Finding English-speaking babysitters and nannies in Lisbon and Cascais
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Your first date night out since moving to Lisbon is booked. Then you realise you don’t know a single person you would trust with your kids, your Portuguese stops at “obrigado,” and the sitter your neighbour suggested speaks no English. This guide covers how to find, vet and set up an English-speaking babysitter or nanny in Lisbon and Cascais.
Where English-Speaking Sitters Actually Come From in Lisbon and Cascais
When we first arrived, I assumed I would download an app, filter by “English,” and be done in an afternoon. It took three weeks. That wasn’t because good sitters are rare. The strong candidates simply aren’t concentrated in one place. In Lisbon and along the Cascais line, English-speaking childcare comes from a handful of overlapping pools. Once you know them, the search gets much faster.
Expat Parent Networks and Word of Mouth
Most of the best sitters were never advertised anywhere. They get passed from family to family. A British family in Estoril moves back to London, and their beloved Brazilian nanny suddenly needs a new family. A Dutch mum in Campo de Ourique has a sitter with two free evenings a week and posts about it in a parents’ group. This is how most trusted childcare changes hands here.
The practical move is to join local parent groups on Facebook and WhatsApp as early as possible, ideally before you need a sitter. Search for Lisbon and Cascais parent, mum and expat family groups. Introduce yourself, say which neighbourhood you’re in and how old your kids are, and ask who people recommend. Portuguese culture runs heavily on personal trust and introductions, so a sitter vouched for by another parent is worth far more than a polished profile. If you’re still building your social circle, see Making Friends and Networking in Portugal: Expat Groups and Meetups.
One caution: when a recommendation comes from a stranger in a large group, ask the recommending parent a couple of direct questions privately. How long did the sitter work for you? How old were your children? Why did it end? A short private chat tells you much more than a public comment thread.
Babysitting Platforms and Agencies
Portugal has its own versions of the babysitting marketplaces you may know from home. Sitly, Babysits and Yoopies all have Portuguese listings, and you can usually filter or search for English speakers. These platforms work well for occasional evening sitters and for building a shortlist quickly. The downside is that vetting is mostly on you. A verified profile tells you someone has an account, not that they’re good with a screaming two-year-old at bedtime.
For full-time nannies, particularly in Cascais, Estoril and Parede, some families go through domestic staffing or nanny agencies. Agencies pre-screen candidates, check references and often offer a replacement if the match fails within an agreed period. They charge a placement fee or commission, and the structure varies, so ask each agency in writing what’s included before you commit. An agency is worth it if you need someone full-time and urgently. It’s usually overkill for two evenings a month.
Schools, Universities and the Carcavelos Student Pool
The Cascais line is unusual because it holds both a large international school community and a big international university campus. Schools like St. Julian’s School in Carcavelos, St. Dominic’s International School in São Domingos de Rana and the international schools around Sintra and Oeiras have parent communities where sitters are constantly recommended. Some school staff, particularly teaching assistants, also babysit outside school hours. If you’re still choosing a school, see How to Find International Schools in Lisbon.
Then there is the Nova SBE campus in Carcavelos, which draws students from all over the world, many of them fluent in English. University students make energetic, flexible evening and weekend sitters. They are less reliable during exam season and summer holidays, when many go home. If a student sitter is not an EU citizen, they need to be allowed to work under their residence status. See Working Part-Time on a Student Visa (Article 97): Rules and Approvals.
In Lisbon proper, the universities around Cidade Universitária, Campo Grande and the city centre have the same kind of pool. Notice boards, student job groups and international student associations are all worth trying.
| Channel | Best For | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expat parent groups | Trusted regulars | Personal recommendations, sitters with local track records | Slow, depends on your network |
| Babysitting platforms | Occasional evenings | Fast shortlist, language filters, reviews | Vetting is your responsibility |
| Nanny agencies | Full-time nannies | Pre-screening, replacement guarantees | Placement fees, less personal |
| International schools | Sitters familiar with expat kids | Experienced with English-speaking children | Limited availability during term |
| University students | Flexible evening and weekend help | Fluent English, energetic, flexible | Turnover around exams and holidays |
Babysitter, Nanny or Au Pair: Choosing the Right Setup
Before you start interviewing, decide what you actually need. Many parents I know wasted weeks interviewing full-time nannies when they really needed a reliable sitter for two school pick-ups a week, or the other way round.
Matching the Arrangement to Your Family Life
An occasional babysitter covers evenings, weekends and odd emergencies. A regular part-time nanny might do school runs, homework and dinner on fixed weekdays. A full-time nanny becomes part of your household routine and often handles light child-related chores such as kids’ laundry and meal prep. An au pair lives with you, usually comes from abroad, and combines childcare with cultural exchange. That suits some families wonderfully and others not at all.
Think honestly about your space too. Many Lisbon apartments are compact, and a T2 with two children doesn’t leave room for a live-in au pair. Cascais villas might, but then your au pair may feel isolated without a car. For a broader view of family logistics, including creches and schools, see Childcare in Portugal: Creches, Nannies, and Monthly Costs.
| Arrangement | Typical Commitment | Lives With You | Good Fit If |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occasional babysitter | A few hours, ad hoc | No | You need evenings and emergency cover |
| Part-time nanny | Fixed weekdays or afternoons | No | You need school runs and after-school care |
| Full-time nanny | Most weekdays | Usually no | Both parents work full days, kids are young |
| Au pair | Ongoing, set weekly hours | Yes | You have a spare room and want cultural exchange |
| Creche or ATL | School-day hours | No | You want group care and socialisation |
The Language Question Is More Nuanced Than English Only
Here’s something I learned the hard way. A fully English-speaking sitter is great for communicating with you. A sitter who speaks English with you and Portuguese with your kids can be even better. Children absorb European Portuguese far faster than adults, and a bilingual sitter speeds up their integration at school. Many Brazilian and Portuguese sitters in Lisbon are comfortable in both languages.
Decide what you want and say so in your ad. “English required, Portuguese with the children welcome” draws a very different pool from “native English only.” Meanwhile, keep working on your own Portuguese so you can talk with sitters, schools and neighbours. See Learning European Portuguese: Top Apps, Tutors, and Free Government Classes.
Vetting, Trial Shifts and the Legal Side
This is the part that keeps most parents up at night, and fairly so. You’re handing your children to someone you met last week, in a country whose systems you’re still figuring out.
Interviews and Paid Trial Sessions
I always do two stages. First, a relaxed video call or coffee to check language, personality and availability. Then a paid trial shift while I’m at home. The trial tells you everything the interview can’t: how they get down on the floor to play, how they handle a tantrum, whether your kids warm to them.
Useful questions to ask:
- What ages have you cared for, and for how long with each family?
- What would you do if my child had a high fever or an allergic reaction while I was unreachable?
- How do you handle screen time, snacks and bedtime resistance?
- Are you comfortable taking the children on public transport or walking them to school?
- Do you have first-aid or paediatric first-aid training?
- Which neighbourhood do you live in, and how would you get here?
The last question matters more than you’d think. A sitter commuting from Lisbon to Cascais in the evening relies on the Cascais train line from Cais do Sodré. Late finishes can make the trip home long, so plan pick-up and finish times with that in mind.
References and Criminal Record Certificates
Always speak to at least two previous families, by phone or video rather than just reading a written note. Ask specific questions. Did the children ask for them? Were they punctual? Would you hire them again?
It’s reasonable and common to ask a candidate for a recent criminal record certificate, the certificado de registo criminal. Portuguese residents can request one online, and a certificate can be issued for the purpose of working with minors, which is the one you want to ask for. Sitters who arrived recently may also have a certificate from their home country. Ask politely and explain that you ask every candidate. Good sitters expect it and won’t be offended.
Contracts, Social Security and Insurance
If you employ a regular nanny, the arrangement counts as domestic service under Portuguese labour rules. That brings real obligations. As the employer, you generally need to register the worker with Segurança Social and pay contributions. The worker needs a NISS, and you should agree a written contract covering hours, duties, holidays and notice. Workplace accident insurance for domestic workers is also an employer responsibility in Portugal. Arrange it through an insurer before the nanny starts. For the employer side of the paperwork, see How to Register With Social Security (NISS) in Portugal.
Occasional, informal babysitting is a greyer area, and many families handle it casually. Once someone is coming on a fixed schedule every week, though, treat it as proper employment. It protects them, and it protects you if anything goes wrong. If you also want separate cleaning help rather than a nanny who does housework, see Hiring a cleaning service in Portugal: Typical hourly rates for maids.
Setting Your Sitter Up for Success
Finding the right person is half the job. The other half is making sure they can do it well in a home, city and system that may be new to both of you.
The Emergency Sheet Every Sitter Needs
Print a one-page sheet and stick it on the fridge. Include:
- Your full address with postcode, floor and door letter (for example “3.º Esq.”), plus the nearest landmark.
- Both parents’ mobile numbers and a backup local contact.
- The general emergency number, 112.
- The SNS 24 helpline, 808 24 24 24, for medical advice when it isn’t an emergency.
- Your children’s allergies, medications, and doctor or private clinic details.
SNS 24 is genuinely useful for a sitter facing a feverish child at 10 PM. As of October 2026, clinical triage runs 24 hours a day, and calls cost the same as a call to a landline. Nurses can advise whether to stay home, go to a health centre or head to urgências. See SNS 24 Helpline (808 24 24 24): Triage, Advice, and Sick Notes for how the service works.
Walk the sitter through the flat too: where the first-aid kit lives, how the water heater and gas work, which windows and balcony doors need locking. Our old Lisbon building had a balcony latch that needed a trick to open, and I’m glad I showed every sitter. For safety basics, see How to Childproof a Home in Portugal.
Phones, Payments and Supplies
If you’re bringing an au pair from abroad, make sure they can reach you the moment they land. An eSIM from Airalo, installed before the flight, gives them mobile data at the airport while they wait to set up a local line. For the longer term, see Getting a Portuguese SIM Card as a New Arrival.
For paying occasional sitters, MB Way is how most people here settle up. Payment is instant, there’s no cash to fumble for at midnight, and you keep a record. See Using the MB Way app: Why it’s better than carrying cash in Portugal.
Stock up on things that make a sitter’s evening easier. English-language picture books, a decent baby monitor, night lights and a well-stocked first-aid kit can be hard to find in local shops. Many families order them from Amazon Spain, which ships to Portugal. Check delivery times and any import or returns terms on the product page before you order.
Accommodation for Au Pairs and Live-Out Nannies
If your au pair or nanny prefers their own place nearby, finding affordable housing can become a dealbreaker, especially in Cascais. Pointing candidates to Uniplaces, which lists rooms aimed at students and young professionals, can help them find something within commuting distance before they commit. For a sense of local rents and neighbourhood dynamics, see Cascais expat life: Is the premium rent worth the seaside lifestyle? and Lisbon Neighborhood Guide: Best Areas for Expats and Digital Nomads.
Building a Relationship That Lasts
The families who keep great sitters for years have a few things in common. They pay on time and agree a fair rate. They give notice when plans change. They respect Portuguese customs around holidays, when many sitters travel home or join family gatherings. And they show appreciation, whether that’s a thank-you, a small gift at Christmas, or a good word to other families when the sitter wants more hours. Childcare runs on trust in both directions, and in a city where good sitters get passed around, your reputation as an employer travels fast too. For more on settling in as a family, see Moving to Portugal with Kids: Schools, Childcare, and Family Life.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
