Get an Aupair

[Anonymous]

So we got an Aupair. We need the help, but we can't afford paying a nanny 20.00 an HOUR! So far its been a month, this person has worked out quite well.

[Anonymous]

No, thank you. I can’t imagine the heartbreak to my kids to lose their live-in nanny after a year only to be replaced by another who will leave in a year. It can’t be good for young children and babies.

[Anonymous]

Never. I’m interested in good childcare not cheap childcare.

[Anonymous]

How much actual experience does your au pair have?

Are your kids old enough to self-report any issues with unacceptable care?

Hope the money saved is worth it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, thank you. I can’t imagine the heartbreak to my kids to lose their live-in nanny after a year only to be replaced by another who will leave in a year. It can’t be good for young children and babies.

This isn’t a thing. We had a professional nanny for 3 years before going into the au pair program. My kids were totally happy with all transitions. Nannies and au pairs are not parents. It’s not really any different from changing child care providers at day care centers each year or changing teachers at school each year. Most live in nannies and au pairs don’t spend all their time off with the host family. They are pretty independent.

Then you have someone to keep in touch with in other countries and to go visit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, thank you. I can’t imagine the heartbreak to my kids to lose their live-in nanny after a year only to be replaced by another who will leave in a year. It can’t be good for young children and babies.

This isn’t a thing. We had a professional nanny for 3 years before going into the au pair program. My kids were totally happy with all transitions. Nannies and au pairs are not parents. It’s not really any different from changing child care providers at day care centers each year or changing teachers at school each year. Most live in nannies and au pairs don’t spend all their time off with the host family. They are pretty independent.

Then you have someone to keep in touch with in other countries and to go visit.

NP. I totally disagree. It would have to be “a thing” to a young child as si pairs, by description, live in the child’s home and become part of the family. This is absolutely the polar opposite of daycare teachers and switching rooms. Au pairs are supposed to spend time with the HOST family (they don’t even call you employers - they call you hosts. With all we know about attachment disorders, I just wouldn’t risk it.

[Anonymous]

Whats a rough annual cost of an AP?

We have an extra bed/bath/kitchen but only need about 25 hours per week of care so weighing our options

[Anonymous]

We have had both. Au pairs are not professional childcare providers. They require a lot of handholding. For example, they won’t be coming up with educational activities to do with your child. While the cost of an au pair is lower, you also get a lower quality care. And there is the additional mental cost of integrating an young adult into your family. You need to make sure that they are happy. You stay up and talk to them in the evening, rather than just going to bed for some “me” time. You have to be there for them when they are dealing with being homesick or heartbroken. They are always there! That being said, if you find a good au pair, it can be great. You can make connections for life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whats a rough annual cost of an AP?

We have an extra bed/bath/kitchen but only need about 25 hours per week of care so weighing our options

It’s about $35k for us.

[Anonymous]

With us, it's NOT ONLY about how expensive is local childcare, it's more about how un-reliable local childcare they are, they call off the day anytime they want at the last minute, if you ask them to work all 5 days, they say they need weekend off starting Thursday night, they usually come in one hour late and always need to leave an hour early. They have tons of issues not to make it to your house when they know that you need them.

When we say we dont need them, they started behaving, and act like they really need the job and is very very sad and cant survive for the next day because we are not hiring them anymore.

The reason for their call off - (I need my life , I have mensural cycle, my bone is aching, my sister is having back problem, my parents misplaced the car key and I cant find them, my boyfriend is off on these days so I am cant work, I got something to take care.....etc...the list goes on ) They also demand $20 per hour with very poor quality of care.

[Anonymous]

So you have not hired a professional nanny. Got it. I’m sorry you can only find babysitters who are not dependable. Have you considered trying to do a better job during interviews and checking references much more thoroughly?

Anonymous wrote:With us, it's NOT ONLY about how expensive is local childcare, it's more about how un-reliable local childcare they are, they call off the day anytime they want at the last minute, if you ask them to work all 5 days, they say they need weekend off starting Thursday night, they usually come in one hour late and always need to leave an hour early. They have tons of issues not to make it to your house when they know that you need them.

When we say we dont need them, they started behaving, and act like they really need the job and is very very sad and cant survive for the next day because we are not hiring them anymore.

The reason for their call off - (I need my life , I have mensural cycle, my bone is aching, my sister is having back problem, my parents misplaced the car key and I cant find them, my boyfriend is off on these days so I am cant work, I got something to take care.....etc...the list goes on ) They also demand $20 per hour with very poor quality of care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you have not hired a professional nanny. Got it. I’m sorry you can only find babysitters who are not dependable. Have you considered trying to do a better job during interviews and checking references much more thoroughly?

Anonymous wrote:With us, it's NOT ONLY about how expensive is local childcare, it's more about how un-reliable local childcare they are, they call off the day anytime they want at the last minute, if you ask them to work all 5 days, they say they need weekend off starting Thursday night, they usually come in one hour late and always need to leave an hour early. They have tons of issues not to make it to your house when they know that you need them.

When we say we dont need them, they started behaving, and act like they really need the job and is very very sad and cant survive for the next day because we are not hiring them anymore.

The reason for their call off - (I need my life , I have mensural cycle, my bone is aching, my sister is having back problem, my parents misplaced the car key and I cant find them, my boyfriend is off on these days so I am cant work, I got something to take care.....etc...the list goes on ) They also demand $20 per hour with very poor quality of care.

The OP was decrying $20/hour. If that's all they offered, and it was part time, they're just going to get unreliable college kids. It doesn't matter how well they interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, thank you. I can’t imagine the heartbreak to my kids to lose their live-in nanny after a year only to be replaced by another who will leave in a year. It can’t be good for young children and babies.

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why are you on an au pair board?