Family Ski Holidays to Verbier: Advice for Family Trips to Verbier
also see Childcare in Verbier: Creches & Babysitting in Verbier

Childcare Services in Verbier

Verbier is a popular resort for families and as a result there are a number of crèches and childcare services available. Children's clubs are also popular during summer and winter, and offer a range of activities for children of all ages. They do tend to be popular and so you should make sure you book well in advance.

Crèches, Child Minding & Baby Sitting Services

Verbier Tourist Office keeps a list of registered child-minders, some of whom speak English. You can contact them directly here for the most up-to-date version. Many of them are Verbier residents and therefore available year-round.

There is a wide range of childcare options available in Verbier, from kindergartens run by ski schools to private nannying companies. Some only operate throughout the winter, when they have more seasonal staff and there is more demand from parents who wish to ski for a few days without the kids in tow. However, there are also a number of summer services that offer a great range of play and adventure activities.

If you are looking for something suited to active children from the age of 3 you can book full or half day options with the Maison du Sport, who will provide age appropriate winter activities and fun ski lessons for beginners. They also run summer sport and nature camps for 6-15 year olds, supervised by qualified staff (July only).

The daycare centre Les Schtroumpfs (The Smurfs) is a non-skiing crèche employing qualified carers. They offer full or half day options and accept children from 3 months to 3 years old. During the winter they are open every day from December to April from 8.30am to 5.30pm (Sundays 9.30am - 5.30pm). During the summer they only operate during the peak months of July and August from 8.30am to 6pm.

If you require a more personalised service such as baby-sitting for an evening or private childcare in your own accommodation you would be best enquiring with one of the childcare agencies in resort, such as Petit Verbier. Private agencies can often offer such services as pick-ups/drop-offs from ski school during the winter and outdoor play clubs during the summer, so your child will still be able to enjoy a range of activities while you are up the mountain. Most agencies can cater for individual children or small groups and often have staff who speak a range of European languages.

All the above options are very much in demand during peak periods of summer and winter, we advise that you book well in advance of your holiday.

Tips for Families & Kids

• When taking babies and toddlers on a ski holiday, you will need to take special precautions against the altitude, sun and cold.
• As you drive up to the resort, the rapid drop in air pressure may cause problems for a young child’s ears. Take a 15 minute break on the road up to the resort, and give young children a drink or something to suck to help them equalise the pressure in their ears.
• Paediatrician Nathalie Blot suggests not taking a child under one to above 1200m altitude. A baby may suffer acclimatisation problems due to the drop in air pressure and decrease in oxygen level. Avoriaz lies at 1800m, and a baby cannot always equalise the pressure in his or her ears as easily as an adult. The local doctor recommends taking the journey up the mountain to the resort slowly.
• She strongly advises against taking any child under three years on a gondola lift as they find the changes in altitude too sudden.
• The cold is another danger for very small children, whose temperature regulation systems are not yet fully developed. Waterproof boots, good quality mittens and ears protection are essential to protect from frostbite. Do not take a baby skiing with you on your back – immobilised, he will quickly lose heat, and the risk of collisions or falls on the piste is always present.
• Remember children lose heat faster than adults so dress according to the weather conditions and make provision for it changing - hats, waterproofs and gloves are essentials. Helmets are recommended for skiing and boarding too.
• Remember to protect your child's eyes and skin from the sun - not only are the infra-red and UV rays less filtered by the atmosphere at altitude, but 85% of the rays are reflected by the snow. Use category 3 or 4 UV sunglasses/goggles, and reapply SPF30 suncream at least every two hours.
• It's a good idea to have a contact phone number and address in your child's pocket in case you become separated on the mountain.

School Holiday Dates

France divides its school holidays into a regional timetable to ensure that the entire country doesn't go on holiday at once - however this staggered system can mean that some months (particularly February) can be busy from beginning to end as one region after another arrives in resort! Planning ahead can help you avoid the crowds...

• Zone A - Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lyon, Montpellier, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Rennes & Toulouse
• Zone B - Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Besançon, Dijon, Lille, Limoges, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Poitiers, Reims, Rouen & Strasbourg
• Zone C - Bordeaux, Créteil, Paris & Versailles