Nannies vs Au Pairs

If you are thinking about hiring an extra pair of hands, you are not alone. Most families need helpers, and the main cause for this need is the need for both parents to work. Some parents take on more than one job to make ends meet. Children are often left alone at home or in the care of relatives. When relatives are not available to take care of the kids, moms and dads either rely on day care or hire a day sitter.

There are many types of sitters around. The obvious choice is a professional nanny. A nanny like this is often available through an agency. A professional nanny is a level higher than an average babysitter in that she has undergone training. But beware, nanny services through agency are expensive. You will be paying for booking fee (also known as agency fee) on top of the salary of the nanny. But you’d be surprised to know that even if the cost is high, so many parents are going for this option.

If your budget is tight, there are other options. You can go for Au Pairs. Au Pairs are regular babysitters who can take care of your kids part time. An Au Pair placement is an arrangement wherein a young woman or man lives for up to two years in another country as a member of a local family. His or her task is to help in the home for a set number of hours every day, or as a stay-in helper.

They are available when you need them, but if they have other things to do like go to school or work, you may have to arrange a good schedule with them. AuPairs may be younger adults who want to experience life in another country. These are usually quite adept at handling small kids. They may have been doing part time work since middle school, and have developed a keen sense of responsibility.
They may be working to save money for college. Au Pairs are not professional nannies or sitters.

The temporary kind of childcare provider is ideal if you’re not ready to hire a full-time nanny. On the flip side, there are also instances when hiring an Au Pair is not for you. For instance, your child is an infant or a newborn. An Au Pair may not be the helper for you if you expect your sitter to change the nappies and bathe the newborn. If the only task is mixing the infant formula, an Au Pair can handle it, but if you need the sitter to change the baby’s clothes, bathe him and trim his nails, you will need a more experienced sitter. It is more practical to hire an Au Pair for slightly older children, and to stick with an experienced baby nanny for infants.

Most kids become attached to Au Pairs because they are more like older siblings than caregivers. Children will have fun interacting with a person closer to their own age than Mom and Dad, or an older nanny. The best Au Pairs will be very caring, studious, responsible and fun to be around. For those looking to expose their children to new cultures or even new languages having an Au Pair can be a valuable experience.

Choose your Au Pair well. There are Au Pairs that are respectful and eager to help, but there are those who disregard house rules and might have a negative impact on your children. This does not mean the Au Pair is a bad person, it may be because she isn’t used to the work yet, or she’s not used to the lifestyle of a strange country.

Finally, hiring an Au Pair is convenient for many families. The average nanny pay is far greater than the small allowance that most Au Pairs receive. Au Pair compensation is generally just the room and board, plus the meager allowance you’re giving her. But you might find hidden costs in internet bills, electricity and water bills. Remember, the Au Pair is like a member of your family and will use all the amenities in your home.
You can also ask an Au Pair to do more housework than a regular nanny. She is regarded as a part of the family, which means she is expected to help out with housework. While a nanny might help out around the house, she will most likely ask for extra pay for this service.