Au Pair Tips

I ran a nanny agency for over 15 years and heard alot about aupairs. Be sure to investigate the reputation of the AuPair company you are dealing with. Some of the biggest have done some really bad placements. They put out lots of pretty pictures and words but you need to look into the results. For one thing, what if the AuPair doesn't work out? I had a client that had an AuPair that cried continously because she was homesick. She was told she had to wait at least two weeks before the girl could be sent home. The girl did nothinig for those two weeks! I also heard of girls coming with serious mental health issues and causing problems. Remember the basis of an AuPair program is to get students to the U.S. where they can study and work for you. I don't think any of them have training programs of more than 2 weeks. I rescued many a parent during the 15 years and found them local nannies where they could give them a try before committing to the job. You have two babies due....what will be the AuPair's experience in working with infants? You will most likely be dealing with girls from different cultures and they may not share your concerns or opinions on childcare. I know AuPair programs have been around for awhile and I know there are success stories but I caution anyone looking for childcare to check things out thoroughly before committing. The AuPair program is cheaper than a nanny but your children are too important to take a chance. Sorry if I am bearer of bad news but I am relating true stories.

Hi, is your interviewing complete? I am wondering how it went. When I interviewed our au pair we spoke on the phone a few times- I loved it because each time I felt like we connected a bit more. Our agency, Cultural Care, connected us free! Then we used "skype" or video conferencing- just like when our au pair came, communication was the key!
S.
Host mom to a great au pair from Colombia (our second au pair)
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Hi D.- As a former au pair and now a LCC for Cultural Care Au pair- I can tell you that getting to know your potential au pair as far in advance as possible is the best thing you can do. If you develop a relationship with your au pair prior to her/his arrival it makes the transistion so much smoother. I would not base a decision on one phone call. I would call several times and at different times of the day. Take into account time differences. Some potential au pairs may be nervous during your first few phone calls and eventually ease up and you can get a better feel for their personality. Also emailing back and forth may also be easier. A lot of the time a foreign au pair has better written english than spoken.

Feel free to message me if you would like contact info of current host families in my area so you can speak with them about their experiences.

Hi D.,
It sounds like you have been doing your homework. With any type of childcare, you are going to hear both negatives and positives. So how to get the best au pair experience?

Use an agency that allows you maximum control over the selection process. (Some present you with one candidate at a time vs. the whole pool.) Review the au pair's experience and also look to see if they've completed any university studies or if they have lived away from home before.

During the interview, listen for their interest in your family...not just for interest in the perks of the job. Find out why they want to be an au pair. Listen for qualities such as positive attitude, work ethic, and kindness, and if they enjoy the same number and type of activities as your family.

Good luck!