Question about when parents travel

[Anonymous]

Can au pairs stay a week at a time with children if parents want to take a vacation alone without the kids? Or is this against the 35 hour per week max hours? What do you families with au pairs do if you want to go away for a few days without the kids?

[Anonymous]

It’s 45 hours per week and 10 max per day, so no, an ap cannot be the only caregiver for a week straight. We have another sitter or a grandparent stay overnight when both my husband and I are away, for work or a vacation.

[Anonymous]

against the rules. Have grandparents help, or hire outside help.

[Anonymous]

My current AP, her previous family did this and paid her for the extra hours and she didn’t mind. Btw it is against the rule, so I am not saying it ok, but people do it!

[Anonymous]

No. totally against the rules. We bring in Grandma or an Aunt.

I have used AP for 1 overnight here and there for business travel or similar, if she agrees to it. So have friends who have APs.
It is against the rules- I know, but sometimes out of necessity. Usually pay AP $80-$100 for the overnight

[Anonymous]

I did it a couple of times when i was an au pair. But only one night each time. They were super nice and i usually only worked 30 hours a week so i didn't mind doing it. I think if you otherwise are generous to your au pair and dont squeeze every last hour out of her you could probably do it for a might. More than that tho and i would have a relative stay.

[Anonymous]

Same as PP.
I did a couple of nights when I was an AP. I didn't mind, it was towards the end of my year, my kids were amazing... but I didn't sleep well at all (and acutally slept on the living room couch the first time I was alone with them over night - the boys were in the basement, the girls and I on the second floor, I wasn't sure I could hear everybody if anything was to happen...). Always had an extra day off after an overnight.

But yes, it's totally against the rules. You may be able to squeeze one night into your schedule (AP watches kids 2 pm to midnight on day #1 and midnight to 10 am on day #2) but no way AP can watch the kids more than a night in a row (unless you are happy with AP watching your kids from 8 pm to 6 am and the kids fighting for themselves from 6 am to 8 pm). Outside help. Babysitter, grandma, aunt, neighbor. Or have kids sleep over at thei best friend's (AP watches kids during the day or picks up from school and then drops off at wherever they sleep later in the day).
Do families ask? Yes. Do APs agree? Yes. Allowed? No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you families with au pairs do if you want to go away for a few days without the kids?

Same thing families do without Au Pairs - get family to watch them.
When we go for a getaway we usually only miss one weekend day - so kids are busy (school or camps) during week day, AP to get them around and help; grand parents to do evenings.

I have heard of parents leaving kids with AP for a real vacation. One HM (single) did not even call to check in for an entire week.

That family ultimately got removed from program; would not be surprised if child welfare removed the kids too by now - awful family.
But people do it, typically ones that do not really care about their own kids that much or have family local.

[Anonymous]

Of course not! That's way over her hours. That's 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

[Anonymous]

Get a temp nanny.

[Anonymous]

We've had the AP and kids stay at the grandparents for a few days. It's a win-win - AP works reduced hours in a new locale, and the grandparents have a great visit with some help (we have 3 young kids). We've also had my MIL come stay at our place and kept AP on her regular schedule.