Whether you’re working or not, some form of childcare during the early years is invaluable, especially if you’re here as an expat without family nearby to lend a hand. Thankfully, support in the form of preschools, nannies or helpers is readily available in Cayman.

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 three months:

They cost between CI$600 and CI$1,050 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, kind and certainly knew more about childcare than I did as a new mum”. 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. Preschools in Cayman are 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 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).

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. In previous years domestic helpers, who clean the house and do occasional babysitting, were being paid as little as CI$1,200 per month or CI$277 per week. This is basically minimum wage multiplied by 45 hours a week. It is next to impossible to survive on this in today's climate with inflation peaking at 14% in 2023 and rents being hiked up.

As of July 2023, a helper should be paid between CI$404-CI$577 a week for 45 hours, or if paid less, be offered a monthly rent allowance to bring their salary up. Overtime is now CI$12 an hour. Those that can drive are paid at the upper end. 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 around CI$4,000 per month before overtime.

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?

Read More On:

Learn more about Cayman's awesome nannies!

Where To Find a Nanny

The best reference for a nanny is a positive referral from a friend or colleague. However, if you are new to the Islands, take a look on Ecay Trade, KY Mommies on Facebook or ask agencies such as AAA Caregivers, Best Home Care or Minerva Private. Cayman is a transient place and when families leave the Island, they will often try their best to find their nanny another position. You could also place an advert yourself on Ecay Trade or reach out to the KY Mommies Facebook group.

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 understand the difference between a nanny and a helper.

What To Look for in a Nanny

Nanny and child
  • 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.

Top Tip

Living so close to the water it’s important to know whether your nanny can swim. Fitness Connection offers swim lessons for nannies and caregivers. Read more on Swim Safety.