La Plagne childcare: the nannies, crèches and kids’ clubs I recommend

La Plagne childcare at a glance

Good childcare can make or break a family ski week. I’ve lived in La Plagne for 20 years and I’m raising my three kids here, so this is the list I give friends when they ask who to call. My two boys both grew up in the P’tit Bonnet crèche in Plagne Centre, and our little girl is following in their footsteps.

In the school holidays the good nannies book up first, so check their dates as early as your ski lessons, before you commit to where you stay. Jump straight to what you need:

• My top pick: Natural Nounou (Flik)
• Private nannies
• Crèches
• Ski school lunch clubs
• Kids’ clubs and chalets with childcare
• AlleyOops: kids’ kit hire
• My tips for booking childcare

My top pick: Natural Nounou (Flik)

Flik is an independent ski nanny who works all over La Plagne. She’s fantastic. If you want someone you can completely trust with your children while you ski, she’s the first person I’d contact.

• Daytime childcare, including babies and non-skiers, ski school pick-ups and drop-offs, and meals
• Evening childcare, including collecting children from the mountain
• Over 20 years’ experience. Safeguarding levels 1 and 2, outdoor first aid, enhanced DBS check, and an MA in Inclusion and Special Educational Needs
• Works within UK child-adult ratios
• €32 an hour for up to 3 children, or €48 an hour for 4 to 8 children, with a 4-hour minimum and no school holiday surcharge
• Free video call before you book, so you can get to know her first

Check her availability for your dates as early as you can.

Book: naturalnounou.com · Email: flik@naturalnounou.com · Instagram: @natural_nounou

Private nannies in La Plagne

Private nannies come to your accommodation, which is often much easier for babies and toddlers. With more than one child, a nanny can work out cheaper than crèche fees too. Prices change each season, so check current rates when you book.

Alpine Childcare

A platform for professional nannies across the French Alps, booked and charged by the hour. Friends of mine have worked through it and family visiting us have booked it, and we’ve always had a great service. The nannies change from year to year, so I don’t know the current ones personally. Good for shorter cover, like lunch breaks, dinners or single days.

• €26 an hour, plus €2.50 per additional child
• Website · office@alpinechildcare.co.uk · +44 (0)7967 241775

T4 Nanny

Private childcare by the half day, whole day or week, plus evening babysitting. I’ve spent time around their nannies and I’m always impressed.

• Full week (6 days) from €1,300 off-peak
• Babysitting €90 for 3 hours, then €35 an hour
• Website · mail@t4nanny.com · +44 (0)7564 624025

My Mountain Nanny

Experienced, background-checked nannies with first aid certificates, booked full or part-time for your ski week.

• Full-time (35 hours) from €1,050
• Part-time (25 hours a week) from €750
• Website · info@mymountainnanny.com · +33 (0)6 85 32 66 07

Crèches in La Plagne

Most crèche staff are French and speak some English. If you’re not confident booking in French on the phone, email instead.

P’tit Bonnet crèche, Plagne Centre

Right next to the ESF snow garden in Plagne Centre. My boys both grew up here and I’d recommend it 100%. The staff are kind and professional, and the food is lovely.

• For children from 5 months to 4 years
• Book by the hour, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
• €6 an hour, plus €7 for lunch
• +33 (0)4 79 09 00 83 · creche-laplagne@laplagnetarentaise.fr

Flocons & Petits Pas crèche, Belle Plagne

• For children from 5 months to 4 years
• +33 (0)4 79 74 00 00

ESF Aime 2000 garderie

• Childcare from age 2, by the week, day or half day, plus a lunch club
• Sessions run in French
• Website · info@esfplagneaime2000.com

What to pack for crèche: a snowsuit, snow boots, gloves, a warm hat, sunglasses and sun cream, a change of clothes, nappies and milk if needed, a cuddly toy, and your child’s health record.

Ski school lunch clubs

A lunch club bridges the gap between morning and afternoon ski school, so you can ski all day while the kids eat, rest and play.

Oxyski lunch club, Plagne Centre

Oxyski (formerly Oxygène) collects the children from their morning lesson, takes them for lunch and keeps them entertained until afternoon lessons start.

• €35 a day
• Oxyski website

Kids’ clubs and chalets with childcare

If you’d rather have childcare where you stay, these are the options I’d look at.

• Club Med La Plagne 2100, Aime 2000: kids’ clubs for 4 to 17 year olds included. Petit Club Med (2 to 3 years) and babysitting cost extra
• VVF Le Balcon du Mont Blanc, Montchavin: kids’ clubs for 3 to 17 year olds, December to April
• Club Alpine, Montchavin: day and evening childcare, with options for babies from around six months
• Hotel Terra Nova, Plagne Centre: childcare and evening entertainment
• Alpine365, Montchavin and Les Coches: can put you in touch with English-speaking nannies who come to the chalet
• Crystal Ski, Aime 2000: a small childcare option. Most of Crystal’s La Plagne properties no longer include childcare

Chalet holidays with their own childcare: VIP SKI and Ski Famille are the only two chalet companies in La Plagne with their own childcare. VIP SKI’s Bear Cubs takes children from 4 months (charged separately), and Ski Famille builds childcare into the holiday.

AlleyOops: kids’ kit hire, delivered to you

This one’s my own business. Getting children, luggage and ski kit to the mountain is hard enough without a buggy, a travel cot, a sledge and a bag of toys on top. Rent it here instead and it’s all waiting for you when you arrive.

• Buggies, sledges, baby carriers, cots and linen, bottle warmers, snowball makers, and age-appropriate toys and games
• Hire by the day or for the whole week
• I drop everything off on your arrival day and pick it all up on your departure day, and that’s included in the price

Book: AlleyOops La Plagne · Email: jen@alleyoopslaplagne.com

My tips for booking childcare in La Plagne

• Book early. Christmas, New Year and February half-term fill up fast. Sort childcare at the same time as ski lessons, before you book where you stay.
• Pick childcare near your village. A crèche or lunch club on your doorstep makes mornings so much easier. If you’re staying in Aime 2000, the garderie there makes more sense than a crèche in Plagne Centre.
• Check credentials. Ask about first aid, background checks and experience, and read reviews from other parents.
• Meet them first. A video call or a quick visit on arrival helps you and your child feel settled.
• Share the details. Tell the nanny or crèche about routines, allergies, comforters and anything that helps your child feel at home.
• Think about cost. With two or more children, a private nanny can cost less than paying crèche fees for each child. Sharing a nanny with another family can halve it again.
• Have a backup plan. Kids get poorly and plans change. Keep a second option’s number handy.

Every childcare contact in one place

All the phone numbers and emails are in my La Plagne childcare directory. And if you’re still planning the rest of your trip, my free Reset Planner takes you from booking to first lift, one job a week.

Get your ski trip sorted with my free Reset Planner

6 weeks to first lift, one job a week. Budget planner, packing checklists, a travel day timeline and more, all in one free PDF.