Should your Shanghai yuesao (月嫂) stay 30, 60 or 90 days? Honest 2026 guidance for expat families on the breakpoints, the cost trade-off, and the handoff to a regular ayi.
In plain English:60 days fits most first-time expat families in Shanghai. 30 days is too short; 90 days is overlap. Total cost `¥ 36,000–70,000` for a standard-credential 60-day engagement. Start the long-term ayi search by week 3.
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.