Childcare is one of the first practical problems a remote parent faces in a new country. This guide has six steps. They cover working out your hours, picking a care type, finding providers, checking them, agreeing on terms, and planning a backup. The examples and prices come from Bali, Thailand, Portugal, and family programs across Europe.
Six steps to find childcare abroad
1. Work out how many hours you need
The right type of care depends on how many hours you work and when your calls fall. A parent with two calls a week needs a different setup from a parent working a full shift.
- Fixed calls: If calls come in a few blocks, hourly sitters or kids club sessions can cover them.
- Full workdays: A part-time nanny, a school program, or a family program usually fits better.
- Time zones: Client calls in another time zone may land in the evening. One family travel review says the Cubby House Kids Club in Canggu, Bali, closes at 7 pm.
- Age of your child: Drop-in clubs often set a minimum age. Cubby House takes children from age 2.
Written hours save time later. Providers will ask for exact days and times, and a clear schedule makes prices easier to compare.
2. Choose a type of childcare
A 2022 WorkLife report listed several options for traveling parents. They included summer camps, local nannies, resort kids clubs, coworking spaces with childcare, and splitting work hours between two parents. Each fits a different situation, and the four below are the most common.
- Kids club or coworking with childcare: Finns Recreation Club in Canggu has a coworking hub. It also runs the Cubby House Kids Club for ages 2 to 12. The same review listed 2 hours for IDR 175,000, 4 hours for IDR 350,000, and 6 hours for IDR 430,000, so confirm current rates. In Porto, CONSTITUI Family Coworking lists a childcare room staffed by two caregivers, with dedicated desks from €150 a month.
- Local nanny or sitter: Thailand Starter Kit puts hourly care at about THB 200 and a full day at THB 800 to THB 1,000. A full-time nanny costs THB 18,000 to THB 20,000 a month on average, and live-in arrangements start around THB 15,000.
- Nanny share: Raising Children Network describes families with similar needs sharing one nanny. Sharing can lower the cost and tends to suit stays of a few months in one city.
- Family program: Boundless Life runs education centers five days a week from 8:45 am to 3:30 pm for ages 1.5 to 14. Meals are included, and parents get 24-hour access to a coworking hub. Its pricing calculator shows starting prices of €1,300 to €2,800 a month for January to March 2027 semesters. These prices include tuition, community access, and a furnished home. A one-time €400 enrolment fee applies per child.
Programs differ in how much they handle. The Family Workation in Portugal opened in 2021 with licensed childcare providers on site. A 2024 parent review says it connects families with local babysitters instead of running childcare itself. Ask exactly what is included before paying.
Boundless Life says prices change with demand, and its earlier price pages listed tuition and parent fees separately. The live calculator is a better guide than older figures. Families who plan to teach their children on the road can also read how worldschooling works before choosing between a school program and a sitter.
3. Find providers
Parents who already live in your city know the local sitters and clubs. Two common routes are below.
- Parent groups: Raising Children Network suggests asking other parents, teachers, and neighbors. Thailand Starter Kit points to expat groups such as Bangkok Expat Families and Expats in Chiang Mai. It says departing families sometimes post their nannies there.
- Agencies: Raising Children Network says agencies run police and reference checks. In Thailand, recruiters charge a one-time fee of THB 5,000 to THB 10,000 and offer replacement guarantees.
Raising Children Network advises against using social media to look for a nanny because of safety risks. Expat groups are still a common route in Thailand. A middle path is to use groups to collect names from parents you can speak to, then run the checks in step 4.
Some cities make this step easier. Places with large expat parent communities tend to have more groups, agencies, and sitters. Our list of family-friendly digital nomad cities with good schools and safety is a place to start while you are still choosing a base.
4. Check each provider
Checks matter most when a stranger will be alone with your child.
- First aid training: Raising Children Network says nannies should hold a valid first aid certificate. Ask to see it and check the date.
- Background check: The same site says nannies in Australia should hold a working with children check. Thailand has no nanny licenses or certificates, according to Thailand Starter Kit. Ask for a police clearance, or use an agency that runs police checks.
- References: One parenting site suggests asking for five names, with three from past care roles. Call them and ask why the person left each job.
- Paid trial sessions: Raising Children Network suggests paying for a couple of trial sessions and asking your child afterward how they felt. Staying at home during the trial lets you see how the two get along.
Clubs and programs need checks too. Ask each one for its adult-to-child ratio and staff first aid training. Boundless Life publishes ratios from 1 adult to 4 children for ages 1.5 to 3, up to 1 to 12 for ages 10 to 14.
5. Agree on pay, hours, and house rules
- Pay and hours: Write down the rate, the hours, and how much notice you will give for changes. Thailand Starter Kit says formal contracts are uncommon for household help, but a written note sets expectations for both sides.
- Holidays: Thailand Starter Kit says at least 13 paid holidays a year is common for full-time household workers. Local norms differ, so ask other parents.
- Work permits: In Thailand, hiring a Thai national needs no work permit. Workers from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, or Vietnam need an MOU visa and work permit, which costs about THB 6,500 to THB 10,000 a year. Unregistered work puts the worker at risk of deportation, so recruiters often handle the paperwork.
- House rules: List meal times, allergies, screen time, and emergency contacts. Share your family routines so the sitter can follow them.
Rules on hiring household help differ by country. A local agency or other expat parents can tell you what applies where you live.
6. Plan a backup
- Second sitter or drop-in club: Sitters get sick, and clubs close for holidays. A second contact means one missed day does not stop your work.
- Nanny share or partner swap: A nanny share gives you a built-in backup. Couples can also split shifts, an option WorkLife lists alongside nannies and camps.
- Emergency card: Keep a card with your address in the local language, the local emergency number, the nearest hospital, and your phone number.
Mistakes to avoid when choosing childcare abroad
- Booking a long stay before a trial: Thailand Starter Kit says it is normal not to find a good nanny on the first try. Paying for a full month upfront leaves little room to change course.
- Expecting a drop-in club to take a baby: Cubby House starts at age 2 and Boundless Life programs start at 1.5. Babies usually need a nanny or sitter.
- Overlooking your children’s visa status: A visa that covers you may not cover your children, and dependent rules differ by country. Our guide to digital nomad visas with dependent provisions shows which programs include family members.
Pick a base, then book the flights
A good childcare plan makes remote work with children much more manageable. Once you have picked a city and a plan, search flights for your family on FlyBibe. Choose dates that leave a few days to meet sitters and visit clubs before your first workweek. A short trial week in person can tell you more than any listing.