Confinement nanny vs confinement centre: what each costs, and who suits whom

A confinement nanny costs from $3,880 for 28 days on the agency pages we read, and a confinement centre from $16,888, so the gap is over $13,000 before the extras on either side. That price gap is the biggest difference in a confinement nanny vs confinement centre choice. The others are where you recover, who is awake at night and how much space you can spare. Every price below is what the provider prints on its own page, read on 2 November 2026.

What each costs

The first four rows are nanny packages and the rest are centre stays. Providers quote in different units, so read the second column as printed and treat the last as our own sum where we give one.

SingJoy prints both kinds on one pricing page, which makes it the cleanest like-for-like. Its home nanny package starts at SGD 5,800 for 28 days. Its cheapest 28-day centre stay starts at SGD 25,000. Both exclude GST.

What sits on top of a nanny

Her package is not the whole bill. For a Malaysian nanny, MOM charges the employer a monthly levy of $60 if the newborn is a Singapore citizen and $300 if not, and a $35 fee for each permit application. MOM also asks you to buy medical insurance for her, at least $60,000 a year on policies starting from 1 July 2023. You feed her and give her a place to sleep, as NannySOS puts it, and many families add a red packet and herbs. Our confinement nanny price guide adds these up.

What sits on top of a centre

SingJoy says Chinese New Year and twins surcharges may apply, and it takes a 50% deposit to confirm a Singapore booking. NewLife bills herbal steam and pelvic recovery treatments separately. Ask every centre what its headline figure leaves out. Our confinement centre guide lists each centre's printed price and inclusions.

A rough comparison, using our own arithmetic and not a quote: a nanny package at $3,880 plus the $60 levy and the $35 permit fee comes to $3,975 before insurance, herbs, her meals and a red packet. The lowest centre price we found for 28 days is the promotional $16,888.

Care: who looks after you and the baby

A centre gives you a team. SingJoy lists a full-time IBCLC lactation consultant and a nanny with your baby around the clock. Hatched says maternity nurses and hospital-trained nannies check your vitals and your baby's every day, and that a TCM physician visits weekly. The Clover Suites promises 24/7 care for mothers with newborns.

A nanny is one person in your home, and an agency can usually swap her if it does not work. PEM says it offers up to two free replacements. She cooks, cleans the baby's things and looks after the newborn. Nothing on MOM's permit pages or the agency pages we read describes her as a medical professional, so call your doctor, polyclinic or hospital about wounds, fever, jaundice or feeding trouble. Our recovery after birth guide lists the warning signs.

Breastfeeding is worth a question to either. In a 2023 CNA report, family physician and IBCLC Dr Mythili Pandi said breastfeeding rates at confinement centres tend to be lower, and that good support teaches mothers to care for the baby rather than taking the baby away. Ask a centre how often you will see its lactation consultant, and ask a nanny's agency what she knows about feeding support.

Space and privacy

A centre moves you out of your home. Rooms have their own bathroom at ReJoy and The Clover Suites, and momley LOFT lists suites up to 742 sq ft with a king-size bed and a full-size fridge. ReJoy lists a spouse stay with its Deluxe package, and KAI runs a preparation programme for partners. Ask each centre whether your partner can sleep over and eat there.

A live-in nanny needs a bed and a quiet place to sleep in your home, and three meals a day from your kitchen. NewBubs and Xpress both pitch a daytime nanny at families without a spare room, or who want the evenings to themselves. A daytime nanny goes home at night. NewBubs's daytime page says that means no overnight help and no night feeds.

Sleep and the night shift

This is where families feel the difference. At a centre the night shift belongs to staff: momley LOFT keeps babies in a nursery with 24-hour carers and video monitoring, ReJoy lists a one-to-one baby camera, and SingJoy lists its nanny on duty round the clock. You can ask for your baby to room in.

A live-in nanny covers nights if you agree it. PEM says whether she sleeps near the baby depends on you and your spouse, because newborns wake every few hours. Whichever you choose, HealthHub's advice for the first six months is the same: your baby sleeps on their back in a cot with nothing soft in it, and not in your bed. The hiring guide goes through the night-care options.

Which suits you

There is a third path with no provider at all: a parent or in-law stays, and you order meals from a caterer. It costs least, and our confinement food delivery guide shows what meals run. The confinement guide has a rest plan for doing it yourselves.

Questions to ask either one

1. What does the price include, and what is extra? Ask about GST, the levy, insurance, herbs and public holidays.
2. Who is with my baby at night, and who covers if she or they fall ill?
3. What happens to my deposit or booking if the baby comes early or late?
4. Can my partner stay, and who pays for their meals?
5. How do I reach someone if something is wrong at 3 am?
6. Can I see the contract before I pay?

Frequently asked questions

Is a confinement nanny cheaper than a confinement centre?

On the pages we read, yes. A 28-day nanny package starts around $3,880, against $16,888 for the lowest promotional centre price. SingJoy prints both: from SGD 5,800 for a home nanny and from SGD 25,000 for its cheapest 28-day centre stay, before GST.

Does a confinement centre look after the baby at night?

The centres we read say so. SingJoy lists a nanny on duty 24 hours, momley LOFT lists 24-hour carers in a nursery, and The Clover Suites promises 24/7 care. Ask whether your baby can room in with you.

Can my husband stay at a confinement centre?

At some. ReJoy lists a spouse stay in its Deluxe package and KAI runs a preparation programme for partners. Ask any centre about overnight stays and meals for your partner.

Do I need a work permit for a confinement nanny?

For a Malaysian nanny, yes. MOM's Work Permit for confinement nanny lasts up to 16 weeks from your baby's birth, and you pay a monthly levy. A Singaporean or PR nanny does not need it. Read our work permit guide for the steps.

Can I use a nanny for part of the month and a centre for the rest?

None of the pages we read describe a split month. Some providers print shorter stays, such as SingJoy's 14-day centre rates and NannySOS's 14-day nanny rate, so ask whether they will book part of a month.

Prices change. Get the current figure and the full list of inclusions in writing before you pay a deposit.