New to Au Pairs. Where to Start?

[Anonymous]

Au pairs are young and generally more energetic than the more "auntie" or "grandmotherly" nanny's I've had. You have to remember this is a cultural exchange, so an au pair is a member of your family (I think IN A GOOD WAY!). Au pair's are *trainable* and hopefully, want to please you. Where an experienced nanny has seen it all, and may think she knows more about your kids than you do. There are many trade-offs.

I describe finding an au pair to be like internet dating ... and don't commit to just one agency (Try to get them to waive the application fee)

Good luck!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Au pairs are young and generally more energetic than the more "auntie" or "grandmotherly" nanny's I've had. You have to remember this is a cultural exchange, so an au pair is a member of your family (I think IN A GOOD WAY!). Au pair's are *trainable* and hopefully, want to please you. Where an experienced nanny has seen it all, and may think she knows more about your kids than you do. There are many trade-offs.

I describe finding an au pair to be like internet dating ... and don't commit to just one agency (Try to get them to waive the application fee)

Good luck!!!

I haven't had nannies, but did have a nanny for 7 years as well. She was far from a grandma and spent wayyyy less time sitting on her butt on her phone than the AuPairs We've had. In my experience it's like the other poster, going from first class to the bus.

Its cheap childcare, plain and simple. The cultural excahnge part is absolute bullshit. If people were so into that they'd be lined up to host exchange students, but they're not.