Germany is short 300,000 daycare places. Childminders, babysitters, au pairs and more — all alternatives with costs and tax tips for parents.
Helpful Folks Redaktion
Experts in Childcare and Family Life
March 27, 2026
No daycare place in sight, reduced opening hours or sudden group closures due to staff shortages — for hundreds of thousands of parents in Germany, this is no longer the exception but bitter everyday reality. The good news is that there are more alternatives than you might think. In this guide, you will learn just how large the childcare gap really is, what rights you have, which care options exist beyond daycare — and how to claim the costs back on your taxes.
The figures are alarming: according to a recent study by the German Economic Institute (IW), Germany is short more than 300,000 daycare places for children under three. That means around 14 per cent of all toddlers cannot get a place, even though their parents want one.
Western Germany is hit hardest. North Rhine-Westphalia has the biggest shortfall at roughly 85,000 missing places, followed by Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. In Bremen, Rhineland-Palatinate and the Saarland, almost one in five toddlers lacks a childcare place. Eastern German states, by contrast, are in a much more comfortable position — in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, places are only missing for about three per cent of children.
But the missing places are only half the story. Even parents whose children have a daycare place are affected: more than half of all working parents have had to cope with shortened opening hours or temporary closures in recent months — a consequence of the dramatic shortage of trained childcare workers. Nationwide, around 98,000 qualified staff are currently missing, and forecasts project a gap of 230,000 by 2030.
What many parents do not realise is that you have a statutory right to a childcare place. Since 2013, German law (§ 24 SGB VIII) has guaranteed that every child from their first birthday is entitled to a place in a daycare centre or with a registered childminder. From the third birthday, there is an additional right to a kindergarten place.
If the youth welfare office cannot offer a place, you have the following options:
Register your need in writing with the youth welfare office. Document from day one that you are looking for a place. Send everything by registered post with return receipt — these records will be decisive later.
Set a deadline. Give the youth welfare office two to three months to find a suitable place. The authority is obliged to actively search for solutions.
File an objection. If you receive a rejection, you have four weeks to lodge a formal objection.
Emergency proceedings at the administrative court. If the objection fails, you can file an emergency application. This typically takes only four to six weeks — and is free of charge for parents. A lawyer is not strictly required, though they can be helpful.
Claim compensation. If you were unable to work because of the missing place, you may be entitled to compensation for lost earnings.
Important: The legal entitlement does not apply to a specific preferred daycare centre, but to any reasonable childcare place — which can include a childminder. However, the distance must remain acceptable.
Registered childminders (Tagesmutter/Tagesvater) are for many families the best alternative to daycare — especially for children under three. A childminder typically looks after only three to five children at a time, offering a far more personal care environment than a daycare group of 15 or more.
| Feature | Daycare Centre | Childminder |
|---|---|---|
| Group size | 12–25 children | 3–5 children |
| Staff-child ratio | 1:8 to 1:12 | 1:3 to 1:5 |
| Flexibility | Fixed opening hours | Often individually negotiable |
| Setting | Institutional facility | Family-like, homely atmosphere |
| Cost (publicly funded) | Income-dependent | Comparable to daycare |
| Age group | 0–6 years | Focus on 0–3 years |
The costs of a publicly funded childminder place are generally comparable to those of a daycare centre — they are calculated on an income-dependent basis and subsidised by the youth welfare office. The public subsidy usually only applies to children under three, however. Those who engage a private childminder without funding pay on average between five and six euros per hour per child, plus meals.
Beyond traditional childminding, there are further care options that can fit perfectly into family life depending on your needs. On Helpful Folks you can find childcare near you — from experienced babysitters to loving surrogate grandparents.
Babysitter: Ideal for hourly care in the evenings, at weekends or during unexpected gaps. The average hourly rate in 2026 is around €14, with the statutory minimum wage of €13.90 applying (exception: underage babysitters). In major cities like Munich, rates reach up to €15.50, while smaller cities see €12 to €13.
Nanny: A nanny cares for your child regularly and exclusively in your home — usually part-time or full-time. Costs are significantly higher than a babysitter, but you get a dedicated carer who can also handle pick-ups, meals and homework supervision.
Surrogate grandparents (Leihoma/Leihopa): In many cities, services match fit retirees with families looking for a surrogate grandparent figure. Costs are often low or based on expense reimbursement, and children benefit from an intergenerational relationship.
Au pair: A young person aged 18 to 24 lives with your family for six to twelve months and helps with childcare. Not a replacement for full-time care, but a valuable supplement — for example, collecting children from daycare or supervising them in the afternoon.
Grandparents: Around 40 per cent of grandparents in Germany look after their grandchildren at least once a week. This form of care offers maximum trust and flexibility, but requires that grandparents live nearby and are in good health.
Childcare costs vary widely depending on the model and region. Here is an overview to help you plan realistically:
| Care Model | Monthly Cost (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Daycare (public) | €0–600 | Income-dependent, some states fee-free |
| Childminder (funded) | €0–600 | Comparable to daycare, youth office subsidy |
| Childminder (private) | €400–800 | €5–6/hr/child without funding |
| Babysitter (regular) | €200–500 | Depending on hours, approx. €14/hr |
| Nanny (part-time) | €800–1,500 | Exclusive care at home |
| Au pair | €300–400 pocket money | Plus board, lodging and insurance |
Whichever care model you choose, the costs can be claimed as special expenses on your tax return. Since 2025, 80 per cent of childcare costs are deductible, up to a maximum of €4,800 per child per year (based on a ceiling of €6,000). This applies equally to daycare, childminders, babysitters, au pairs and nannies.
Requirements: your child must be under 14, you need an invoice, and payment must be made by bank transfer. Cash payments are not recognised. Enter the childcare costs in the Anlage Kind section of your tax return.
An important change is just around the corner: from August 2026, all first-graders will for the first time have a legal right to all-day care. By 2029, this entitlement will be extended step by step to cover all primary school year groups. The care provision amounts to eight hours on five working days, with lesson time counted towards the total. There is also an entitlement during school holidays — with the exception of up to four weeks of closure.
Implementation is a challenge, however: according to a survey by the Association for Education and Upbringing (VBE), a quarter of school heads cannot guarantee all-day care for children starting school in autumn 2026. The biggest obstacles are a lack of suitable rooms and a shortage of qualified staff.
What does this mean for you as a parent? If your child starts school in 2026, you will have an enforceable right to eight hours of care per day from August. Find out early from your local authority whether all-day provision is already in place at your school — and register your need in good time.
Starting the search too late? In many cities, you should put your child on waiting lists shortly after birth. Anyone who only starts looking six months before the desired care start date will often miss out.
Only focusing on daycare centres? Many parents put all their eggs in one basket and apply exclusively to daycare centres. Register your child with childminders and parent-run initiatives in parallel — this significantly increases your chances.
Not using your legal entitlement? Out of reluctance to deal with bureaucracy, many parents forgo asserting their legal right. In reality, an objection is a simple letter, and a claim before the administrative court costs parents nothing.
Missing out on tax benefits? Babysitter and nanny costs are also deductible — provided you pay by bank transfer and have an invoice. Many parents are unaware of this and give away real money every year.
Not networking with other parents? Exchange ideas in parent groups, forums and neighbourhood networks. Informal childcare cooperatives often emerge, and you will be among the first to hear when a place becomes available.
The childcare crisis is real — but you are not powerless. From childminders and babysitters to surrogate grandparents, there are numerous alternatives that can work brilliantly. Use your legal entitlement, register early and do not forget to claim your childcare costs on your taxes. And if you are looking for flexible childcare support, Helpful Folks can help you find the right solution. Browse the listings and find the perfect care for your child.
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