Looking after kids in Bali

Britney Spears (Toby’s favourite singer) was intending to adopt a boy from Bali (and we’re not talking Kuta Cowboys). Some news sites reported a young kid named Wang was lined up, but the adoption may not happen. it was also written, that while Britney would be adopting the kid, she herself would probably not be the one actually looking after it. By that they meant, she would hire nannies. Living in Bali as a foreigner, we are fortunate to be able to access outside help, on the level (and in most cases above) that which a person like Britney can get. In Bali, you have people who actually like kids and are not just watching a clock. I’m lucky in that I have relatives who are always around, but just down my gang (alley) are various westerner, who have a nanny to look after their kid for a part of the day. We pay our pembantu 500,000rp per month, for 6 days a week, 8 hours a day. That often includes feeding, bathing, looking after and changing Jevon. Hiring a full time nanny is more expensive than hiring a pembantu, but doable. If you are visiting Bali its not a bad idea to hire a nanny for a couple of weeks, even if it only means looking after the kids when you are at the pool bar, or working out.

Ika told me she used to work as a baby sitter (some Indonesians use the term ‘baby sister’). For a stint from 10pm -3am she got 50,000rp. Another time she had a weekly gig, 3 nights a week for 4 hours a time for 400,000rp per month. It depends on the customer and what the nanny is willing to accept. Ika said if a married couple is 100% foreign they will pay more for a baby sister, if mixed, an okay deal, if Indonesian the best deal. That’s the case with just about everything, but you can still get good value. If you come to Bali and want to party, you don’t have to break the bank. You will find ads for baby sitters in the Bali Advertiser and posted on bulletin boards and trees around town.