Day care for children

An alternative to crèches or nurseries

Heidelberg supports day care for children. If you prefer a childminder over a crèche or nursery, you will receive support from the city. Any parent who has a child between the ages of one and three or is working, attending a training course or currently seeking a job, can apply to the Child and Youth Welfare Office (Kinder- und Jugendamt) for a place. 

The Child and Youth Welfare Office acts as an intermediary for organizing day care places. Parents choose to send their child to a childminder rather than a crèche or nursery for a variety of reasons: the family-like atmosphere on offer, the greater time flexibility and the small groups involved. The services of a childminder can also be combined with other care arrangements, for example outside crèche or nursery hours. Properly qualified and licensed childminders are allowed to care for up to five children on their own or a maximum of nine with another person. The child can be looked after either at the childminder’s home, at the child’s home or in rented premises.

Here you can find an overview of childminders in the districts of Heidelberg.