Au pair- how.much space

[Anonymous]

I am considering this and wondering how much space they need. Is a bedroom okay? Or do they need separate space with bathroom and kitchenette?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am considering this and wondering how much space they need. Is a bedroom okay? Or do they need separate space with bathroom and kitchenette?

Separate bedroom and, preferably, separate bathroom.

[Anonymous]

It can be a tradeoff. Most au pairs will prefer a separate space or at least their own bathroom, but if you have other "perks" that make up for it, just a bedroom isn't necessarily a deal breaker.

[Anonymous]

I had 4-5 (lost count) au pairs. They had a bedroom in the basement, with a bathroom that likely wasn't much used by anyone else in the family. They were all very happy with accommodations. Basement location gave them lots of privacy, tho kids LOVED watcihng tv/videos on their bed!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had 4-5 (lost count) au pairs. They had a bedroom in the basement, with a bathroom that likely wasn't much used by anyone else in the family. They were all very happy with accommodations. Basement location gave them lots of privacy, tho kids LOVED watcihng tv/videos on their bed!!!!

Wait… you’re saying that the aupair bedroom became a de facto TV room for your kids? That sounds pretty awful for the au pair. Sounds real private.

[Anonymous]

The large majority of people in Europe and Latin America don’t have their own bathroom. It is nice to have but certainly not expected.

[Anonymous]

Think about what will be comfortable for you and for the au pair. If you have 3 bedrooms all on one floor with a shared bath for two .. do you really want another adult right in the middle of your private space, crammed with your kids to brush teeth?

[Anonymous]

I’ve had 6 au pairs. The first shared a downtown apartment with us and her bathroom was also the guest bathroom. The next few all had a private bath, but suburban location.

Private bath was decidedly better for me, because the au pair left her makeup everywhere in the guest bath. But both were fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had 4-5 (lost count) au pairs. They had a bedroom in the basement, with a bathroom that likely wasn't much used by anyone else in the family. They were all very happy with accommodations. Basement location gave them lots of privacy, tho kids LOVED watcihng tv/videos on their bed!!!!

Wait… you’re saying that the aupair bedroom became a de facto TV room for your kids? That sounds pretty awful for the au pair. Sounds real private.

Not PP but our kids only go in the au pair’s Room when she is working. We have a full movie theater in our basement and the kids still want to sit on her bed with an iPad. Little kids are like that. When she is not working, they don’t bother her. If she wanted to keep them out of her room at all times, she could. Au pairs are full adults and are capable of making decisions about who to share their space with. Not one of our 7 au pairs has been a pushover.

[Anonymous]

I agree supplement lack of bathroom with other perks to be competitive because all of the McMansions in the burbs around here have like full suites or apartments for au pairs.

[Anonymous]

My daughter will be working as an au pair in France this summer and the parents have a private studio apartment for her. It's within a ten-minute walk/bike ride to their house. Has anyone ever rented an apartment for their au pair, or is this more of a European thing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter will be working as an au pair in France this summer and the parents have a private studio apartment for her. It's within a ten-minute walk/bike ride to their house. Has anyone ever rented an apartment for their au pair, or is this more of a European thing?

This is not allowed under US State Department rules. You have to have your au pair’s bedroom approved by the au pair agency before they will place an au pair with you. The rules must be different in France.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter will be working as an au pair in France this summer and the parents have a private studio apartment for her. It's within a ten-minute walk/bike ride to their house. Has anyone ever rented an apartment for their au pair, or is this more of a European thing?

This is not allowed under US State Department rules. You have to have your au pair’s bedroom approved by the au pair agency before they will place an au pair with you. The rules must be different in France.

Yes, she's working with a French au pair agency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had 4-5 (lost count) au pairs. They had a bedroom in the basement, with a bathroom that likely wasn't much used by anyone else in the family. They were all very happy with accommodations. Basement location gave them lots of privacy, tho kids LOVED watcihng tv/videos on their bed!!!!

Wait… you’re saying that the aupair bedroom became a de facto TV room for your kids? That sounds pretty awful for the au pair. Sounds real private.

Not PP but our kids only go in the au pair’s Room when she is working. We have a full movie theater in our basement and the kids still want to sit on her bed with an iPad. Little kids are like that. When she is not working, they don’t bother her. If she wanted to keep them out of her room at all times, she could. Au pairs are full adults and are capable of making decisions about who to share their space with. Not one of our 7 au pairs has been a pushover.

Outrageous! Your kids are in her bedroom so she has zip privacy! Her personal space is invaded because your brats can't watch TV in your room?! Your au pair should report you

[Anonymous]

Had 3 au pairs over the span of 6 years in my 3-bdroom, 1-bath 840 sq. ft house for my daughter. Worked beautifully.