Getting started with Au pair- how much space, vehicle and agency

[Anonymous]

I am.in Maryland. I am.wondering how to get started. Is a bedroom sufficient or do most aupairs have an inlaw suite or separate living quarters?

I am assuming they need a separate vehicle. What else do I need to think about? And what agencies.would.you look.at?

[Anonymous]

Start here: https://aupairmom.com/

It sounds like you’re very new to the process. Things to consider:
How many kids do you have? Are any infants?
Why do you want an au pair vs other childcare options?

[Anonymous]

No infants. All school age. Youngest is in preschool. I need help after school. I will be home. I am newly divorced with 3 kids.

[Anonymous]

https://j1visa.state.gov/programs/au-pair#hostsemployers

[Anonymous]

Bedroom is fine. If on same level as you all you might need to offer other perks. Car can be a shared vehicle depending on where you live. If you are close to a metro it’s not as dire as if you live out in Olney. Don’t force her to work weekends every weekend just to get to 45 hours. It will foster resentment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bedroom is fine. If on same level as you all you might need to offer other perks. Car can be a shared vehicle depending on where you live. If you are close to a metro it’s not as dire as if you live out in Olney. Don’t force her to work weekends every weekend just to get to 45 hours. It will foster resentment.

It is against the rules to make the au pair work every weekend
Stick to the rules

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bedroom is fine. If on same level as you all you might need to offer other perks. Car can be a shared vehicle depending on where you live. If you are close to a metro it’s not as dire as if you live out in Olney. Don’t force her to work weekends every weekend just to get to 45 hours. It will foster resentment.

It is against the rules to make the au pair work every weekend
Stick to the rules

I’m the PP. I think the minimum is one full weekend per month and a day and a half off together every week. I know someone who had their au pair work every weekend in the mornings except for the one a month. Her days off were Sunday afternoon and Monday. Totally sucked.

[Anonymous]

As long as the AP will have her own bedroom and bathroom, it's fine.

Shared car is ok, but it's something to discuss in detail during interviews. I've had some APs who didn't care to drive, and others who really probed about the car situation (they wanted their own dedicated car).

In terms of agency, I've tried two: Cultural Care and AuPair Care. I found CC's matching process difficult for host families. APC's process was simpler and easier. You can sign up to several agencies and check out their pool of candidates. Some people prefer a certain geographic area and may choose an agency based on that. Also, when you sign up with an agency, it will send a local childcare consultant (LCC) over to see your house (making sure it meets requirement). The LCC could make a big difference in how your experience goes. There was a huge difference in the LCCs I met from the 2 agencies I sign up for, and I was happy with the agency I went with in part b/c their LCC is much more competent than the other agency's.

[Anonymous]

We use Cultural Care which is where we found our first Au Pair so just stuck with them. Most APs here are CC or Au Pair in America. We have always given a separate bedroom and bathroom in the basement but it's not a formal in law suite and does have a nice window for light. The kids playroom is also down there but they are not using it in the evenings so it's quiet. We've done both a shared car when kids were younger and then a dedicated car when they got older and we purchased a newer car for ourselves.

[Anonymous]

Hosted 7 AP/ one rematch (our decision).

AP had own full bath; dedicated car.

Are you expecting AP to also help at your exs house?
I would not suggest it; 99% of those situations end up not working.
Being divorced and single will make matching a little more challenging so be patient and willing to offer attractive schedule and some perks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am.in Maryland. I am.wondering how to get started. Is a bedroom sufficient or do most aupairs have an inlaw suite or separate living quarters?

I am assuming they need a separate vehicle. What else do I need to think about? And what agencies.would.you look.at?

inlaw suite or separate living quarters are ideal but not necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hosted 7 AP/ one rematch (our decision).

AP had own full bath; dedicated car.

Are you expecting AP to also help at your exs house?
I would not suggest it; 99% of those situations end up not working.
Being divorced and single will make matching a little more challenging so be patient and willing to offer attractive schedule and some perks.

What if you have sole custody? (100%)

[Anonymous]

Single is the issue, not custody arrangements. If there is only one parent in the household, the AP will fear a harder job.

[Anonymous]

We provide our au pair with the poolside guest house and associated amenities. She has a separate room in the main residence as a backup. We have an au pair suite above the garage but we kept that for the occasional guest. It seems to work well as she’s never complained.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hosted 7 AP/ one rematch (our decision).

AP had own full bath; dedicated car.

Are you expecting AP to also help at your exs house?
I would not suggest it; 99% of those situations end up not working.
Being divorced and single will make matching a little more challenging so be patient and willing to offer attractive schedule and some perks.

What if you have sole custody? (100%)

You will get a lot of “looking for traditional home for my American experience” type rejections.
It is not impossible; just have to be patient. My friend is divorced and hosted 3 AP post divorce.
She took a lot longer to match than us, but always found a candidate.