A newly-arrived expat family's guide to hiring a first nanny in Shanghai — what to do in your first 30 days, what budget is realistic, and which mistakes to skip.
In plain English:Give yourself 3–6 weeks, not 24 hours. Pick the budget band first, write the brief inside it second, and run a paid trial day before you sign anything.
Plain-English breakdown of ayi vs nanny vs housekeeper vs yuesao vs governess in Shanghai. Who does what, who costs what, and which role fits which family.
learn2026 Shanghai nanny salary bands by role, experience, neighborhood and language ability. Live-in vs live-out delta, hourly rates, and what the all-in cost actually is.
learnWhat's legal and what's not in Shanghai nanny employment — Z-visa rules, working spouse permissions, household-worker grey area, and how families typically structure it.