How Babysitting is Filling Childcare Gaps in Ireland

Childcare Challenges in Canada

High childcare costs putting pressure on families
Childcare in Ireland is among the most expensive in Europe, placing significant financial pressure on families. While government subsidies such as the National Childcare Scheme help reduce costs, many parents still face high out-of-pocket expenses. For some families, childcare costs can influence decisions around working hours, returning to work, or overall household finances.

Limited availability and long waiting lists
Even when families can afford childcare, accessing a place remains a major challenge. In many parts of Ireland, parents face long waiting lists for creches and daycare, often needing to register well in advance to secure a spot. This limited availability makes it difficult for families to find consistent and reliable childcare, particularly for younger children.

Government support is still evolving
Ireland has introduced several initiatives to improve childcare affordability and access, but the system is still developing. While support has expanded in recent years, it does not yet fully address the gaps between supply and demand, meaning many families continue to rely on a mix of formal and informal childcare solutions.

Gaps between childcare and working hours
Childcare provision in Ireland does not always align with parents’ working schedules. Standard daycare hours often do not cover early mornings, late afternoons, or school holidays, requiring parents to find additional support. As a result, many families turn to flexible options such as babysitting to fill these gaps and manage their daily routines.

Childcare statistics: How babysitting has become part of working family life

Based on Babysits data for Ireland:

• 53.6% of families need a babysitter at least once per week

• 47.6% need a babysitter more than once per week

• 78.96% of childcare requests take place during regular working hours

These patterns show that babysitting in Ireland is not occasional, but a regular part of how families manage childcare. With over half of families relying on babysitters weekly, childcare needs are frequent and ongoing. At the same time, a large share of childcare demand takes place during regular working hours, highlighting how babysitting is often used to support parents’ work schedules rather than just evenings or occasional needs.

In Ireland, where childcare is both expensive and difficult to access, these patterns reflect how families are turning to flexible solutions to bridge the gaps. Babysitting is not just a complement to childcare, but an important way for many families to balance work and family life. This raises a broader question: is this unique to Ireland, or part of a wider trend?

A Worldwide Perspective on Childcare During Work Hours

With 78.96% of childcare requests taking place during work hours, Ireland ranks among the higher end of countries where Babysits is active. While many countries cluster between 55% and 65%, Ireland’s share is significantly higher, placing it closer to high-demand countries such as Italy, Chile, and Greece, where this figure can exceed 80%.

This highlights how strongly childcare needs in Ireland are linked to parents’ working schedules. Compared to countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium, where demand is more evenly distributed across the week, Irish families rely more heavily on childcare during standard working hours. At the same time, this pattern is not unique to Ireland. Across countries, childcare demand is increasingly shaped by modern working patterns, showing that while Ireland sits above average, the underlying challenge, of aligning childcare with work, is part of a wider global trend.

How families and employers are adapting to childcare gaps

“Babysitting is no longer an occasional solution for families. Parents are using babysitters and nannies to manage work schedules and fill gaps where traditional childcare falls short” – Peter, CEO of Babysits and parent of three.

Companies are also beginning to recognise this shift. Some employers are introducing broader or more flexible employee childcare benefits to help employees access extended childcare, including babysitting, when they need it.

“We’re seeing more and more companies show interest in our childcare employee benefits program, Babysits for Work.” – Peter, CEO of Babysits

As work continues to evolve, flexible childcare options such as babysitting are becoming an essential part of how families manage their childcare needs in the years ahead.