We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: The reality of living away from family and friends sets in the most once you have kids. For us expats, the joy of having a village to help us out isn’t something we can relate to. So, whenever we stumble across interesting services that help take some off the load of off parents – we can’t wait to share them with you!

Leihomaservice is such a service that offers a unique solution by connecting parents with experienced, trustworthy caregivers known as “Leihomas”; or “borrowed grandmas”.

What is Leihomaservice? Leihomaservice is a childcare service in Munich that pairs families with elderly women who provide personalized childcare. Whether you need help for a few hours (to finally go on that date night!), during school holidays, or when you or your child are under the weather, Leihomas are there to support you! Going through their website, I really appreciate how well-vetted the Grandmothers are so at least that can take away some of the anxiety and give you peace of mind that you’re leaving your child with a reliable person.

Who is it For? For all interested parents in Munich – especially those without local family support, who need reliable and flexible childcare.

Cost of the Service: The costs for Leihomaservice are quite reasonable and vary depending on the duration and frequency of care needed. Since they’ve had some negative experience with Parents inquiring about the service, only to back out as soon as the right Grandmother was found for them – There’s now a registration fee of 30 euros. This is due as soon as the family receives contact details for the first time.

Agency fee
Admission fee	30 euros one-off
For a one-time use	20 euros one-off
For regular use	Quarterly payment: 15 euros per monthMonthly payment: 17 euros per month

Hourly rate of the surrogate grandmother

The hourly rate of the surrogate grandmother is agreed individually. Usually (for one child):

for use over 3 hours	15 EURO per hour
of up to 3 hours	17 EURO per hour

If there are several children, the hourly rate increases by 2-3 euros per child. If travel costs are incurred for pick-ups or drop-offs, these are usually reimbursed.

Who are the Leihomas? The Leihomas are experienced, mature women, often retirees, who have a passion for childcare. Many of them are former educators or have extensive experience in raising children – making them ideal to take care of your little ones!

Trust and Feedback: Thankfully Leihomaservice vets all their caregivers thoroughly and you can also find feedback shared by fellow Parents here.

Booking Process: Booking a Leihoma is pretty straightforward (which is much needed for busy Parents 😅 ) . If a family would like to contact a surrogate grandmother, they first fill out the agreement and send it to info@leihomaservice.de. After receiving the agreement, the family will be contacted by phone to clarify personal, temporal and location requirements.

You can also contact them by phone if you have any questions

For more information or to book a Leihoma, visit their website.

And now on a totally different note, just want to take a moment to appreciate the wonderful quote that’s been shared by the Founder of Leihomaservice:

“I wish for more humanity and for everyone to think more about others and not just about themselves.”   

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