Looking for affordable childcare in Amed, Bali? Hiring a local village nanny isn’t just budget-friendly; it’s a cultural doorway for your kids. Learn how to find and work with local caregivers in East Bali.
More Than a Babysitter: Experiencing Authentic Bali with a Local Nanny in Amed
For many families, a trip to Bali is about more than just resort pools and western cafes. It’s about connecting with a culture that is deeply spiritual, artistic, and incredibly community-oriented. If you have chosen to stay in Amed on the east coast, you’ve already made a choice to step away from the commercialized south and into a more authentic version of the island.
When it comes to finding childcare in this region, you have a unique opportunity. While you can import a professional agency nanny from Seminyak, hiring a local babysitter from an Amed village offers something different. It’s not just an affordable solution; it’s a doorway into the real life of East Bali for your children.
This approach isn’t for everyone—it requires flexibility and cultural openness—but for the right family, it can be the highlight of the trip.
The Difference Between Agency and Local Hires
It’s important to manage expectations. A professional agency nanny is trained in Western childcare standards, speaks fluent English, and often has formal certifications.
A local Amed villager—often a mother, aunt, or grandmother from the nearby banjar (community)—brings a different skill set.
- English: Their English may be basic, limited to essential words. Communication often happens through smiles, gestures, and play.
- Style: Balinese childcare is communal and relaxed. It’s less about structured activities and schedules, and more about warm, attentive presence and integrating children into daily life.
- Cost: Local hires are significantly more affordable, with rates often negotiated directly, ensuring 100% of the money stays within the local community.
How to Find a Local Nanny in Amed
You won’t find these wonderful women on Google. Finding a local hire is an exercise in trust and community networking.
- Your Host is Key: The best starting point is the manager or owner of your villa or guesthouse. They have deep ties to the village. Ask them, “Do you know a trustworthy Ibu from the village who would like some extra work looking after our kids?”
- Dive Shops & Warungs: The staff at your favourite local restaurant or dive centre are also great resources. Everyone in Amed knows everyone.
- Trust the Recommendation: In Balinese village culture, reputation is everything. A host will only recommend someone they trust implicitly, as a bad experience would reflect poorly on them.
Cultural Activities Your Kids Will Love
A local nanny won’t take your kids to a soft-play center because there aren’t any. Instead, they will share their world:
- Making Offerings (Canang Sari): Your kids can sit with the nanny and learn to weave the small, square palm-leaf baskets filled with colorful flowers that are placed around Bali every day. It’s a beautiful lesson in gratitude and artistry.
- Salt Farming Walks: Amed is famous for its traditional solar salt farming. A local nanny can take the kids for a morning walk to the beach to see the intricate process of raking the brine under the sun.
- Learning the Language: Children are sponges. Within a few days, a local nanny will have your little ones saying Matur Suksma (thank you) and Om Swastiastu (hello).
Tips for a Successful Local Hire
- Be Clear on Safety: Even with language barriers, be absolutely clear about non-negotiables like pool safety. Use translation apps if necessary to ensure they understand the rules around water.
- Provide Meals: It is customary and polite to provide meals for your nanny while she is with you, or give her extra money to buy food from a local warung.
- Be Patient and Open: Things might run on “rubber time.” The approach to discipline might be softer than you’re used to. Embrace the differences. The warmth and genuine love Balinese have for children usually bridge any cultural gaps.
Hiring a local nanny in Amed is a beautiful way to ensure your tourism dollars directly benefit the community you are visiting. More than that, it gives your children a chance to step out of the tourist bubble and make a genuine human connection in one of the most welcoming cultures on earth.