Home childminders (madres de día) and informal care networks

Terms used

• Madres de día — Madres de día are home-based childminders who look after a small group of children in their own home.
• AMPA — The AMPA is a school's parents' association, where parents meet and share information.
• Empleado/a de hogar — An empleado/a de hogar is a domestic employee, such as a nanny, registered with Social Security by the household.
• Guardería — A guardería, also called escuela infantil, is a licensed nursery for young children.

Key rules

• Regulation: There is no national rule, and only some regions regulate madres de día.
• Informal care: Where care is informal, you have no contract, no insurance and no inspection of the carer.
• Paid carers: Paying a carer without a contract is undeclared work, so register them as a domestic employee with Social Security.
• Larger groups: Regular care for more than a few children needs a licensed centre.

Which regions regulate madres de día, and their exact requirements, change over time, so confirm them with your regional education or social services department.

Is a madre de día legal and regulated?

It depends on your region. Spain has no national rule for home childminders. Only a few regions regulate them, with Galicia and Navarra among the best-known cases. Others have discussed or started regulation. In most regions, madres de día work in a legal gray area, and informal care is the norm, with fewer protections for your child and for you.

Ask your regional education or social services department whether childminders are regulated where you live, and what the current rules are.

What a regulated madre de día usually has

Where a region regulates them, expect most of this. Details differ by region, so confirm them with the regional authority.

• A qualification in early childhood care, or related training.
• A home that meets safety and space conditions.
• A small group, often a maximum of about four to six children.
• Civil liability insurance for the activity.
• Registration or authorisation with the regional authority.
• A clear criminal record certificate and a medical certificate.

Ask to see these before you agree anything. The documents list below shows what to request.

How families find informal care

Most families use word of mouth:

• Grandparents and other relatives. Abuelos are a very common source of childcare.
• Neighbours and friends.
• Other parents at the school gate or in the AMPA (the school's parents' association).
• WhatsApp or Telegram groups for a class or neighbourhood, and online groups for parents and expats.
• Community noticeboards, parish or community centres.
• Online platforms for babysitters and au pairs.

What you give up with informal care

Unpaid help from relatives or neighbours has no contract, no guaranteed hours, no insurance and no inspection of the carer. You remain legally responsible for your child. If something goes wrong, the carer's liability follows general negligence rules, so your home insurance may or may not cover it. Ask your insurer before an informal carer looks after your child.

Paying a carer

Paying a nanny or babysitter without a contract is undeclared work. Register a paid carer in your home as a domestic employee (empleado/a de hogar) with Social Security. This covers the worker and gives you a clear legal basis.

Looking after more than a few children, or doing it on a regular commercial basis, needs a licensed centre (guardería or escuela infantil). Informal groups do not meet those standards, so be wary of a "childminder" running a large group at home.

Grandparents who look after grandchildren can in some cases get Social Security contributions through a special agreement. It is not a general protection, so ask Social Security before you count on it.

Documents you need

• Early childhood care qualification or related training certificate of the madre de día, where the region regulates the activity.

• Registration or authorisation from the regional authority, where the region regulates madres de día.

• Civil liability insurance policy covering the childminding activity, where the region regulates it.

• Clear criminal record certificate and medical certificate of the madre de día, where the region regulates the activity.

• Proof of registration as a domestic employee (empleado/a de hogar) with Social Security, if you pay a carer in your home.

Checklist

• Ask your regional education or social services department whether home childminders are regulated in your region.

• Ask a regulated madre de día for her registration, training, insurance, record and medical certificate.

• Ask relatives, neighbours and parents at the school gate or in the AMPA (parents' association) for care they recommend.

Frequently asked questions

What should a regulated madre de día have?

A regulated madre de día usually has early childhood training, a safe home, civil liability insurance and registration with the regional authority. The group is small, often a maximum of about four to six children. She also usually needs a clear record and a medical certificate.

Does home insurance cover a relative or neighbour who looks after my child?

Maybe, but you cannot count on it, because a carer's liability depends on general negligence rules. Parents stay legally responsible for the child. Ask your insurer in writing before you rely on a home policy.

Can grandparents who look after grandchildren get Social Security contributions?

In some cases yes, through a special agreement with Social Security, but it is not a general protection. Ask a Social Security office whether your family's situation qualifies.