This section of the guide collects the subjects that tend to come up first for parents, or parents-to-be, who are new to Frankfurt. Each topic below links to a page with more detail.
Main topics
- Health and medical care. Pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, vaccination and how to find English-speaking doctors. See health and medical.
- Parental leave and payments. Rules on working during pregnancy and on taking time off after the birth. See work and pregnancy.
- Birth registration and names. Registering a new baby and choosing a name under German rules.
- Citizenship and passports. What to arrange for a baby born abroad to foreign parents.
- Emergency numbers. Knowing whom to call before you need to.
- Childcare and school. Crèches, daycare, childminders, kindergarten and nannies. See childcare, kindergarten and school.
- Shopping and travel. Practical notes on buying baby gear and getting around.
- About Frankfurt. Background on the city and its surroundings.
A tip on discounts
The archive recommended applying for the Hesse state family card, called the Familienkarte Hessen. Its website carries plenty of information, though mostly in German, so a translation tool helps. Look out for the Hessen family symbol at venues, since many offer a reduction when the card is shown. Check the official site for current conditions.
Keep it in context
Parents contributing to the original guide invited readers to suggest additions. The same spirit applies today: use these pages as an orientation, then confirm details with the city, your health insurer, your employer and the relevant government offices.