10 Infant Care Centres in Singapore for Working Parents to Compare

Choosing an infant care centre can feel very different from choosing a preschool.

When your baby is only a few months old, you're probably less concerned about whether they'll be learning phonics by Friday and considerably more interested in who will comfort them when they cry, how feeds and naps are handled, and whether you'll make it from the office to pick-up before closing time.

For working parents in Singapore, there is another practical issue: infant care places can be limited, and not every branch within a preschool network necessarily offers an infant programme.

The good news is that families have options ranging from large Anchor Operator preschool networks to smaller private and premium infant care programmes, with different approaches to caregiving, sensory exploration, bilingual learning and early development.

Here are 10 infant care centres and preschool groups in Singapore for working parents to compare – plus the questions we'd ask before putting down a registration fee.

Important: Infant care availability varies by centre. Fees, vacancies and operating hours can also change, so always check the specific branch you're interested in rather than assuming every centre within a preschool group offers the same programme.

Infant care centres in Singapore at a glance

Provider	Infant age	Type	Worth comparing for
My First Skool	2–17 months	Anchor Operator	Large islandwide network
PCF Sparkletots	2 to below 18 months	Anchor Operator	Neighbourhood accessibility
E-Bridge Pre-School	2–18 months	Large preschool network	Infant-led exploration
Skool4Kidz	Infant care available at selected centres	Anchor Operator	Accessible full-day care
MindChamps Infant Care	2–18 months	Private	Structured premium programme
Kinderland	2 to below 18 months	Private	Responsive infant/toddler care
Star Learners	2–17 months	Preschool network	Relationship-based care
Little Footprints Preschool	2–17 months	Partner Operator	Published fee transparency
MapleBear	2–18 months	Private	Child-led Bear Care programme
Little Skool-House	Infant care at selected centres	NTUC First Campus brand	Continuity into preschool

1. My First Skool – for an extensive islandwide network

Worth comparing if: Convenience and having a centre reasonably close to home or work are high priorities

Operated by NTUC First Campus, My First Skool is one of the largest preschool networks in Singapore, with more than 160 locations islandwide across its wider preschool offering.

Its Infant Care programme caters to babies from 2 to 17 months old. The programme uses a relationships-based approach, with responsive care, sensory exploration and daily routines forming part of the infant's learning experience.

The daily rhythm includes feeding, sensory activities, routine care, naps, music and movement and storytelling. Importantly, the programme states that sleep follows babies' natural cues rather than forcing every infant into exactly the same nap schedule.

NTUC First Campus states that its preschool centres generally operate Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm, although parents should confirm the hours of their chosen branch.

Ages: 2–17 months
General operating hours: Monday–Friday, approximately 7am–7pm; confirm by centre
Published full-day infant care fee: From S$1,235 per month before subsidy for Singapore Citizens, before GST, based on current published information
Website: My First Skool Infant Care

2. PCF Sparkletots – for neighbourhood convenience

Worth comparing if: You want an Anchor Operator centre near your home

PCF Sparkletots has close to 350 preschool centres islandwide across its various service types, making location one of its biggest practical advantages.

Its infant care provision caters to babies from 2 months to below 18 months at centres offering the service.

PCF's Early Years centres provide full-day infant care and childcare, with current published operating hours of 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday.

One particularly useful feature for parents planning well ahead is that PCF says interest in infant care can be submitted three months in advance of your Estimated Due Date. That matters when you're already thinking about the return to work during pregnancy.

Ages: 2 months to below 18 months
Operating hours at Early Years centres: Monday–Friday, 7am–7pm
Published guide fee: S$1,346.15 per month for full-day infant care for Singapore Citizens before subsidies, based on current published information
Website: PCF Sparkletots Early Years

3. E-Bridge Pre-School – for infant-led exploration

Worth comparing if: You like a responsive, inquiry-based approach rather than highly scheduled infant activities

E-Bridge Pre-School offers infant care for babies from 2 to 18 months old.

Its approach emphasises responsive caregiving, reciprocal interaction and respecting each infant as an individual.

Rather than expecting babies to participate in formal “lessons”, the curriculum uses hands-on experiences and infant-led exploration. Natural and open-ended materials are used to encourage sensory, physical, cognitive and social development.

This is the kind of philosophy worth asking about during a centre tour: how much does the daily schedule follow the individual baby's cues, and how do educators adapt activities for infants reaching milestones at different times?

Ages: 2–18 months
Approach: Responsive caregiving and inquiry-based, infant-led exploration
Website: E-Bridge Infant Care

4. Skool4Kidz – for an Anchor Operator option

Worth comparing if: Affordability and accessible full-day care are important considerations

Skool4Kidz is another preschool appointed under Singapore's Anchor Operator scheme.

Its preschool and infant care programmes focus on providing a balanced learning experience, with care and development integrated into the infant's day.

As with the other large preschool networks, the key step is checking whether the specific Skool4Kidz centre convenient to your family currently provides infant care and has a place available.

Operator type: Anchor Operator
Infant care: Available at participating centres
Website: skool4kidz.com.sg

5. MindChamps Infant Care – for full-day or half-day options

Worth comparing if: You're considering a private preschool programme and want half-day as well as full-day possibilities

MindChamps Infant Care caters to infants and toddlers from 2 to 18 months.

The group currently offers both full-day and half-day infant care programmes, which may be useful for parents whose work arrangements don't require a conventional full day of care.

As a private provider, fees and availability should be checked directly with the individual centre you're considering.

Ages: 2–18 months
Programme options: Full-day and half-day care
Website: MindChamps Infant Care

6. Kinderland – for responsive infant and toddler care

Worth comparing if: You're looking for a programme focused on close educator-child relationships

Kinderland's Infant and Toddler Care Programme caters to children from 2 months to below 18 months.

Its stated philosophy centres on close, caring relationships with educators who respond to babies' individual needs.

The programme aims to support social and emotional development through responsive communication and care, while providing opportunities to develop gross and fine motor skills in a safe environment.

Not every Kinderland location necessarily offers the same services, so use the group's centre finder to narrow down infant-care locations first.

Ages: 2 months to below 18 months
Approach: Responsive relationships, sensory play and motor development
Website: Kinderland Infant & Toddler Care

7. Star Learners – for relationship-based infant care

Worth comparing if: Building a secure relationship between infant and educator is high on your checklist

Star Learners offers infant care programmes for babies from 2 to 17 months old.

Its educators use a relationship-based approach intended to build meaningful connections and secure bonds with the infants in their care.

Sensory experiences form part of the programme, while activities are adjusted around different developmental milestones rather than assuming every baby of the same age will be doing exactly the same thing.

The programme also incorporates English and Chinese picture books through literacy-rich spaces such as its Book Nooks.

Ages: 2–17 months
Approach: Relationship-based care, sensory exploration and early literacy exposure
Website: Star Learners Infant Care

8. Little Footprints Preschool – for clear published fee information

Worth comparing if: You want to understand costs before contacting multiple centres

Little Footprints Preschool offers infant care from 2 to 17 months, followed by Playgroup from 18 months.

Its infant programme combines play-based learning, sensory activities and responsive caregiving to support babies' early development.

One practical advantage when you're comparing centres online is that Little Footprints publishes indicative fees rather than requiring parents to enquire before seeing any numbers.

Its current published Partner Operator information lists full-day infant care at S$1,290 before GST for Singaporeans, before applicable subsidies. Confirm the final fee directly with your selected centre.

Ages: 2–17 months
Published full-day fee: S$1,290 before GST for Singaporeans at current POP centres, before subsidies
Website: Little Footprints Infant Care

9. MapleBear – for its Bear Care infant programme

Worth comparing if: You like a child-led approach and are considering a private preschool group

MapleBear Singapore calls its infant programme Bear Care.

The programme caters to infants and toddlers from 2 to 18 months and is described as nurturing and child-led.

Both full-day and half-day infant care options are offered within the programme, with development focusing on areas including cognitive, communication, social and psychomotor skills.

MapleBear operates through multiple schools, so parents should first identify which nearby locations currently offer Bear Care and then compare fees and vacancies directly.

Ages: 2–18 months
Programme: Bear Care
Options: Full-day and half-day infant care
Website: MapleBear Infant Care

10. Little Skool-House – for continuity into the preschool years

Worth comparing if: You'd prefer your baby to potentially remain within the same preschool group as they grow

Little Skool-House is part of NTUC First Campus, which provides infant care across participating preschool centres.

NTUC First Campus states that its infant care services cater to babies from 2 to 17 months old, with a relationships-based curriculum designed to build trust and security between children and their educators.

The practical appeal of choosing a preschool group rather than a standalone infant centre is continuity: depending on the branch and available places, your child may be able to transition into subsequent preschool programmes without starting the search from scratch again at 18 months.

Infant care: Available at participating centres
General NTUC First Campus infant age: 2–17 months
Website: littleskoolhouse.com

Don't compare infant care centres on curriculum alone

When you're choosing a centre for a four-month-old, the fanciest curriculum brochure probably shouldn't be the deciding factor.

For working parents, we'd put location, operating hours, educator interaction, communication, feeding and sleep routines, hygiene and actual vacancy very high on the comparison list.

A beautiful infant room that's 45 minutes from your office may feel considerably less beautiful at 6.20pm when you're stuck in traffic and pick-up is approaching.

10 questions to ask during an infant care centre tour

1. How many babies are currently in the infant room, and how many educators are caring for them?
2. Will my baby generally have a familiar primary caregiver?
3. Do babies follow their individual nap schedules or a centre-wide routine?
4. How do you handle breast milk, formula and expressed milk?
5. How are parents updated about feeds, naps, diaper changes and activities?
6. What happens when a baby refuses milk or food?
7. How do you comfort an infant who is struggling to settle?
8. How often are toys, feeding equipment and sleep areas cleaned?
9. What is your illness policy, and when must a child stay home?
10. What happens when my child reaches 18 months – is a place in the next programme guaranteed or subject to availability?

A note about infant care subsidies in Singapore

If your child is a Singapore Citizen and attends an ECDA-licensed infant care centre, your family may qualify for government infant care subsidies.

The amount you ultimately pay can therefore be very different from the centre's published headline fee, depending on your family's eligibility for Basic and Additional Subsidies.

Instead of comparing centres only by the unsubsidised fee, ask each shortlisted centre for an estimated fee after the subsidies applicable to your family.

When should you start looking for infant care?

Earlier than you think.

If you already know you'll be returning to work after maternity leave, researching centres during pregnancy can give you time to understand the options around your home and workplace.

PCF Sparkletots, for example, currently allows parents to submit interest for infant care three months before their Estimated Due Date.

Even when a centre doesn't accept an application that early, you'll at least know which locations to contact once your baby arrives.

The bottom line

There probably isn't one infant care centre in Singapore that's automatically the right choice for every working family.

The centre five minutes downstairs from your block may make far more sense than the beautifully marketed preschool on the other side of Singapore – particularly when your baby has a fever and you need to reach them quickly.

Shortlist the centres that work geographically first. Then tour them, watch how the educators interact with the babies, ask plenty of questions and compare the actual fees after subsidy.

Because when you're leaving someone with your baby for most of the working day, feeling comfortable with the people caring for them matters a great deal more than choosing the fanciest brochure.

Sources & programme information

• My First Skool Infant Care
• NTUC First Campus Infant Care
• PCF Sparkletots Early Years
• E-Bridge Infant Care
• Skool4Kidz
• MindChamps Infant Care
• Kinderland Infant & Toddler Care
• Star Learners Infant Care
• Little Footprints Infant Care
• MapleBear Infant Care

Information was checked against current provider information available in September 2026. Fees, operating hours, programme details and infant care availability may vary by centre and can change. Always confirm the latest information directly with your shortlisted centre before registering.