Finding a nanny in Dakar: a practical childcare guide

Finding a nanny in Dakar is mostly about trust: personal recommendations, checked references, a trial period and a written agreement. Depending on your children's age and where you live, you can also pair home childcare with a nursery or kindergarten. This guide is for local families, returning diaspora and newcomers settling in the city.

Home nanny, nursery or kindergarten?

A live-in or daily nanny is still the most common arrangement in Dakar. She looks after the children at home and often handles child-related chores such as meals, laundry and bath time. Some nannies live in, while others commute every day from Pikine, Guédiawaye, Keur Massar or Parcelles Assainies, so factor in morning traffic on the VDN or the toll highway when agreeing on start times.

Nurseries and kindergartens take babies and preschoolers, with half-day or full-day options. You will find many of them in Mermoz, Sacré-Cœur, Point E, Liberté 6, Ouakam and the Almadies. Plenty of parents mix both: kindergarten in the morning, nanny in the afternoon. To compare options near your home, browse our list of nurseries and childcare places in Dakar.

Placement agency or word of mouth?

Word of mouth works remarkably well here. Ask neighbors, colleagues, parents' groups in your area or your child's school. The big plus is that the candidate has already worked for someone you know.

Placement agencies pre-screen candidates and may offer a replacement if things do not work out. Before you commit, ask:

• what the agency fee covers and whether it is a one-off or monthly payment;
• how long the replacement guarantee lasts;
• how they check identity and past references.

References, interview and trial period

Never rely on a CV alone. Call at least two former employers and ask specific questions: how long she stayed, the ages of the children, why she left, whether she was punctual. Check her national ID card.

During the interview, talk about languages (Wolof, French, Pulaar, Serer...), experience with babies, and how she handles tantrums and mealtimes. Then agree on a trial period of a few weeks. If you can, stay home for the first days to watch, share routines and build trust.

Contract, pay and declaration

Even for an informal arrangement, put a simple written contract in place covering hours, days off, duties, salary, leave and notice. It prevents most misunderstandings.

There is no single going rate. As a rough guide, a full-time nanny often earns between 60,000 and 150,000 FCFA a month, depending on experience, number of children, neighborhood and whether she lives in. In areas such as the Almadies, Ngor or the Plateau, offers tend to be higher. Many families also cover transport and a daily meal, and give a gift for Tabaski or Korité.

Domestic workers fall under Senegalese labor law, and employers have declaration duties with the social security bodies. Check with the labor inspectorate or an adviser for current procedures and minimum requirements. If you are paying from abroad, our currency converter helps you budget in your home currency.

Safety ground rules from day one

• Post an emergency contact list: your numbers, a trusted neighbor, the pediatrician, plus 17 (police), 18 (fire brigade) and 1515 (SAMU ambulance).
• Make clear who is allowed to pick your child up from school or nursery.
• Set rules for outings: Yoff or Ngor beach, the park, visits to relatives.
• Keep medicine and cleaning products out of reach, especially in the rainy season when kids spend more time indoors.
• Keep talking: a quick check-in every evening beats constant monitoring.

Recommended addresses on SeneFinder

• Kindergarten Keur Kisma SIDIBA : Dakar, kindergarten.
• APN_AGENCE DE PLACEMENT & NETTOYAGE : Médina, placement and cleaning agency.

You can also see all addresses in this category or explore the Dakar directory.

Useful tools

• Dakar practical guide: SOS numbers, transport and everyday info.
• FCFA currency converter to plan your childcare budget.
• Route planner to estimate your nanny's commute.
• Related reading: the best nurseries in Dakar and how to find cleaning services in Dakar.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a nanny cost in Dakar?

There is no official single rate. Full-time pay often ranges from 60,000 to 150,000 FCFA a month, depending on experience, neighborhood, number of children and whether the nanny lives in.

Do I need a contract to hire a nanny in Senegal?

A written contract is strongly recommended, covering hours, duties, pay, leave and notice. Domestic workers are covered by labor law, so check the declaration procedures that apply.

Is a placement agency better than word of mouth?

An agency saves time and often offers a replacement, in exchange for a fee. Word of mouth works well too, as long as you check references yourself and agree on a trial period.