Sleepless Nights and Crèche Places in France
Swap parenting stories with other parents in the square, from teething and tantrums to finding childcare.
In France, crèche places are scarce in big cities, so parents often apply during pregnancy and end up on a waiting list; the main alternative is an assistante maternelle, a registered childminder, partly paid for by the CAF. Babies' check-ups and the 11 compulsory vaccinations can be done for free at the PMI, the local mother-and-child health centre, and everything goes into the carnet de santé. Other parents in the square usually say tu to each other straight away.
- 1
Il fait ses nuits maintenant.
He sleeps through the night now.
- 2
Elle fait ses dents.
She's teething.
- 3
J'ai pas fermé l'œil de la nuit.
I didn't sleep a wink last night.
- 4
Il est sage comme une image.
He's as good as gold.
- 5
C'est le portrait craché de son père.
He's the spitting image of his dad.
- 6
Il fait des caprices.
He throws tantrums.
- 7
On a eu une place en crèche !
We got a place at the crèche!
- 8
Ça t'enlève une sacrée épine du pied.
That's a huge weight off your mind.
- 9
On est sur liste d'attente.
We're on the waiting list.
- 10
Notre nounou est une perle.
Our childminder is a gem.
- 11
Je reprends le boulot en mars.
I'm going back to work in March.
- 12
Chaque enfant a son rythme.
Every child develops at their own pace.
- 13
T'inquiète, ça va passer.
Don't worry, it'll pass.
- 14
Je suis à bout.
I'm at the end of my tether.
- 15
Il faut lâcher prise.
You have to let go a bit.
- 16
Ils grandissent à vue d'œil.
They grow up before your eyes.
- 17
On se relaie la nuit.
We take turns at night.
- 18
Il mange comme quatre.
He eats like a horse.
- 19
Elle met son grain de sel partout.
She sticks her oar in everywhere.
- 20
Le suivi à la PMI est gratuit.
Check-ups at the PMI are free.