Moving to France with Babies and Toddlers

One of the main attractions of moving and living in France with kids is the fact that it’s a country that embraces the whole notion of ‘les enfants’ with open arms. In the UK, we’re accustomed to timidly asking if restaurants accept children and fearing the response, even though we’re the paying customers.

In France, all but the top restaurants would laugh at the notion of this question; not to be impolite, but because they accept it as a fact of life that younger family members eat with older members. This social inclusion of children extends to nearly every social event across the formal and informal calendar, making France a jewel in the crown for those of us with young children.

Uncharted Waters

When you decide to move to France with a baby or a toddler, the likelihood is that you’ll be leaving behind a nursery or the pre-school system that you’re familiar with and entering uncharted waters, but with a bit of preparation and only some basic French, you have absolutely nothing to fear. The one thing you won’t have from Day 1 is Grandma and Granddad on hand if you need them, but so many people no longer have that family network in the UK these days, so that probably won’t be an issue.

When you move with babies and toddlers, it’s completely normal that you’ll be a tiny bit uptight about how to deal with everything from birthday celebrations to doctor’s appointments, but you’ll quickly find out that your little ones are a direct passport to a friend and support system that will be of huge value to you.

Group Childcare

One of the first things you’re likely to want to do is get your baby or toddler involved in some sort of group childcare so both they and you can meet and socialise with others in your new home country. Socialisation is a highly important part of child development, but in this case, not only will they be learning social skills, they’ll be immediately immersed in the new language and culture of your new country. Another plus point is that you will also be compelled to make an effort to communicate with other Mums and Dads, which will greatly benefit your development.

Options for Babies

In France, there are both public and privately run nurseries in larger towns and cities, known as crèches or haltes garderies, which welcome babies from the age of three months until they start maternelle school. Public nurseries are organised and funded by both regional and local authorities, and for Brits, they are incredibly cheap compared to the private nursery system we’re familiar with in the UK. As you would expect, private nursery fees vary, depending on supply and demand and location.

In very small communities, you may find that places are scarce and you may need to join a waiting list. Either way, French crèches are, generally speaking, really well-organised, welcoming places for parents and babies to integrate into their new lives.

The alternative to organised nursery care in France is the home-based assistante maternelle system, whereby a qualified ‘nanny’ looks after babies and very small children either in their own home or in the home of the parents. Again, this option is very attractively priced, but it exposes you and your child to fewer contacts, as an assistante maternelle will typically be allowed to look after only five children at a time.

Of course, you can hire a private nanny, but unless you’re working in a busy city and struggling to find group care, this option is much less effective at helping you truly integrate into your new life.

For Really Young Children

When your child is between 2.5 and 3 years old and is no longer using nappies, he or she will become eligible to attend maternelle school in France. You may be asked for a carnet de santé, or your child’s health records. Don’t worry if you don’t have one, but if you are planning to stay for a few years, it’s advisable to request one. The école maternelle system is a truly remarkable opportunity for both parents and children alike. 

Ecole Maternelle in France

A colourful and friendly environment, the maternelle is a great place for your young child to start to mix with the kids they’ll spend the majority of their school life with, assuming, of course, you don’t move. Normally attached to the local primary school, the maternelle is divided into three sections: petite section, for children aged 2.5 to 4; moyenne section, for children aged 4 to 5; and grande section, for children aged 5 to 6.

The entire concept of the maternelle is that it serves as the ‘apprenticeship’ for schooling, and when children leave maternelle, they’ll typically have learned the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic.

At the maternelle, any child will have the chance to play, learn, eat, sleep, and generally enjoy themselves in a safe and controlled environment. However, for an expat child getting involved in the French education system at this early stage, the benefits will be immense in their new life adventure.

They’ll typically absorb the local language and culture like a sponge at this early age and will soon feel almost as French as the French kids they’re mixing with day in and day out.