Family & settling in
Making childcare fit a Swiss working week
Childcare is a timetable and availability decision as well as a monthly expense. Before accepting working hours, map every part of the day when your child needs supervision. Include commuting and school holidays alongside your contracted hours.
Editorial review: 16 October 2026
Separate the services you need
For preschool children, investigate nurseries and family day care locally. For school-age children, ask about morning care, lunch supervision and after-school provision. Obtain a written offer for your child's age, required weekdays and start date. Ask about the settling-in period and cancellation terms. A place described as available may cover different days from the ones your employer needs.
Use local rules and actual prices
Provision and subsidies depend on the municipality and canton. Zurich, for example, requires supplementary school-age care on weekdays between 7.30 and 18.00, with local tariffs and arrangements; its guidance also explains possible short waiting lists and the separate position during school holidays. Treat this as a Zurich example. Request your own municipality's tariff, subsidy conditions, application deadline and charges for meals or additional sessions.
Build a weekly and annual backup plan
Test who can collect a child if a train is delayed or an evening shift runs late. Ask providers about illness policies and closure weeks. Compare the additional net income from another working day with childcare and travel costs, while also considering career continuity. Agree any fixed days or flexible hours with the employer in writing. Reserve time for settling in before both adults need to work full schedules.