Finding a nanny or helper in Bangkok. What to check before you hire.

Nanny, helper, housekeeper. Decide what you need

In Bangkok the words get used loosely. A nanny mainly looks after the kids. A helper or housekeeper (mae baan in Thai) mainly runs the house, and many do some childcare too. Plenty of families want one person who does a bit of both. Be clear about the split before you start looking, because it changes who you hire and what you pay.

Then decide on live-in or live-out. Live-in suits families with long hours or a newborn, and it needs a proper room and clear off-duty time. Live-out is simpler for a lot of condo families.

Where families find someone

• A family that’s leaving Bangkok. This is the classic route, and you can talk to the family she worked for.
• Recommendations from other parents, in person or through local parent groups.
• Agencies. They can save time and some offer a replacement if it doesn’t work out. Ask exactly what they check.
• Online boards and expat groups, where you’ll need to do all the checking yourself.

Calling references

A written reference is a start. A phone call is better. Ask the previous family how long she worked for them, what her day looked like, how she handled a sick child or a toddler meltdown, and why the job ended. Ask whether they would hire her again. If a reference won’t take your call, treat that as your answer.

Do a paid trial first

A paid trial of a week or two before you commit is common. Be home for some of it. Watch how she talks to your kids when she thinks you aren’t listening, and how your kids are with her by the end of the week.

Put it in writing

A simple written agreement saves a lot of awkward conversations later. Cover the basics:

• Working hours, days off and public holidays
• Pay, when it’s paid, and how overtime works
• Sick days and paid leave
• What’s included in the job and what isn’t
• Notice period on both sides

Ask whether she has done a first aid or infant CPR course. Some families pay for one.

Work permits and the paperwork

If your nanny or helper isn’t Thai, she needs the right visa and work permit to work in your home, and the process usually runs through you as the employer. The rules change, so check current requirements with Thailand’s Department of Employment or a reputable agency before your start date.

Language at home

If you want your kids to grow up with Thai, a Thai-speaking nanny is one of the easiest ways to get there. If English is the priority, that changes who you look for. Our guide to raising a bilingual kid in Thailand covers how other families handle nanny language.

Checking rates and references with other families

Agency sites and job boards show who is available. They can’t tell you what someone was like to work with, or what families are paying for a similar role right now. Other parents can, which is why word of mouth is still how many families in Bangkok hire. In The Village, members share this in the Nannies & Helpers group.

If you’re expecting, the postpartum support guide covers confinement nannies, which is a different hire with its own questions.