Committing to an Au Pair?

[Anonymous]

I do not recommend the AP program for a newborn. I think the program works best for school-age children. I started with the AP program when my youngest was 4.

APs come here not as aspiring professional nannies but to have fun for a year, experiencing the US. Yes, they (should) like kids. But staying with an infant 45 days per week is a lot different from caring for school age children, in terms of intensity, ability to get out and about with the kids, interaction, etc. There are APs that are capable of caring for infants responsibly but there is a very real chance that they will be unhappy and it is hard to live with an unhappy AP (not to mention, AP may quit and go back to her home country, leaving you in the lurch).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Longtime HM here. (and I have used an AP to care for an infant).

My strong recommendation to you is that Infant + First time host family = bad fit for the AP program.

APs can be wonderful. We are in our 6th year with the program. But the first couple of years I made some rookie host family mistakes. There is a learning curve.
Likewise, as brand new parents, you are just now embarking on the whole issue of child care. when my oldest was first born, I made some mistakes in terms of finding the type of care that worked for us. Again, there is a learning curve.

For that reason, I think having an AP for an infant once you understand the ins and outs of the AP program is still a challenge, but can work. (Our AP who cared for my youngest in his first year was outstanding!). But I would recommend alternative care for your child until he/she is a bit older. Then give the AP program a try. You'll be a more seasoned mother by then, and you'll have some ideas about the broader area of finding good childcare (what you like/don't like, what you need/don't need).

Good luck.

not the original poster but have question for the person who posted this.... i have a 3 yr old and am due with # 2 in Dec - was thinking of getting an au pair at that point (after 3+ mo of course) - would you still have reservations about this? Or think just the new-mom/new host combo makes it tougher?