Babysitters and Household Help in Paris: Where to Find Trustworthy Support as an Expat Parent

Introduction: A Familiar Expat Moment

It’s 6:45 p.m. The baby’s crying. Dinner’s burning. Your Zoom call ran long. You haven’t responded to that school email. And you can’t help but think, “How do French parents handle all of this?”

For many expat families living in Paris, that first year is a beautiful storm. New job, new culture, new responsibilities—and no family around the corner to call for backup.

So here comes the big question:

Where can you find a babysitter or home helper in Paris that you can actually trust?

The good news: There are trustworthy, professional, and legal options out there. You just need to know where to look—and how the system works.

The Challenge: Why It's So Hard to Find Help as an Expat

Hiring a babysitter or housekeeper in Paris isn’t just a question of availability. It’s about trust, legality, and cultural nuance.

Here’s what many expat parents face:

No extended family nearby to help out.
Language barriers when trying to communicate expectations.
Confusion about employment laws and contracts.
Fear of hiring “under the table” and getting into legal trouble.
Lack of knowledge about where to start.

And let’s talk numbers:

The average hourly rate for a certified babysitter in Paris is €10 to €15/hour, depending on experience and whether you go through an agency.
For cleaning help, the typical cost is €12 to €20/hour—though you may qualify for tax credits up to 50% when hiring legally via CESU (Chèque Emploi Service Universel)【source: service-public.fr】.
In a 2022 study by DARES, nearly 1 in 3 French households reported using some form of paid in-home help—proof that this is not just for the elite.

But for new arrivals, the system is a maze.

Where to Find Trusted Babysitters and Home Helpers in Paris:

Momji – www.momji.com Bilingual nannies and babysitters, with legal and tax support. Ideal for international families.
Yoopies – www.yoopies.fr One of France’s biggest babysitter platforms. You can filter by location, language, and reviews.
Facebook & WhatsApp Groups Try searching: Expats in Paris, Paris Mamas, or Bilingual Babysitters Paris. Word-of-mouth is golden.
CESU (Chèque Emploi Service Universel) – cesu.urssaf.fr The official platform to legally declare and pay in-home help. You can hire directly and benefit from tax credits.
Student Job Boards Many international students look for babysitting work. Check boards at universities like the Sorbonne, Sciences Po, or American University of Paris.

The Transformation: Life After Support Arrives

The expat’s world changed once her nanny joined the family routine. Mornings were smoother, bedtime less chaotic, and Grace finally found time to breathe—and even start French classes.

Her trust grew when she saw how professionally her nanny handled everything: logging hours on the CESU platform, giving updates in both English and French, even sharing notes on the kids’ moods.

And it’s not just babysitters. With a reliable housekeeper—also hired through CESU—Grace stopped spending weekends scrubbing floors and started exploring Paris with her family.

🧰 Expat Parent's Toolbox:

✅ Interview Checklist (Babysitter or Cleaner)

What languages do you speak?
Do you have experience with children of [X] age?
Are you comfortable with meal prep / bedtime / school runs?
Can you provide references?
Are you familiar with CESU or happy to be legally declared?

✅ Hiring Legally with CESU:

Register as a household employer on cesu.urssaf.fr.
Sign a contract (sample contracts are available on the site).
Declare hours each month.
Pay online and receive a 50% tax credit.

✅ Safety Tips:

Always ask for ID and references.
Do a trial run before committing.

Trust your instincts—and your child’s reaction.

Conclusion: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

Finding trusted help in Paris may seem daunting, especially when you're new and juggling so much. But thousands of families have done it—and you can too.

Take that first step. Whether it’s visiting momji.com, registering on CESU, or just asking another parent at the park—you’re closer than you think to finding the support you need.

You don’t need to do everything. You just need a little help.

👉 Start now. You—and your family—deserve it.