Childcare Choices: Nanny or No Nanny?

Before considering the help you need, it’s important to understand the difference between a nanny and a helper. A nanny focuses on the children – they shop for children’s food, prepare meal plans and cook their food, organise children’s activities and clean their clothes. They do not do general house cleaning. A domestic helper, on the other hand, will do laundry, housework, cooking and drive children around to their activities (they don’t organise the activities themselves).

No Nanny

Child minding services, which are commonly available in the UK, are not on offer in the Cayman Islands. However, preschools, which take children from as young as 6 weeks, are. The following local preschools take children aged from either six weeks or six months:

They cost between CI$650 and CI$1,600 per month for a full-time place and will keep your children from 7.30am to 5.30pm. There are part-time or full-time options and they do not close for school holidays.

We asked local mothers about this option and were told that the school’s caregivers are “loving and kind" and they could not recommend them highly enough! When choosing between preschools please ensure that you read up on Cayman’s School Inspection Reports on the Cayman Resident website: all preschools have different strengths and weaknesses. In all cases make sure you reserve your child’s place at the earliest possible moment. Some preschools (Little Trotters) will put your child on the waiting list as soon as you are pregnant. Others will require you to produce a birth certificate once the child is born. Be sure to check. Preschools in Cayman are completely over-subscribed and places are few.

Once your child hits 18 months, all preschools are available to them.

Ad-Hoc Help

If you are just looking for a short window of help each week, you could hire ad-hoc help or organise a weekly nanny via one of the agencies (AAA Caregivers or Best Home Care). They usually require a minimum slot of four hours. You can hire cleaners/helpers through the same agencies and on the same basis.

A Nanny / Domestic Helper

Choosing a nanny or a domestic helper is a lot more complicated and there are numerous things to consider. For example:

What type of care do you need?

Although you might think you only need part-time help, what will you do with your children during the school holidays or when they are sick? Do you need a nanny to help with homework? Or someone who will be the primary source of education, development and stimulation? A very good domestic helper will not only help keep your house clean but also engage your child in conversation, read to them and take them to activities so that they can socialise.

How much can you afford to pay?

As with any job, the most qualified and experienced candidates will require a higher salary. There is a big difference in salary between an early childhood-trained nanny and a cleaner who has babysitting experience. Both a full-time nanny and a domestic helper require health insurance, vacation pay and overtime pay; however, the law does not require you to pay the pension of a domestic helper. Cayman's minimum wage is CI$6* an hour, and extras (living-in, the use of a car) can only account for 25% of their total salary. According to the Labour Act, overtime kicks in after nine hours worked in a single day and must be paid at time and a half. The usual working week is 45 hours (9 hours a day with one hour for lunch). * Please note that there has been a lot of discussion about the minimum wage and how inadequate it is, and unrealistic that people can afford to live on it. In 2024 the Minimum Wage Committee recommended that the wage be increased to CI$8.75 per hour and many employers have already raised their employees wages as a result even though it is not the law. They could not live on it themselves and they understand how expensive it is in Cayman.

Read our article on The Logistics of Hiring a Helper or Nanny to find out more about Cayman's labour laws and work permit rules around hiring a domestic helper or nanny.

Salaries for a domestic helper or trained nanny?
There is still a huge disparity between what people are being paid in the domestic helper field in Cayman. We anticipate the minimum wage to rise to CI$8.75 an hour at some stage during 2025, and at this point, a domestic helper would be paid a minimum of CI$394 per week or CI$1,707 a month.  However, many domestic helpers, especially those who can drive, are being paid between CI$450-$650 per week for a 45-hour week. If they are being paid on the lower end of this, then many are offered a monthly housing allowance to help them with their rent. If the minimum wage is CI$8.75 an hour, overtime should legally be CI$13 an hour if you are paying the minimum wage or time and a half if you are paying more. A professionally trained nanny with an early childhood certification who can drive, help the children with their reading and homework, cook, and take care of all the children's needs is now averaging between CI$4,000 and CI$5,000 per month before overtime. They would expect to work split shifts around the children's school day. 

Do you need a driver?

If you require help with driving your child to and from school or after school activities, then a nanny who can drive is essential. Consider whether or not the nanny’s car is suitable and safe for your children to be driven around in, or whether you will provide a car for the nanny’s use. Remember to pay for their gas or give them a fair allowance towards the weekly cost of their fuel bill.

Live-in or out?

Some positions that require long or late hours are more suitable for a live-in person. If opting for a live-in caregiver, you will be required to provide accommodation with sufficient space. If you are considering bringing a nanny on-Island, it is important to be mindful of the cost of living in Cayman for a single person, and factor that into your salary offer. Many families now offer a housing allowance. If your nanny or helper is from Jamaica, or somewhere relatively close, most families will include a yearly ticket back home as part of their contract or every other year if they are from further afield.

Experience and outlook.

Early childhood care greatly impacts childhood development. Does the nanny have experience and qualifications? Do they speak clearly? Are they warm and engaging? Do you feel comfortable and relaxed in their company? Do they have a similar set of values to you? Does their outlook on child rearing and education match with yours? Are they willing to learn through on-Island workshops and training?

Where To Find a Nanny

Finding a very good nanny in Cayman is not easy, but Cayman is a transient place, and when families know they are leaving, word travels fast that a nanny is becoming available. You can also look on the 'KY Mommies Support Group' or 'KY Mommies Nanny Finder' or post something on the 'Women in Cayman' Facebook page. The latter is a private group with over 10,000 members but you can ask to join it. Alternatively, you can contact one of the agencies such as AAA Caregivers or Best Home Care who usually have domestic helpers on staff or they can find someone for you. Minerva Cayman specialises in professional nannies and other high-end household staff, and they will source, interview and vet professional household staff from overseas, and will handle all of the work permit paperwork for you.

Family support

For many families with young children who have moved here from overseas, the lack of family support can make life seem difficult. Your children's nanny or family helper, if chosen carefully, will become an important person in your children's lives: your children will blossom if they are cared for by someone who truly loves and cares for them.

Be realistic

Could you care for a baby, entertain a toddler, clean a house, do the laundry, iron, cook, run errands, take the kids to school and do homework with your children? Doing all of those things to a high standard is challenging for anyone. Prioritise your requirements and be patient with your helper or nanny.

What To Look for in a Nanny

• Are they patient and kind with a loving and caring nature?
• Are they physically fit with high energy levels?
• Are they good at communicating and have they got good interpersonal skills?
• Are they trustworthy and reliable?
• Are they creative and do they show initiative?
• Are they flexible and adaptable?
• Can they drive?
• Can they swim?
• Do they have an up-to-date CPR certification?
• Can they prepare healthy meals and snacks for your children?
• Can they help with evening and weekend babysitting?

Choose which of these factors are the most important to you before you start the interviewing process.