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For parents who work full time, childcare may be a necessity. Some parents choose to employ a nanny, while others prefer to take their children to a daycare center. It is important to find a daycare that works for you and your child. Some factors to consider:

Budget: Your budget may help narrow down your choices. Take into account the number of hours and time to day you will need a sitter to determine your total costs.

Language: You may want to enroll your child in a foreign or bilingual daycare. Many schools, especially those with an international emphasis, employ dual or even tri-lingual staff and encourage the use of multiple languages.

Age of children: Daycare facilities often set an age range. Some schools require that children be potty-trained.

Location: This is often a deciding factor. The easier the commute, the happier the parent and child.

Services provided: Some facilities offer occasional care or partial care (i.e. 3 days a week or half day programs), while other facilities only offer full-time programs.

When choosing a care center, also inquire about staff turnover. Consistency in caregivers is a major benefit for your child.

Prices

Prices for childcare vary, but you can expect to pay around 2,000 kunas monthly for full-time care. Private daycares may charge more. The Learning Tree, an international daycare in Zagreb, for example, charges 3,500 kuna per month for full-time care.

Childcare Facilities

How to Find Childcare Facility

Like many other services, the best way to find a good childcare facility is by word of mouth. You might meet local parents at the park, playground, or even on online forums, like EasyExpat' Croatia forum and networks. Expat-oriented clubs are also a great place to meet new people and get recommendations. Check with your embassy for recommendations on international clubs and groups. Once you've pinpointed a few daycare facilities, be sure to visit them to determine which one is the best fit.

Playgroups

There is a bilingual activity group organized by the Maksimir Center for Culture called Sticky Fingers (Ljepljivi prstici) for Croatian and English-speaking parents and their children. Sticky Fingers costs 30 kunas, which includes coffee for parents and juice and a snack for children, and it takes place every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

The Zagreb International Womens' Club also organizes a playgroup that meets every Thursday at 10:00 a.m.

Babysitting

Babysitters generally provide childcare for a short period of time, for example, while the parents enjoy a night out at dinner and a movie. Friends and family members often offer to babysit without payment, but typically, babysitting is a paid childcare service.

It's wise to select a babysitter who has had some prior experience working with children and who has taken a first aid course.

Prices

Prices for babysitting vary, but usually fall right around 25 kunas per hour.

How to Find a Sitter

Again, the best way to find a reliable babysitter is by word of mouth. Ask friends for recommendations, or contact your embassy or a local club for expats. The U.S. Embassy in Zagreb circulates a regular newsletter that often includes contact information for trusted babysitters and nannies.

You may also look for ads on Njuškalo and Oglasnik or contact Uspinjaca, an agency that specializes in domestic help. Another great online resource is Easy Expat' babysitter search.

For consistent babysitting, you may consider hiring an au pair. Consult the section on "Au Pair" under "Find a Job".