How Do I Know if I Should Host an Au Pair?

As the nation’s first legal au pair program, we at Au Pair in America have helped our share of families – 110,000 and growing! While every family is unique, we’ve noticed some common themes throughout our 30 plus years of experience. When it comes to choosing child care, families are looking for quality care and peace of mind. Read on to learn more about why our long-standing host families choose to host au pairs year after year.  

Do any of these resonate with you or speak to the needs of your family? If so, that may be why you should host an au pair! 

1. You want to experience cultural exchange.

Cultural exchange is the beating heart of the au pair program. We recruit au pairs from nearly 60 countries, so you might choose an au pair to connect with your family heritage, gain familiarity with a certain language, or build a connection with someone from a specific country or world region. Our host families love learning about their au pair’s home country, culture, and family, while also helping their au pair experience America.  

Hosting an au pair also means welcoming a new member into your family, a “big sister” figure who can serve as a role model for your children.   

2. You need flexibility and convenience.

The convenience and flexibility of live-in child care can go a long way to simplify your life. Because your au pair lives with you, she’s ready to go when you are. No more worrying about getting the kids out the door to day care, or wondering if your nanny’s car will break down again this week. An extra set of hands can also calm hectic morning routines and provide stability and comfort for kids throughout the day. Hosting an au pair means no more aggravation dealing with sick days, snow days and life’s little surprises. 

3. You want great candidates from the start.

Finding child care assistance can be stressful and time consuming. When it comes to finding the right au pair for your family, we do a lot of the legwork for you! All of our au pairs have at least 200 hours of recent, relevant child care experience and must pass a rigorous screening process and background check to be eligible for the program. Host families are assigned a Placement Coordinator, an expert in our candidate pool, who helps host families identify their needs and pairs them with applicants to interview.  

Before arriving to the U.S., every au pair on the Au Pair in America program completes our comprehensive orientation program featuring child development training, child safety training, and customized American Red Cross training (exclusive to Au Pair in America). 

4. You value support.

When it comes to your hosting experience, we’re here to make sure everything goes smoothly for you every step of the way. From our international partners around the world, to our US office in Connecticut, to your Au Pair in America Community Counselor providing support and guidance in your area, you can always count on our unrivaled network to help your family and au pair have a meaningful exchange experience and a successful match.   

5. You’re looking for an affordable child care solution.

If the idea of live-in child care sounds like the right solution for your family, your next question is probably, “how much does an au pair cost?” Unlike many other forms of child care, the cost of hosting an au pair is per family, not per child. Program costs to consider include a one-time match processing fee, a program fee, and a weekly stipend paid directly to your au pair. With Au Pair in America, there is never an application fee, and we offer several loyalty and corporate discounts.

These are just a few of the reasons why families like yours are choosing to host an au pair. Ready to begin your journey as a host family?