Lending a helping hand to the new parents is typically much appreciated after a baby is welcomed into this world. And while some are helped by their friends and family, others are taken care of by the government, which makes sure they get the help that they need.
That’s what happens in Korea, where families can hire a postpartum nanny; and do it at an affordable price, as they are subsidized by the government. The Seoul-based dancer, model, and content creator Aisha Ba did and she seemingly couldn’t have been happier with her decision. Aisha shared her experience of opening her home to a Korean postpartum nanny in a video that went viral.
This woman hired a Korean postpartum nanny, who was a huge help with taking care of the home and the baby
Image credits: _aishaba_
Postpartum nannies in Korea are rather affordable as they are subsidized by the government
"I hired a Korean postpartum nanny for only $50 a day. So what does she do? Yes, she takes care of the baby but also cooks fresh, healthy, and delicious food."
"My husband liked her food so much that he always asked her for the recipe. It was really, really good. I loved it too. Haha, they are qualified nannies subsidized by the Korean government. They also teach new parents the basics of how to take care of a newborn baby."
"She basically did everything so I could rest and just cuddle with my baby. She also took care of our toddler, and our dog loved her as well."
"Oh, she also made sure everything was clean and tidy. And since I struggled with a low milk supply, she urged me to eat more and more. Does your country also provide postpartum nannies?"
Image credits: _aishaba_
Aisha’s video was watched more than 4.4 million times on TikTok
Hiring a nanny can get pretty pricey
Image credits: Josh Appel / unsplash (not the actual photo)
Anyone with a child likely knows just how pricey hiring a nanny can be. In the US, for instance, the average hourly rate for a nanny is nearly $20 dollars per hour—$19.15, to be exact—adding up to roughly $766 per week, based on Care’s 2024 data. And that’s for one child only, so having two bundles of joy might result in an even stronger hit to the wallet.
That’s what makes the price Aisha paid for a nanny in Korea somewhat unbelievable: for only $50 a day, the angel of a woman that is a Korean postpartum nanny took care of not only the newest addition to the family, but the cooking and the chores, too, and even played with the toddler in the family.
What makes the price so affordable, as Aisha pointed out in the video, is the fact that it is subsidized by the government. As reported by Korea.net, seeking to raise the low birth rate, last year it started an incentive, which makes all households with newborns in Seoul eligible for a subsidy of KRW 1 million—roughly $760 US dollars—for postpartum care.
“The subsidy can be spent on expenses to recover a mother's health such as a postpartum care center, maternity helper service and purchase of medicine,” Korea.net reports.
It’s important to ensure proper care not only for the baby but for the mother, too
Needless to say, providing proper care for the newborn is crucial, but so is taking care of the mother; especially during the time it takes for her to recover after childbirth, as it can have long-lasting detrimental effects.
“Many postpartum conditions cause considerable suffering in women’s daily life long after birth, both emotionally and physically, and yet they are largely underappreciated, underrecognized, and underreported,” Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO, Dr. Pascale Allotey, emphasized.
She also noted that throughout their lives, women need access to a range of services from health-care providers in order to enjoy good health and quality of life. According to The Klog skin care blog, moms in Korea typically choose from three main forms of postpartum care services—a postpartum care center (known locally as joriwon), an at-home postpartum caretaker (called sanhudoumi), or at-home postpartum massages.
While all three are seemingly great options for a new mom, Aisha opted for hiring a sanhudoumi, who made sure that she can focus on her health and bonding with her newborn. She later discussed the experience with her fellow TikTokers, some of whom shared their views in the comments under the video.
People in the comments shared their opinions, some pointed out what it’s like in their countries
