with a new baby helper or not and salary

i am a non working mum to be and we were not planning to get a domestic helper (I do have cleaning twice a week now) until a few months after the baby so that I will eventually be able to go out on my own if I want and maybe consider finding a job. However we have been recommended a helper by a friend and she is excellent - just what we would want ... but in 4 to 6 months. Am I being silly to say no know - it seems good helpers are hard to find looking at the posts but at the same time still an expense and something we don't actually need right now and I thought a few months on my own might be nice! i am due early december and will have parents help for a few weeks.

Maybe you could have an arrangement with the new helper. She goes back to her own country for a few months but you sign the contract now to secure her?

I think some sort of arrangement like this is possible. Coz my agent said to me that I only need to pay the agents fees now to secure my maid and then it doesn't matter when she actually comes to HK.....

I'm not very sure so you may need to ask.

MayC's suggestion is a good one, I'm sure the girl would be delighted to have a few months paid leave at home. We did the same thing when we recruited our helper - she spent 2 months at home while we were away for most of the summer.


You may want to think about having her around when the baby is young though. I am assuming that you do not have family in HK. The right helper would be a huge help around the house while you bond with your baby and adjust to life as a family (you cannot imagine how much life changes until it has happened to you). My mother and FIL were a huge help when the children were born, but I would have killed for a DH to look after my MIL!


You set the rules. Be very clear from the start that your focus is on the baby (I am assuming that is why you do not want to recruit one right away). We had a problem with our first DH; she wanted to be a nanny, not a housekeeper, and I wanted someone to help around the house, so that I could have quality time with the children.


If you know this girl and are really confident that she is right for you, then I'd make the most of the opportunity. There are plenty of excellent helpers out there, but finding the perfect DH for your family is the tricky bit.

I would say either get her to agree to going home and waiting until you are ready (signed contract, but no pay, or a v. small retainer), or forget her and wait until you are ready to hire a helper. There are many very good helpers around. Don't fall into the same trap that I did, which was worrying too much about getting someone good, and so taking the first helper who was recommended to me. That ended in tears.

I'm more likely to have the DH start at least a month before my baby arrives. This gives her time to get used to your environment and what to do around the house. Then when your baby arrives, it'll be less hectic for all coz she would have already known where things are kept, what you like etc....


I had an Indonesian part-timer who worked for me a month before my baby was due. She was excellent with the housework. Sadly she had to go back to her employer 2 days before my baby came home from the hospital. Prior to that she came to the hospital daily to give me good food. I think it's illegal to have part time help like that but I was desperate. I was bedridden/housebound a month before I gave birth so I needed help. She saw my baby again 6 months later when baby was much older (on her day off).... but I've lost her contact :-(

If you are thinking of getting a helper in a few months, and have the chance of a good one now then I would take it. Make the most of not having to do the housework, spend time pampering yourself, going to antenatal yoga, gentle walks etc. And when the baby comes you can spend 24 hours a day bonding with her, sleeping when she does, feeding, and not having to worry about cleaning and ironing. They are only small for such a short time, and while you have the oppertunity here of having a helper make the most of it. And with an extra adult in the house, you may actually find you have time to get dressed before midday after the babies born.....

Great thanks for all your replies and advice - have spoken to a few friends today and similar advice so we have decided to go for it and try to neogiate with her to start quite soon. It has really helped to have your insights especially re what it is like with a baby.