Geneva Local Reference INFOrmation
Information on the facilities that exist for parents of infants and toddlers living in Geneva: day care, creche, play groups and toddler education and entertainment and more.
From birth to young adulthood, this page contains useful information for parents with children in Geneva.
Birth
After the birth, mothers stay in the hospital or clinic for up to seven days, and once the mother and child return home, a nurse or midwife makes home visits to check on their health. Breastfeeding is actively encouraged in Switzerland and if necessary the nurse can offer advice or assistance with breastfeeding. Health insurance cover is compulsory by the time an infant is three months old so parents should contact their insurance company as soon as possible after the birth. Certain parents may qualify for a child allowance from their employer, so they must also be informed as soon as possible as well. AdoptionGeneva has an adoption office which provides information on adoption and international adoption for potential parents.
Family AllowancesAll salaried employees and the unemployed in Switzerland are entitled to family allowances, paid from the first month following the birth. The exact amount paid depends on the canton of residence. In some cantons, the self-employed are also entitled to an allowance. Some cantons also pay a birth or adoption allowance. There are two types of family allowance:
Claims for family allowance in Switzerland are submitted to the employer. The unemployed must submit an application to their local AVS/AHV compensation fund.
Children's HealthVaccinationsVaccination policy is decided at a cantonal level in Switzerland. Each individual canton determines which vaccinations are obligatory and some give them free of charge. The only obligatory vaccination in Geneva, Fribourg and Neuchâtel is against Diphtheria (vaccine anti diphtérique) while in the cantons of Vaud and Valais there are no obligatory vaccinations. However, most doctors do recommend the combined vaccinations for Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, Whooping cough (coqueluche) and Haemophilus influenza. Children's Hospitals and EmergenciesMost hospitals have a children's ward, but there are also hospitals in Geneva devoted entirely to children and their ailments.
Children's Road SafetyChildren under the age of seven must be seated in the rear of the car and approved child seats are compulsory. Children aged seven to twelve must have seat belts and restraints adapted to their size whether travelling in the front or the back of the car. From April 2010, children up to the age of 12 must be seated in approved child seats, unless they measure over 150cm. All passengers must wear seatbelts whatever their age. Childcare & Nursery EducationProvision of childcare in Switzerland is managed almost completely by each individual canton. Small children can be looked after in a variety of ways: by child minders, in crèches, playgroups or day nurseries or private daycare "mothers" (mamans de jour). The facilities are sometimes run by the communes and frequently by private organisations. Information on the options is available from social services of the relevant commune (Départements des affaires sociales ou de la jeunesse or Socialdienst). Geneva has an office to help parents choose the right day care for their children. It registers requests for day care for all the organisations.
The Bureau d'Information in Lausanne can provide lists of day care institutions in Lausanne.
Nurseries/CrèchesA crèche is a day care facility for the children of working parents and provides a pre-school educational programme. Part-time crèches are also available. In general they are open from 07:30-18:30 from Monday to Friday. The cost will depend on the parent's income. Places in crèche are in high demand so it is best to book a place as early as possible. Children are usually accepted up to the age of four. KindergartenWhile kindergarten/nursery school is not obligatory throughout Switzerland, most children do attend for a year or two. One year's attendance is compulsory in the canton of Geneva. Kindergartens are free of charge and take children from the age of four onwards. They are under the responsibility of the school authorities (or the local administration) of the communes. From 2011 onwards, attendance at nursery school will become compulsory from the age of four onwards.
Out and About with ToddlersGeneva has a number of child-friendly parks and playgrounds. The Geneva Tourist Information Office can provide information on all the playgrounds in Geneva and their facilities.
Some shopping centres offer babysitting services for small children and toddlers. During school holidays and the summer months there are many temporary amusement parks and fairgrounds. Outdoor swimming pools often have separate pools for toddlers. Actukid is a website providing news about cultural and sportive activities for children in French-speaking Switzerland. Related Information
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