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Munich - Childcare and Baby-sitting

The German government has very good incentives for women to spend a number of years off work until their child is old enough to go to school.
In addition to maternity leave, there is an 'Erziehungspause' (time off work to raise the children). This can go for 3 to 6 years. The woman's work-based health-care benefits continue during this time, and she is guaranteed her job at the end of the Erziehungspause.

However, there are times when even stay-at-home mums and dads need someone to look after their children. Many gyms and language schools offer child-minding services while you are using the facilities.

There is a variety of childcare options for mothers or fathers wishing to both return to full-time work before the child goes to school. There are nurseries for younger children and Kindergartens for children aged three years and over.
However, vacancies are difficult to come by and finding a Kindergarten place can take more than three years! Nannies, housekeepers and 'day mothers' are other options for childcare. While you have to pay for childcare and Kindergarten attendance, schools are free (apart from private institutions).
 

Childcare facilities

Bear in mind too that children pick up languages very quickly, so don't feel you should limit your child to care by people speaking your native language.

English-speaking child care facilities

  • Kids-around-the-clock
    Tel: + 49 (0) 89 15 8 659
    email: [email protected]
  • A.O.G. Agentur ohne Grenzen
    Mauerkirchestr 8
    Munich
    Germany
    Tel: + 49 (0) 89 29 9900/+ 49 (0) 89 9810 5900
  • English Childcare Centre (TECC)
    Tel: + 49 (0) 89 8106 99 7106
    website: http://www.tecc-munich.com/

German-speakingchild care facilities

  • Münchner Kindl
    Burgstr 6
    Munich
    80331 
    Germany
    Tel: + 49 (0) 89 24 23 1600
    website: http://www.muenchnerkindlgruppe.de/
  • Kleinkindergesstaetten e.V.
    Einsteinstr 111
    Munich
    81675 
    Germany
    Tel: + 49 (0) 89 470 2309

Nurseries  (Kindertagesstätte, Kinderkrippe)

There are just over 100 nurseries in Munich, varying from municipal-run institutions to private ventures to cooperatives. Despite the large number of institutions, places are very limited.

Most nurseries are open only from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. There is short-term care from 7:30am to 1:30pm (4 - 6 hours per day), or long-term care from 6:30am to 5pm (6 - 10.5 hours per day). It is possible to arrange for shorter periods of care within the opening hours of the particular institution, but not longer. Some nurseries, but not all, allow two children to share the one place.

Some useful phone numbers, and internet addresses are below.

  • Stadtjugendamt
    Abteilung Kindertagesbetreuung (Department of child daycare)
    St.-Martin-Straße 34a
    Munich
    81541 
    Germany
  • Abteilungsleiterin S-II-KT/L (Head of department)
    Tel: + 49 (0) 89 233 20100
    Fax: + 49 (0) 89 233 20190
  • Bereich Kinderkrippen S-II-KT/K (Creches/nurseries)
    Tel: +49 (0) 89 233 20102
    Fax : + 49 (0) 89 233 20190
  • Bereich Kooperationseinrichtungen S-II-KT/Koop (Cooperative institutions)
    Tel: + 49 (0) 89 233 20101
    Fax : +49 (0) 89 233 20194
  • Bereich Kindertagespflege in Familien S-II-KT/T (Daycare in families)
    Tel: + 49 (0) 89 233 20157
    Fax: + 49 (0) 89 233 20180
  • Bereich Eltern-Kind-Initiativen S-II-KT/EKI (Parent-child-initiative)
    Tel: + 49 (0) 89 233 20155
    Fax: + 49 (0)  89 233 20194
    website: www.muenchen.de/kindertagesbetreuung
    email: [email protected]
  • Stadtjugendamt
    Abteilung Erziehungsangebote (Department of household and child-rearing help)

    Wirtschaftliche Hilfen F 1
    Orleansplatz 11
    Munich
    81667
    Germany
    Tel: + 49 (0) 89  233 22611
  • Schul und Kultusreferat
    Fachabteilung 5
    Kindertagestätten und Tagesheime (Department of child daycare)
    Neuhauser Straße 39
    Munich
    80331
    Germany
    Tel: + 49 (0) 89 233 217 11/+ 49 (0) 89 233 26605
    website: http://www.musin.de/kita/

BABY-SITTING

There are many different ways to find a babysitter. As an expat you obviously do not have grandparents at hand to look after your children. If you belong to a church group or know teenagers in your area, it may be useful to approach them directly. Babysitting rates are roughly 10 to 15 euros per hour, depending on whether you require just babysitting, or some additional housework.

A more formal channel to organise babysitting and childcare is through the Familienservice München. 

If you require childcare on an ongoing basis, it may be worth advertising for a nanny "Kindermädchen", au-pair or housekeeper "Haushälterin/Wirtschafterin" in the employment section of the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper on Saturdays.

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