Essential Tips Before Hosting an Au Pair
Discover essential insights about hosting an au pair, including differences from nannies, program requirements, responsibilities, and costs. This guide helps families understand what to expect when welcoming an au pair, ensuring a smooth and beneficial cultural exchange experience lasting 10-12 months.
An au pair is a young adult, typically between 18 and 30 years old, originating from a different country, who provides live-in childcare for around 10 to 12 months. Serving as a big sibling figure, an au pair offers companionship and care for your children. These individuals are usually sourced through specialized agencies that safeguard the rights of all parties involved. Through this exchange, parents gain a dependable helper, while au pairs enjoy cultural immersion and language learning opportunities.
While often compared to nannies, au pairs differ in several key aspects:
Age Restrictions Agencies specify age limits for au pairs, unlike nannies who do not typically have age requirements.
Background Checks Au pair programs thoroughly vet candidates and host families to prevent exploitation, whereas parental verification is standard for nannies.
Work Schedule Au pairs are live-in workers with agreed-upon hours, usually between 30 to 45 hours weekly, aligned with family needs.
Similarly, nannies also have set hours but must follow local labor laws.
Nationality The goal of the au pair program is to foster cultural exchange, so au pairs are required to be from different countries. In contrast, families often prefer local residents for nanny positions.
Compensation Au pairs typically receive around $200 weekly stipends, while nannies are paid a salary that complies with minimum wage regulations.
Educational Opportunities Au pairs may attend language classes paid for by the host family, whereas nannies are usually not provided educational expenses.
Employment Status Au pairs are considered temporary family members, not employees, allowing them to leave whenever they wish. Nannies, however, are employees bound by employment agreements.
Responsibilities Au pair duties focus on childcare and light domestic tasks, while nanny responsibilities are determined by mutual agreement with the family.
Program fees for au pair services generally range from $7,000 to $9,000, excluding application fees and weekly stipends, which vary based on the agency.
