Skip to content

Household guide

Summer Childcare Switzerland 2026: Find a Declared Nanny

A 2026 summer childcare reference and budget planner. The season has passed; use the tool to understand hours and selected wage costs, with employer duties and current Light/Admin options.

Gilberto de la Fuente

The 2026 summer holidays have passed. This guide retains the season’s planning question and an adjustable childcare budget tool. For the next current break, use the linked autumn guide and confirm dates and available spaces with the school or provider.

If someone already looks after your children, Helpore Admin Light and Helpore Admin are open today, and your household is the employer.

Planning for the next school break? See the 2026 autumn holiday dates and last-minute childcare planner.

What summer childcare options exist

There is no single right answer, and many families mix and match across the summer. The main options are:

  • Holiday day camps and programmes. Municipal and private camps, plus sports and language camps, cover fixed weeks and suit school age children who enjoy a group. Popular weeks fill up fast, so book in spring where you can.
  • An au pair. Live in help can work for a whole summer, but it means hosting someone in your home and following au pair rules on hours and pay.
  • A nanny or babysitter at home. A nanny who comes to you gives flexible hours and one to one care, which works well for younger children, mixed ages, or irregular working days. You choose the person and the schedule.
  • Family and informal help. Grandparents and friends are a lifeline for many households, though they rarely cover the whole holiday.

A home nanny is often the most flexible piece of the puzzle, especially for the weeks that camps do not cover. The rest of this guide focuses on booking one properly.

Plan your summer childcare budget

Every family is different, so use the planner below to estimate your summer cost. Set your hours, the number of holiday weeks, and a realistic nanny rate, then treat the numbers as a starting point rather than a fixed quote.

Cost estimator

Your month with summer childcare

Hours a week
8

You pay a monthCHF 1’226.39CHF 35.38 per hour worked

  • Wage1’040.0034.67 h × CHF 30.00
  • Public holidays0.39 %4.06
  • Holiday pay8.33 %86.63
  • Employer contributions90.00AHV 5.3 % · ALV 1.1 % · FAK 1.025 % · office 5 %
  • Accident insurance0.505 %5.70

With Admin LightCHF 1’242.29

Set up Helpore Admin Light

Your household is the employer. Helpore Admin is optional.

Open the full calculator

Rates as published for 2026, as at 01.01.2026.

Hiring a nanny for the summer makes you an employer, even for a few weeks. Doing it properly is not just paperwork, it protects everyone:

  • Applicable AHV/AVS contributions. Childcare in a private home is domestic work. Working-age employees are generally liable from the first franc, with a limited young-worker exception and different reference-age rules.
  • Accident cover. Check the required occupational and, from eight hours a week with the same employer, non-occupational cover. Premiums depend on the actual policy and the young-worker exception.
  • A real contract. A written agreement on hours, rate, holiday and notice avoids misunderstandings and gives both sides certainty.
  • Possible tax relief. When childcare is declared, part of the cost can often be deducted from your taxes. See our guide on household help and childcare tax deductions.

Missing declarations or insurance can leave gaps in the records and create back-payment risks, but they do not erase statutory rights. Cash payment can be lawful when the employment is correctly declared. Read cash payment and undeclared work.

What a nanny or babysitter costs in 2026

The honest answer depends on the nanny's experience and how you book. Here is how the main routes compare in 2026:

Arrangement What to compare
Agency or household platform Compare the actual quote, employment terms and included costs
Administration service for your existing nanny Check who prepares documents, submits them and pays the wage
Nanny you already employ Agreed gross wage and employer costs, plus any Light or Admin fee

Employer contributions and insurance are separate from the Helper’s gross wage. The planner shows only its stated wage-related costs; applicable holiday, employer fund charges, pension and administration fees must also be budgeted where not shown. The Flex price is the QR bill price; card or TWINT shows its own price before you choose. See the household cost guide.

How to find a trusted declared nanny near you

Booking someone you trust is the whole point, so take it step by step:

  1. Shortlist people who fit. Look for experience with your children's ages, the languages you need, and references from other families.
  2. Meet before you commit. Share your children's ages, routines and any special needs, and arrange a short call or meeting.
  3. Agree the weeks, hours and wage in writing. Your household is the employer, so a written agreement gives both sides certainty.
  4. Declare the work. AHV/AVS contributions and accident insurance apply to a nanny in your home too, as explained above.

Booking a week or two ahead of your first holiday week gives you the widest choice, and popular nannies go early.

Safety and trust basics

A few simple checks go a long way:

  • Read reviews and verify experience. Look for families with similar aged children and ask about first aid training.
  • Meet before you book. A short call or trial afternoon tells you a lot about fit.
  • Agree the essentials in writing. Hours, rate, tasks, and what to do in an emergency, including your contact details and any allergies.
  • Keep it declared. A real contract and accident cover protect your nanny and your family alike.

For nannies: summer is peak season

If you provide childcare, use this guide to prepare a clear profile, gross wage and realistic availability. Joining does not guarantee work. Create a free Helper profile to be ready for Flex requests and read the rate-setting guide.

What you can do on Helpore today

  1. Compare Helper profiles. Open find a nanny to see rates, experience and languages in your area.
  2. Book through Helpore Flex. Book a Helper by the hour from the profile you choose; the Helper must accept the request.
  3. Already employ someone at home? Compare Helpore Admin Light for monthly payslips, paperwork and calculations, or Helpore Admin for the agreed administration handled for you. Your household remains the employer.

Frequently asked questions

What are my summer holiday childcare options in Switzerland?

Options include holiday camps, day programmes and childcare at home. Check the actual ages, hours, costs and available spaces with the provider. The 2026 summer season has passed; use the autumn guide for current planning.

Why does a declared nanny matter?

Correct declaration provides wage records and the applicable contributions and accident cover. Missing declarations or insurance can create back-payment risks without erasing statutory rights. Qualifying childcare costs may be deductible under the applicable tax conditions.

How much does a nanny or babysitter cost in Switzerland in 2026?

Agree a gross wage for the actual tasks and schedule. Employer contributions, paid-holiday provision, insurance and any applicable pension or administration fees are separate. The adjustable planner is a subtotal illustration, not a complete quote or verified current market average.

How do I find and book a trusted declared nanny near me?

You can browse profiles, plan what you need and book through Flex. If you already employ a nanny, Light supplies monthly payslips, paperwork and calculations; Admin performs the agreed administration with your authorization.

Do I have to pay AHV for a summer nanny?

Paid childcare in your home is domestic employment. Working-age staff are generally liable from the first franc; age/year and reference-age exceptions can apply. Accident-cover duties also need checking. Your household is the employer.

Official sources