Grandparents to be paid for babysitting in second Croatian town

Križevci, a town in northern Croatia, is preparing to introduce a new measure that would provide financial support to grandparents and parents who look after their young children at home.

The initiative follows the example set by the town of Samobor, which became the first in Croatia to offer compensation for this form of childcare earlier this year.

The scheme, often referred to as the baka-djed servis or grandparent service, was launched in Samobor in March and has seen strong interest from the public.

Now, as RTL reports, Križevci plans to roll out a similar model, aimed at addressing the growing issue of limited capacity in local kindergartens.

How the Measure Works

Under the proposal in Križevci, retired grandparents or stay-at-home parents who care for a preschool-aged child could receive 250 euros per month for each child.

“What we want is for the measure not only to support grandparents but also to include stay-at-home parents – whether mum or dad. There is no reason why they should not benefit as well,” Mayor Tomislav Katanović told RTL.

Currently, between 120 and 140 children in Križevci are not enrolled in any kindergarten due to a lack of space. Katanović stressed that expanding kindergarten capacity is a long-term process, taking at least six months to a year.

In the meantime, he sees this initiative as a way to ease the pressure on families and local childcare facilities.

The proposal has been met with enthusiasm from local residents.
“It would mean a lot. Why not? Extra money is always welcome,” said Franjo Sodić, a resident of Križevci.

Milica Frančević added, “I have a small pension. I would spend it all on the children – what else?”
Another local, Kristijan Rožić, said, “I think it’s a great idea and that everyone should be able to take part. I hope it will be a success.”

If the city’s budget allows, the measure could be implemented by the end of this year.

Samobor’s Early Success

Samobor has been running the scheme for three months and currently supports 30 retirees, each receiving 360 euros per month per grandchild. The demand continues to grow.

“We had 33 applications, and 30 met the criteria and are now using the measure. Each month we receive new requests, and the measure will remain open for now,” said Samobor Mayor Petra Škrobot.

To qualify in Samobor, the grandparent must be retired and reside in the city. The allowance applies to children aged between one and four years.

Škrobot expressed pride in the positive response and growing interest. “The Ministry of Demography has even asked for information about our model, and I’ve heard they are considering similar measures themselves,” she said.