You can look after children from birth up to the age of 14 in child day care. However, children from the age of three should primarily be cared for in day care centers.

You need a permit for child day care if:

• you look after one or more children outside the parental home
• the care is more than 15 hours per week
• the care takes place during the day and not at night
• you are paid for the care
• you look after the children for longer than 3 months

If only one of the characteristics does not apply to you, you do not need a child day care permit.

The permit for child day care

• is issued by the local youth welfare office
• is limited to 5 years
• may be subject to additional conditions
• authorizes you to care for up to 5 children of other parents who are present at the same time