Former AP here.

A welcome basket is always wonderful.
I'd add in some water and snacks because you can be shy when you arrive ...

I'd advise not to go overboard from the start even if the girls now all sadly compare what they get.

A genuine girl will be happy with a warm welcome (balloon and drawings from the kids) and a nice little basket.

Something I have always enjoyed as an AP is when the family takes some times to show me around when I get there or organizes a nice outing/meal out so we can all get to know each other

Where is she from?

Metro card is nice if they will be using metro.
Gift card to coffee shop or grocery store near you

Anonymous wrote:It's a nice thing to do - maybe a $50 gift card to Trader Joe's and another to Target so they can buy some snacks and toiletries, and a welcome card and a throw blanket?

Good idea but not all AP like Trader Joe’s food is overly processed

We do small things - a tote bag and shirt and mug or water bottle that are dc-themed, that kind of thing. If we know more about their hobbies, interests, etc we will personalize a little more. Usually the au pair also brings small gifts from their country. It’s a charming way to kick off the year.

PP at 18:26. Your post is very confusing, what exactly are you trying to say in response to OP?

When my mother immigrated, she worked as a domestic worker for a doctor's wife, the contract lasted a bit less than 3 years. She always held this family in very high esteem.
Many who immigrated during my mother's time; when one was lucky enough to work for a good family, with decent pay....One worked right into the next generation.
I sincerely hope that you get an employee that is worthy of you. I worked as a mother's helper/nanny, received a ceramic item the first year, a necklace the next.... Maybe a small gift basket with toiletries, or a nice bouquet of flowers....Maybe [to your discretion] a gift for every year of service.

I feel that a decent employer should be treated decently, and if they are lucky enough to hire someone that is dedicated, and looks after their kids...Here are some tips...

-Your friends: Your Aupair works for you, and from time to time, it's not a problem if their babysitter gets sick, however, they should not think that they can just dump their kids on your Aupair, or borrow her to clean.

One of my employers had friends whose children I could not stand, and that is the honest truth...There are a lot of options these days, not to mention nanny/aupair poaching.

My Mother was of the "old school":cooking, cleaning[full dinner service], ironing, childcare....One of her employers had a friend who tried to convince her that it was not necessary to hire a housekeeper full time, and that this hard working professional[the employer] could batch cook, and inferred that she and her child could "eat the same thing "for a week".

To the child's credit, my mother literally raised that child; it was the child who convinced her mother that she did not want my mother to go.

Believe it or not, now that my mother is old, some her former employers still call. Do you know why?...Many[new hires] do not want to clean toilets, they do not want to cook...They want to do "light cleaning"

It's a nice thing to do - maybe a $50 gift card to Trader Joe's and another to Target so they can buy some snacks and toiletries, and a welcome card and a throw blanket?

Yes that's a thing. You're not overthinking, you're being considerate. I created a welcome gift basket with stuff like lotions, gift cards, snacks/candy, other things our AP might need to get settled in. You can decide how much or little but some type of gesture can go a long way to have a nice start.

Hi! Our first au pair arrives in a few weeks and I'm wondering if folks buy some type of gift (or gifts) to welcome their au pair? Is that a thing? Am I overthinking this?