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Hi everyone. My family and I are considering hiring an au pair. I'm curious to know if anyone else has used an au pair? If so, where did you get into contact with an au pair (through an au pair program or elsewhere)? What were the costs and how are they better (if they are) than regular daycare? Any good/bad things to consider? TIA!
I did not bring the au Pair to the states but I "shared her" during the day. My friend brought her here and the au pair dealt with her kids in the afternoons and she came to my house in the morning and early afternoon...
she was ok. My friend did not like having someone in her house all the time. There is a lack of privacy, that's for sure.
I just viewed one website that said the cost for the program was just over $7K, and that there was a weekly stipend of $176.85 for the au pair. These together come out to be over $1300 per month. How is this less expensive than daycare? Of course, I'm staying at home with the kids right now so I don't even know what good daycare will cost these days! I have two children and will be living in NC.
Depending on where you live and the ages of your children, daycare for two can cost a lot more than $1300. The older the kids, the less expensive daycare is. So, sometimes an au pair can be less expensive, especially with multiple children. But, I bet this isn't always true. I'd talk to a couple different agencies. We're also looking into getting one in the next year, so hopefully some with experience will chime in.
My BIL had one-she just went home a week ago. They have liked not having to get the kids up and take them to day care but it is like having another child at times. She is 21 and came from a family where she wasn't expected to do anything at home. She had no idea how to clean up after herself, do her laundry, etc. She would be out all night long on weekends and then sleep all day so that was an issue on weekends. She was very good with their kids but they were ready to have her go home when she left.
I just viewed one website that said the cost for the program was just over $7K, and that there was a weekly stipend of $176.85 for the au pair. These together come out to be over $1300 per month. How is this less expensive than daycare? Of course, I'm staying at home with the kids right now so I don't even know what good daycare will cost these days! I have two children and will be living in NC.
If it is Charlotte, you will be in sticker price shock when you see the cost of daycare here. It is quite pricey.
However the fact that you have 2 kids and the au pair will actually end up being about the same the first year and then the second year it will be an excellent deal. You have someone that will be there with your kids all the time, will uphold your values and how YOU want things. Your kids will get individual attention and not competing with other kids. lastly, they will nap/eat/hang out in the comfort of your home and yard.
If I didn't stay at home, I would hire an au pair. Plus my siblings grew up with an au pair and we still keep in touch with her 18 years later.
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