Let's compare the options, honestly.
Before deciding, see your real childcare options side by side. Figures updated 2026, based on Quebec public programs and our experience since 2004.
CPE or daycare
Subsidized public network or private daycare
- Presence: Fixed hours 7am to 6pm
- Continuity: Rotating staff
- Location: Daycare facility
- Cost: $9/day CPE — $50+/day private
- Lead time: Long waiting lists (1-3 years)
Best for: predictable fixed schedules
Live-out nanny Regency
A local, dedicated nanny in your home
- Presence: Your schedule, your home
- Continuity: One dedicated nanny
- Location: Your home
- Cost: from ~$30/hr
- Lead time: 2 to 4 weeks
Best for: flexibility, all ages, stable care
Occasional babysitter
Hired for specific moments, sporadic
- Presence: On-demand, sporadic
- Continuity: Different person each time
- Location: Your home
- Cost: $15 to $25/hr
- Lead time: Same day to 1 week
Best for: date nights, sporadic needs
Quebec childcare assistance — what you should know
Several Quebec programs can significantly reduce your real cost. Ida walks you through them during your free consultation.
Sources: Revenu Québec 2026, Retraite Québec, Ministère de la Famille — indicative figures. Personalized estimates provided during your free consultation.
The human behind the service.
Who she is, what she sees, the childcare options around her, and the journey she goes through to reach your home.
The person who will care for your children.
Her name is Marie-Claude, Stéphanie, or Aida. She's between 25 and 55 years old, lives in your region, and has been working with families for 5, 10, sometimes 20 years. She holds a CPE diploma, an early childhood education certification, or comes from years of trusted family experience.
She's already gone through our verification process: criminal background check, reference checks with previous families, interviews with Ida, and a trial period with you. She speaks French and often English (sometimes more).
She's not coming to your home for a quick gig. She's looking for a stable family she can grow with. That's why our nannies stay 3, 5, sometimes 8 years with the same family.
The moment you knew it was time.
For every family, it's different. But there's almost always a trigger. Do you recognize one of these moments?
The exhaustion
You work late, come home, work more, sleep 5 hours. Tomorrow, same thing. You can't remember the last time you read a story.
The emergency with no backup
Your child is sick. The daycare calls. You cancel your workday. Again. Your boss starts to ask questions.
The daycare rigidity
6 PM sharp. The daycare closes. You rush across town. You arrive at 6:08 PM. Again, the looks. The late fees.
A Live-Out nanny adjusts to your real life. Not the other way around.
The types of childcare in Quebec, explained simply.
Before choosing, here's a clear picture of every childcare option available to you in Quebec.
What is a CPE?
A CPE (Centre de la petite enfance) is Quebec's subsidized public daycare network. Cost: around $9/day. Excellent quality, accredited staff, but extremely long waiting lists — often 2 to 3 years. Best for families with stable, predictable working hours who registered very early.
What is a subsidized private daycare?
A private daycare that receives partial provincial subsidy. Cost: $9 to $15/day. Quality varies more than CPEs. Also subject to waiting lists, though usually shorter. Hours are typically less flexible than a nanny but more predictable.
What is a "milieu familial" (RSG)?
A licensed in-home daycare run by an accredited caregiver in her own home. Small groups of 4 to 6 children. Cost: $9/day subsidized or more if private. More personal than a CPE, less flexible than a nanny.
What is a Live-Out nanny?
A nanny who works at your home during agreed-upon hours, then goes home. Local hire, no immigration paperwork, no visa needed. Cost: from ~$30/hr in Quebec. The most flexible option — your schedule, your home, all ages. Ideal for unpredictable hours or families wanting personalized, consistent care.
What is an Au Pair?
A young European caregiver (typically 18 to 30 years old) who lives with you for 1 to 2 years through the IEC (International Experience Canada) program. Mainly suited for caring for younger children. Cost equivalent: $20-25/hr. Cultural exchange focus, but more limited than a live-out nanny in terms of age range and tasks.
How a nanny gets into our database.
Before any nanny meets a family, she goes through 5 verification steps.
Application & CV
ContinuousNannies apply through our website, agencies, and our 22-year network.
First filter
1 to 2 daysCV review, references check, initial phone call. Only ~30% make it past this step.
Deep verification
1 weekCriminal background check, contact previous employers, verify certifications and diplomas.
Interview with Ida
1 hourPersonality assessment, language skills, real-life scenarios, fit for our families.
Available for matching
OngoingNow she's in our active database, ready to be matched with the right family.
A nanny for your family — let's start on the right foot.
30 seconds to answer. Ida calls you back within 24 hours with a first personalized plan.
What you get with Regency.
No commitment · Confidential · Reply within 24 hours
What you experience, from form to first day.
No mystery. Here's exactly what happens, in order, and how long each step takes.
You fill out the form
30 secondsNo commitment. We just need your region, your situation, and how to reach you.
Ida calls you back
24 to 48 hoursFree consultation: your needs, your hours, your preferences, your budget.
Matched profiles
1 to 2 weeksReal, verified nanny profiles, pre-filtered to match your criteria.
You meet the candidates
At your paceVideo calls and in-person meetings if you wish. You choose who fits.
She starts — with a trial
~1 month trial includedIf it's not the right match, we find someone better. No commitment risk.
Everywhere in Quebec. No restrictions.
Unlike international live-in caregivers, local nannies have no geographic restrictions. We match families across the entire province.
Greater Montreal & South Shore
Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, Brossard, Saint-Lambert, Boucherville, Repentigny, Terrebonne, Mascouche, and surroundings.
Quebec City & beyond
Quebec City, Lévis, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, Saguenay, Drummondville, Gatineau, Rimouski, and every other Quebec region.
The questions we hear most often.
If your question isn't here, just call Ida — she probably has the answer.
📋 Logistics & hours
How many hours per week does she work?
Completely flexible — typically 20 to 50 hours per week. You define the schedule that fits your family: part-time, full-time, regular hours, evening shifts, weekends. The schedule is set in the employment contract.
How do holidays and vacation work?
Live-out nannies in Quebec are subject to standard labour laws: paid statutory holidays, paid vacation accrual (2 weeks/year after 1 year of service), notice periods. Ida walks you through everything during the consultation so there are no surprises.
What if the nanny is sick? Is there a backup?
If your nanny is sick or unavailable, Regency helps you find a temporary replacement quickly from our backup pool. We're not a one-shot agency — we stay with you for the long term.
💰 Costs & Quebec assistance
How much does a live-out nanny cost per month?
The nanny's hourly wage starts at ~$30/hr in Quebec. The total monthly cost depends on the hours you need. Quebec assistance programs can significantly reduce your net cost — especially the tax credit for childcare expenses (up to 75% refundable). Ida gives you a real net-cost estimate during the free consultation.
What Quebec assistance can I claim?
The main one is the refundable tax credit for childcare expenses — up to 75% of paid wages refunded depending on family income. To qualify, you need official receipts from your nanny. Regency helps you set up everything correctly from day one.
🛡️ Process & guarantees
What if things don't work out with the nanny?
The trial period is exactly designed for that. If the match isn't right within the first month, Regency finds you another nanny — no extra agency fee. We take time to match well from the start, which is why our families stay 3 to 5 years on average.
How do you verify backgrounds?
Every nanny goes through: criminal background check, reference calls with previous employers, verification of certifications (CPE diploma, early childhood education, first aid, etc.), and several interviews with Ida. Less than 1 in 4 candidates makes it through.
🏠 Daily life
Can she care for multiple children? What age range?
Yes. Our live-out nannies can care for newborns to teenagers, and several siblings simultaneously. The hourly rate doesn't vary much by number of children. Some nannies specialize in newborns, others in school-age kids — we match accordingly.
Does she do household tasks? Cooking?
Light household tasks related to childcare are typically included: kids' meals, kids' laundry, room tidying. Beyond that (housekeeping, family meals, ironing), it depends on the agreement made with the nanny. Some nannies happily take on more; others focus strictly on childcare. Everything is clear in the contract.
What if my child is sick? Will she still come?
Unlike daycares that send sick kids home, a live-out nanny comes to your home — even if your child is mildly sick. For contagious illnesses, the decision is made together with the nanny (some are immune-compromised). Major advantage over daycare: no work disruption for you.
Your time, recovered.
Your kids, in trusted hands.
From your first call to her first day, we're with you. Take the first step — Ida calls you back within 24 hours.
No commitment · 24h reply · Confidential