Full time nanny vs. au pair

[Anonymous]

Hi,

We have a 3 year old and new born, live on capitol hill in a row house with a fully separate English basement that just opened up.

We're considering an au pair or a full time live out nanny. We'd like to rent the basement out on airbnb, or potentially give it to an au pair.

Any ideas on what's cheaper/better?

[Anonymous]

I guess it'd be 50-50 since you'd get extra income from the airbnb. But it won't be rented all the time ...

Having an Au Pair is also more flexible than a live out nanny.

A newborn + 3yo, I'd avise an older AP (24 or 25) or if younger one that has worked in a daycare and is used to take care of several kids.

Nanny (and former AP)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess it'd be 50-50 since you'd get extra income from the airbnb. But it won't be rented all the time ...

Having an Au Pair is also more flexible than a live out nanny.

A newborn + 3yo, I'd avise an older AP (24 or 25) or if younger one that has worked in a daycare and is used to take care of several kids.

Nanny (and former AP)

I've read on here of the risks of receiving an au pair who parties, isn't fully competent with young children etc. because it's more of a "cultural exchange" than a nanny service. Ie. the nanny is here to learn about America and care for your kids, but also to be part of the family. Is this a frequent occurence?

Would hiring a live out nanny, who you've vetted and you know isn't there for any other purpose than taking care of your kids be better?

Any ideas on how much more expensive a live out nanny is?

[Anonymous]

I would get a Nanny.
An au pair is supposed to live with you and be part of the family, not living in the basement by themselves.

[Anonymous]

If the days are 10+ hour days I suggest finding a live in nanny. And don’t think just because they’re a live in, you can pay a low wage. Compensation should be fairly high, but not too high. For a 3 yo and infant consider $16-18/h.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the days are 10+ hour days I suggest finding a live in nanny. And don’t think just because they’re a live in, you can pay a low wage. Compensation should be fairly high, but not too high. For a 3 yo and infant consider $16-18/h.

Unless the nanny needs a place to live then being a live-in is a perk for employer not the nanny in which case the live-in nanny may charge more and not be available on weekends as she goes back to her home.

[Anonymous]

AP can only do a set amount of hours a week. You should look in the AP discussion for more information.

[Anonymous]

I would go with a full time nanny.

[Anonymous]

You don't mention how many hours you need per week, OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would get a Nanny.
An au pair is supposed to live with you and be part of the family, not living in the basement by themselves.

Most AP actually enjoy having their own basement apartment.

[Anonymous]

Ap might marginally save you money, but in general are better for split hours (ie before and after school) or flex time (snow days, days off school, etc) or late nights.

[Anonymous]

Oh, God, a Nanny! Au pairs are great (provided you get a good one) if you are a SAHM and need an extra set of hands or after school care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would get a Nanny.
An au pair is supposed to live with you and be part of the family, not living in the basement by themselves.

Most AP actually enjoy having their own basement apartment.

"English basement" is nothing more than a euphemism for a dark, dank place housing furnace, Laundry facilities, and junk storage.

This is the definition of an English Basement;

An English basement is an apartment on the lowest floor of a building, generally a townhouse or brownstone, which is partially below and partially above ground level and which has its own separate entrance from the rest of the building

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would get a Nanny.
An au pair is supposed to live with you and be part of the family, not living in the basement by themselves.

Most AP actually enjoy having their own basement apartment.

"English basement" is nothing more than a euphemism for a dark, dank place housing furnace, Laundry facilities, and junk storage.

This is the definition of an English Basement;

An English basement is an apartment on the lowest floor of a building, generally a townhouse or brownstone, which is partially below and partially above ground level and which has its own separate entrance from the rest of the building

Right, it is considered separate quarters from the house.
This is different from an au pair having a basement bedroom and bathroom but still using the families facilities in the house.