Childcare when you work shifts, nights or weekends

Terms used

• Madrugadores — Madrugadores is a nursery's early drop-off service, usually starting around 7:30 or 8:00.
• Comedor — The comedor is the lunch service at a nursery or school.
• Canguro — A canguro is a babysitter or hired carer who looks after children at set hours.
• Sistema Especial de Empleados de Hogar — The Sistema Especial de Empleados de Hogar is the Social Security scheme for registering household employees such as nannies.
• Certificado de delitos de naturaleza sexual — The certificado de delitos de naturaleza sexual is a certificate showing no sexual offence record, expected for people working with minors.

Key rules

• Nursery hours: Nurseries run on weekday daytime hours, and overnight or weekend nursery care is very rare.
• Flexible cover: For nights and weekends, you will mostly rely on a hired carer, nanny, childminder or family.
• Regular carers: A carer with regular hours should be registered with Social Security as a household employee.
• Vetting: Meet, check references and run a trial session before you leave a carer alone with your child.

Nurseries keep daytime hours, so plan for other cover

Almost all nurseries and schools open on weekdays in the daytime. If you work shifts, nights or weekends, you will usually rely on a nanny, extended nursery hours, a childminder, or family and friends. Overnight and weekend nursery care is very rare.

Extended hours at a nursery

Many nurseries offer an early drop-off service called "madrugadores", from about 7:30 or 8:00. Many also offer a lunch service (comedor) and late pick-up until 17:00 or 18:00. A few private nurseries open from about 7:30 and close around 19:00 to 20:00, and some offer hourly care.

Extra hours usually cost a monthly supplement or an hourly or daily charge. Typical 2025 ranges:

• Early drop-off or late pick-up: roughly 15 to 60 euros per month.
• Lunch: about 4 to 8 euros per day, or 80 to 150 euros per month.

Prices vary a lot by region and centre. Public centres usually charge less. Ask each nursery for its hours and price list before you enrol.

Other ways to get cover

• Canguro or cuidadora: a hired carer who comes to your home for set hours. This is the most flexible option for nights and weekends.
• Nanny: live-in or live-out. An au pair is another option.
• Childminder: care in the carer's own home.
• Family and friends: many families use them to fill gaps.
• Conciliation programmes: some town councils and employers run them. Hospital and large-employer nurseries sometimes open longer. Ask your town hall and your employer.

Custom hours cost more than a standard nursery place.

Finding someone you can trust

Most families find carers by word of mouth: other parents at the nursery or school, neighbours, parents' chat groups and expat community groups. Online babysitting and nanny platforms are common. University students are a typical source of babysitters, often through campus notice boards.

Before you hire:

1. Meet the person in person and check their identity.
2. Ask for references.
3. Do a trial session.
4. Ask for a certificado de delitos de naturaleza sexual. This certificate is expected for anyone who works with children.

Hiring for regular hours

If the carer works regular hours, register them under the Sistema Especial de Empleados de Hogar, with Social Security. The documents box below lists what you need. The FAQ below answers common questions on nursery extras and finding a canguro.

Documents you need

• Certificate of no sexual offences (certificado de delitos de naturaleza sexual), for anyone who will work with your child in formal employment

• Social Security registration under the household employee scheme (Sistema Especial de Empleados de Hogar), if you hire a carer for regular hours

Frequently asked questions

How much do early drop-off and late pick-up cost at a nursery?

Early drop-off or late pick-up usually costs roughly 15 to 60 euros per month. Early drop-off (called madrugadores) often starts at about 7:30 or 8:00, and late pick-up runs until 17:00 or 18:00.

How much does a nursery lunch service cost?

A nursery lunch (comedor) usually costs about 4 to 8 euros per day, or 80 to 150 euros per month. Prices vary widely by region and centre. Ask the nursery whether it bills by the day or by the month.

Can I find nursery care at night or at weekends?

No, overnight and weekend nursery care is very rare in Spain. A few private nurseries open from about 7:30 to 19:00 or 20:00, and some hospital or large-employer nurseries have longer hours. Ask your town council and your employer about conciliation programmes.

How do I find a trustworthy canguro (babysitter)?

Start with word of mouth from other parents, neighbours and expat groups, then try online babysitting platforms or university notice boards. Ask for references, meet in person and do a trial session before you commit. If you hire for regular hours, register the carer under the household employee scheme.