One of the most common struggles families face is child care costs. Many families are surprised to discover that they can reduce their child care costs by hosting an au pair – plus, they receive dependable and flexible live-in child care assistance and an incredible cultural exchange experience.
Here are 5 major ways that hosting an au pair can help families save on child care costs:
1. With an au pair, the child care cost is per family – not per child
Families with more than one child often find they can save significantly on child care costs by hosting an au pair. Unlike other child care options, the cost of hosting an au pair is the same whether you have one child or multiple children.
2. Reduces the need for multiple child care providers
Many families discover that hosting an au pair eliminates the cost of hiring multiple child care providers. Instead of paying for daycare during the week and hiring a babysitter for weekends, au pairs and host families work together to create a flexible schedule. With a trusted au pair living in your home, you can customize a child care schedule of up to 10 hours per day and 45 hours per week to meet your family’s needs. Your au pair can watch your children after school and on Saturday evenings for date nights!
3. Save your time off
When comparing child care costs, it is essential to remember that many daycares and babysitters may not be able to care for your children on snow days or when a child is feeling ill — and they may still charge you for those days that they aren’t watching your children. Many daycare facilities still charge families for unexpected closures like snow days because their fee is based on securing the child’s place in their facility, rather than the days that they provide care for your child. Plus, many daycares are closed for events like staff training days, and babysitters can vary in their dependability. When you host an au pair however, you no longer need to worry about scrambling for last-minute child care. With the flexibility and comfort of live-in child care, you can save your time off from work for when you really want to use it!
4. Less work interruptions
Whether you work from home or commute to an office, having dependable and flexible live-in child care can help parents stay on track with their career goals and not get passed over for promotions. With an au pair, you no longer need to worry about missing work for school early releases or last-minute babysitter cancellations. Additionally, parents working from home won’t have to stress about their little ones interrupting important Zoom meetings. With the peace of mind that your children are safe and cared for with an au pair, parents can find an ideal work-life balance and pursue their career goals like promotions, salary increases, networking and continuing education.
5. Save more time for self-care
One factor that parents often overlook when evaluating child care costs is the costs regarding their own health. Too much stress in our lives has been shown to contribute to a decline in our health, including our mental wellbeing. While au pairs are not housekeepers, their responsibilities can include helping with household duties related to children. That means you’ll have an extra pair of hands for tasks like helping straighten up toys, preparing school lunches, helping with homework and transporting kids to and from school and activities. With an au pair’s valuable help, you’ll have more time to prioritize your health and wellbeing and focus on enjoying time with your family!
One of our host mothers explained how hosting an au pair helped her establish work-life balance:
“I am more relaxed than I have ever been since becoming a mother. Having her extra hands to assist with daily life allows us to have time for special moments with the boys without struggling through daily chores. She has given me the gift of time to spend with my boys.”
Did you know that Au Pair in America also offers several discounts for new and current host families, including corporate and military discounts?
