Babysitting agencies, kindergartens, pre-schools

Living in Warsaw for an expat family is not always easy, especially if you have small kids or babies and you still want to enjoy your social life. If your "treasure" is too young to join a kindergarten or a nursery, the best solution may be to find a nanny. As a mother of two young boys, who do not speak a word in Polish, Claudia had a lot of experience concerning this matter. Your first step could be asking friends or international associations for support. Such organizations like "The International Women's Group" or "The American Friends in Warsaw" publish a monthly Newsletter often containing useful information about nannies. Alternatively you can put an announcement in the "Gazeta Wyborcza", the most popular daily newspaper in Warsaw. Claudia herself has found an excellent Italian-speaking nanny using this method. However, you have to be prepared to receive many telephone calls and spend much time checking references. Another solution is to read the announcements on info boards in schools and kindergartens. If you are in a hurry or don't have time to try the above routes, contact a specialized agency but you must be prepared to pay a fee for their service. We have compiled a list of well-known agencies that can provide you with babysitters, nannies and cleaning ladies, but remember always ask for references.