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Faced with a shortage of spots with child care providers, mothers are having to quit their jobs to care for their children. The two new child care centers (MAM) are expected to open in 2028 in Grand Cul-de-Sac and in 2030 in Anse des Cayes.
On the Facebook page “Les Nounous de Saint-Barth,” posts from parents looking for a child care provider outnumber the available spots. “Hello, I’ve been desperately searching for a year now,” Elodie laments. The mother of two was forced to take parental leave to care for her daughter, who is now eleven months old. “It’s a real problem on the island, right up there with finding a place to live,” says the thirty-something, exasperated. And this isn’t the first time she’s faced this issue. Ten years ago, she’d already had great difficulty finding childcare for her son before he started school. “My son had to go through about ten different nannies. One would take him for a week, then another for three days, until I found one who would look after him year-round,” Elodie recalls. For her daughter, she started looking as soon as she became pregnant. But every time she contacted a child care provider, she got the same response: her daughter was too young, or all the spots were already filled. “They told me to call back in 2027! At this rate, we’ll never go back to work,” the mother sighs.
Financial Pressure
Aware of the difficulties in finding a nanny, Agathe* took the initiative: “Even before telling my family and friends, I started reaching out to child care providers.” It wasn’t early enough. “I was told on the phone that I should contact them as soon as we start thinking about having a baby,” she says with a wry laugh. “But you never know how long it’ll take to get pregnant!” Agathe found herself without childcare for her son during his first year. She’ll have to wait until the following year, in September 2027 (most child care providers take on new children in September when the others start school). “It’s very complicated because moms often have a younger sister or brother and therefore hold spots for years,” Agathe explains. “There are also child care providers who don’t take babies, and those with flexible schedules, so that limits our options.” Agathe refuses to turn to unlicensed babysitters and doesn’t want to burden her family with caring for her son: “We didn’t have a child just to have his grandparents take care of him; we want it to remain a pleasure for them to see him.” With few options left, the young woman decided to quit her job to raise her son. “I was lucky enough to have a mutual termination agreement, which allows me to collect unemployment benefits because the parental allowance of 400 euros a month—you can’t do much with that amount in Saint Barth,” she adds.
For those who don’t have that option, finding childcare can turn into a nightmare. Having gone to France for training, Mélanie* “is slowly losing hope” because she can’t find a solution for her son’s care and, as a result, can’t plan her return to Saint Barth in the fall. “Completely at a loss,” she had planned to turn to unlicensed nannies who care for children in their parents’ homes. “I hadn’t realized how much it would cost without subsidies—it comes to 1,500 euros a month,” she exclaims. “With 2,500 euros in rent, it’s not sustainable.” This financial pressure is taking a toll on her relationship and her mental health. “Psychologically, I’m exhausted; I feel like I’m up against a wall,” Mélanie laments. “I’m just waiting for one thing: to be able to go back to my island.”
Shortage of Childcare Providers
The difficulties in finding childcare in Saint-Barth are nothing new, nor are they unique to the island. Back in 2023, Dr. Pauline Codrons already shared in our pages (JSB 1535) the challenges faced by the PMI (Maternal and Child Health Services) in recruiting child care providers: “We need forty professionals. That’s our goal, to achieve a balance between supply and demand.” Three years ago, there were thirty-four active childcare providers on the island. Today, thirty are active out of thirty-five licensed providers. The need remains pressing, especially since 2025 saw a high birth rate with 107 births (85 in 2024 and 78 in 2023). On the island, many child care providers are nearing retirement age. “For some, the physical demands of the job are becoming more significant,” adds Catherine Ribeiro Ramos, who has been a home-based child care provider for thirty years. “Caring for a baby involves a lot of lifting throughout the day. These movements, repeated daily, put a heavy strain on the back, shoulders, knees, and wrists.” This is one of the reasons why some child care providers only take in children once they can walk. “This decision isn’t a lack of willingness, but rather an adjustment to their physical capabilities so they can continue to do their jobs under good conditions,” emphasizes Catherine Ribeiro Ramos. This is especially true since child care providers were only able to receive their first occupational health consultation in 2025. A program accessible via video conference in Saint Barth’s quickly ran into snags due to the territory’s unique status. “We’re working on this issue to ensure that child care providers’ rights are respected,” assures Dr. Pauline Codrons.
Two Childcare Centers Under Construction
The other major obstacle to recruiting child care providers remains housing. The landlord must agree, the space must meet safety standards for children, and the neighbors must be supportive of this line of work. Laura*, who holds a CAP in Early Childhood Education, had looked into becoming a child care provider. But this line of work didn’t fit with her husband’s schedule, as he returns from fishing in the morning. She then turned to babysitting for tourists and locals. Childcare Centers (MAMs) are a solution for those who cannot provide care in their own homes. The two MAMs in Lorient allow eight child care providers to care for more than 32 children. While the local government provides the buildings, it’s up to the child care providers to set up their operations as nonprofit organizations (with help from the PMI). “It was a bit complicated administratively to set up the association,” admits Camille Hercule, a child care provider at Hakuna Mam’tata. The early days can also be financially challenging, since child care providers start out caring for just two children. “ “It was very difficult at first; we wondered how we were going to make ends meet,” Camille confides. This is especially true since the association’s expenses (rent, utilities, insurance, supplies) remain the same. Once the other approvals were obtained, the child care providers were able to increase their quota and care for four children. Two buildings owned by the Collectivité and intended to house child care providers are under construction: one in Anse des Cayes and one in Grand-Cul-de-Sac. Dr. Pauline Codrons estimates that the Grand-Cul-de-Sac facility won’t be ready until 2028 and the Anse des Cayes facility until 2030.
A new training program is scheduled to take place in the coming months, with a class of five new child care providers. An informational meeting to learn about the profession of child care provider, the requirements for entering the field, and the steps to follow is scheduled for July 30 at 5:30 p.m. at the Medical-Social Center. Anyone interested in this challenging but rewarding profession is invited to attend.
* First names have been changed
