
Many families choose a traditional 28-day confinement period. Others prefer 40 days, especially when they want more time to recover, establish breastfeeding and settle into life with a newborn before taking over completely.
There isn’t one duration that is right for every mum. We can talk through your family setup, support system and recovery plans before you decide.
Baby’s Whisperer is part of Holistic Maternal Concierge at Morningstar Centre, 12 New Industrial Road, so you can also plan confinement meals and postnatal massage with the same team.
Not sure what kind of nanny would suit your family? WhatsApp Baby’s Whisperer with your estimated delivery date and tell us a little about what matters most to you. We’ll guide you through the matching process before you commit. WhatsApp Baby’s Whisperer
How early should I book a confinement nanny in Singapore?
Start by your second trimester. Book earlier if you’re due around Chinese New Year or the year-end holidays, when nannies are in high demand.
Can a confinement nanny and my helper work together?
Yes, many Singapore families have both. Agree on roles before your nanny arrives: she usually focuses on you and your baby, while your helper looks after the household. Clear roles from day one help avoid friction.
What should be in a confinement nanny contract?
The number of days, start date, fees and what they include, off days, surcharges, deposit and refund terms, and what happens if either side cancels.
Can I interview a confinement nanny before booking?
Yes, and you should. A phone or video call is enough to check experience, breastfeeding views and personality fit.
What if I don’t get along with my confinement nanny?
Speak up early and calmly about what you need. If things still don’t work, check your contract’s replacement terms, which is why they matter before you sign.
This guide is general information to help you prepare. Work permit rules can change, so always check MOM for the latest requirements.
FREE FOR MUMS
Your confinement guide, day by day
The HMC app gives you daily recovery, nutrition and breastfeeding tips for your first 40 days after birth, plus easy booking for classes and workshops.
Get the free HMC app →
