Au pair vs. nanny - what’s the difference?
Should your family hire an au pair or a nanny?
You may have considered several options when trying to find the most helpful childcare solution for your family. Perhaps you’ve thought about daycares, in-home caregivers, or a constant patchwork of grandparents and work-from-home days.
If you’ve decided to hire an in-home childcare provider, you may now be weighing the options of whether to work with a full-time nanny or have an au pair live in your house. To help make that decision easier, here are some tips to consider when comparing the two roles.
What is an au pair and what is a nanny?
A nanny is an employee who comes to your house to care for your children, usually on a regular schedule with set hours. This person typically has experience working in-home with children and will often have other childcare-related experience and training. Nannies are paid a salary for hours worked and often receive benefits such as paid time off and health care stipends. It is common for families to work with the same nanny for several years, in a very special, loving working relationship. Read more about how much nannies make.
An au pair also works in the home with children, as part of a cultural exchange program intended to help the candidate learn about their host country and its language. They live with the host family, receiving room and board as well as a weekly stipend.
Typically, au pairs get 1-2 year contracts in the host country, but will often remain with one family for a year. It is most common for people to work as au pairs in their late teens or early twenties.
What’s the difference between the two?
There are some key differences between au pairs and nannies. As a parent looking for childcare, it is important to review these differences and consider what makes most sense for your family’s needs.
Au pairs:
Can only work a set number of hours per week
Receive free room and board in your home
Have a time limit on their contract with a family
Generally have less experience in childcare
May or may not be interested in working in childcare
Are often a less costly source of childcare
Nannies:
May work extra hours as agreed, for an overtime rate on any hours worked beyond 40/week
Generally live out, but may live in
May work with a family as long as both sides want, often for years as the children grow up
Usually have long experience working with children and families, and may have additional training as well
Tend to have an interest in working with children and have a love for kiddos
Charge based on experience, special skills, and how well they match the position’s requirements, which may mean high rates for top candidates
Which to hire: au pairs vs. nannies
It goes without saying that you know best what will work for your family’s needs. Au pairs provide cost-efficient childcare with the convenience of being right in your home, and they may be able to adjust their schedule according to your needs. (However, please note that they do have a set number of hours that they are allowed to work each week. Au pair organizations have been working hard in recent years to ensure those rules aren’t abused simply because the person is always in the host family’s house.)
On the other hand, nannies typically have more experience and a genuine interest in working in childcare and often provide a higher quality care for a longer commitment. For many families, the decision comes down to cost, and it may be worth thinking about what your investment brings you and your family.
We’ll help you decide
If you need advice in helping to make this decision, contact us. We are always happy to share our knowledge and experience, with over a decade of making successful, happy matches between families and dedicated nannies.
Need a professional nanny for your family? Click below to talk to a Family Specialist who will find your perfect part-time, full-time, or live-in nanny.
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