https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 16:03:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1110167 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 12:24:49 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1110167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a control freak who is very hands on and likes her privacy BUT i also think the help would be wonderful to have. I dont think i could do live in though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1110161 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 12:23:07 +0000 irene 1110161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not for me.... I don't think I can have a stranger living in our house. I would feel very uncomfortable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1110131 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 12:15:26 +0000 sooz 1110131@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really think it depends...We seriously considered having an au pair because we have an in-law unit, however, we heard good and bad things about it. </p> <p>Most people who have done it speak highly of their experience, but there are those few who said it really depends on the au pair that you get. Most are very young and don't have infant experience. Also, since they are young, they enjoy having their "social" time which is understandable, but some don't understand that they also have a responsibility to be alert and well-rested for their "job" (and not hung-over) in the morning. I've heard people complain that having an au pair is sometimes equivalent to having another child albeit an older child. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1110090 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 11:58:29 +0000 MamaMoose 1110090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would consider it but I don't think my husband would. The lack of privacy that comes with having someone else live in your home would be a no go for him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1110081 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 11:54:13 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1110081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A friend of mine has an au pair from South America. She wanted her daughter to speak Spanish and the au pair wanted the American experience. Their situation works out really in terms of care anyway because the mom is a single mother.</p> <p>Having a live-in anyone (parent/ nanny/ au pair) would not work for my family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109988 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 11:05:30 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1109988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One of my good friends has used au pairs with great success... and now her kids speak Portuguese! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109958 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 10:50:59 +0000 PurplePeony 1109958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd definitely consider it when our child is a bit older, if we could get an au pair from DH's native country. We really want our kid(s) to be bilingual but it will be difficult because the community of people who speak that language fluently around here is pretty small so exposure will be a problem. Technically, we have the space but it would mean DH giving up his office, which he would NOT be thrilled about. But I don't think being an au pair is a very popular choice in his country anyway, so the likelihood of finding someone who would fit our criteria is probably slim. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109903 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 10:33:16 +0000 WALLAROO 1109903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have an au pair for our twins and while it took some time getting used to having a stranger live in our it is a great option for us. We don't have to deal with the logistics with pick up and drop off. The time limit is a little bit difficult to deal with because we pretty much use 9 hours a day M-F because of our commute time. Luckily DH and I have different working hours and they are a little staggered so we are able to make it work. It is such an affordable form of childcare for us and an interesting way to learn about another culture as well. Because basically it is a foreign exchange student that takes care of your kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109898 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 10:31:49 +0000 deactivated_account 1109898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would need a crap ton of extra space in my house before I'd consider bringing a stranger in to live with me full time. </p> <p>ETA: DH had a live in nanny growing up. Not quite an au pair, but similar in concept. It worked well for him and his family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109884 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 10:27:36 +0000 lioneyes 1109884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>au pairs are so 80s! growing up, so many of my friends had them.<br /> now as an adult, having a stranger living in my house sounds like my worst nightmare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109712 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 09:45:02 +0000 regberadaisy 1109712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm also not comfortable with live in help. I can think of other ways to expose my child to other languages. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109704 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 09:42:44 +0000 boots 1109704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At this point I stay at home, so an au pair would be pointless. In the future if we have more children, and have the space/money/need for one, I'd totally go for it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109692 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 09:40:08 +0000 bushelandapeck 1109692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: good to know you enjoyed it!<br /> @looch: the language exposure is certainly another benefit!<br /> @Foodnerd81: yeah, the living together part is a little scary to me. My friend's au pair is having a hard time with figuring out the nuances of living here (driving, using appliances, etc) and this has been a bit frustrating to my friend.<br /> @mrsjyw: We don't have any family nearby which is part of the reason it is appealing to me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109648 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 09:24:19 +0000 bunnylove08 1109648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think if we had space then it would be a great option but since we're in a tiny apt it wouldnt work out for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109643 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 09:23:01 +0000 blackbird 1109643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@su9SU9, that's actually a neat idea. I hadn't considered that. Currently, DH gets off at 230pm and is home by 3pm, but I'll keep that in mind if he ever ends up with different hours. I'm really not comfortable with latch-key kids at a young age! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109597 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 09:09:24 +0000 mrsjyw 1109597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would def consider it if we didn't have my mom's help! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109586 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 09:06:02 +0000 su9su9 1109586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a family friend who has been using an au pair for the last 6+ years, ever since their twins started Kindergarten.</p> <p>Their situation is like this: Both parents work and can't be home before/after school so the au pair is responsible for walking the kids to bus stop and picking them up. During the time the kids are at school, the au pair isn't working so the time doesn't count. Then she watches the kids after school and throughout the evening. She even cooks for the family so when the mom comes home, they can all just eat. It works great for them. </p> <p>The twins are getting to that age where they can be at home on their own so this is probably the last year they will use an au pair, but it has really helped through the years.</p> <p>I would consider an au pair once my kids reach school-age, if neither my husband or me can't be home with the kids when they are not in school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109472 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:26:31 +0000 littlek 1109472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it would depend on space. If we had an au pair, I would want to set them up in our basement and we currently don't have that built out to accomodate another person. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109469 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:25:06 +0000 blackbird 1109469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've thought about it and would probably do it if we ended up with, say, twins next time (bringing our daycare costs per month to about $3,000+).....we would end up furnishing a bedroom downstairs and adding a bathroom for her. It's definitely something worth considering. We're private people, so there would be a struggle in bringing someone into our home, but that's just our natural hesitation towards change. </p> <p>I don't know anyone who had one, but it seems like a really great option for many families. </p> <p>I always wonder about the extra costs....a car, insurance, cell phone, etc. Not sure it'd be worth it for us if we'd have to put money into furnishing a bedroom and creating a bathroom for her, etc. But, again, if we had multiples next time, I think it'd be our only option! Or go broke, anyways!</p> <p>45 hours/week is tough, though. Provided you work 8.5 hour days (including a lunch break), you'd go over that 45 hours awfully easily. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109456 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:21:05 +0000 LindsayInNY 1109456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If we had the space for someone to live with us, I would definitely consider it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109430 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:13:48 +0000 Cole 1109430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If we needed or wanted full time care that would be an option we would seriously consider but in our current home it would mean finishing our basement first (which is something we want to do anyway). The bigger issue is a third car and the insurance, insurance here is crazy high and it would add quite a large expense to the cost of an au pair. If we lived in a place with better public transportation we might try to get away with just two cars. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109395 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:58:35 +0000 Foodnerd81 1109395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Keep in mind the cost savings is because they live with you and you provide room and board. Since we are in a small two bedroom, the extra coast for an extra room would more than take away any savings. </p> <p>But that aside I see a lot of pluses. I think their schedules are usually more flexible and it would be cool for older kids to learn about another country and language. I don't really know that I'd want someone living with us though, I'd have to think about it. But I'm a sahm so its a moot point for us anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109393 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:57:33 +0000 mamimami 1109393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love the idea but I think I'd get in trouble with the hour limitation –- if I work 40 hours, add on commute time and I'd just be scraping by. I don't need that kind of stress. I already have a nanny and if I need to pay her overtime, I just do it :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109388 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:54:37 +0000 oliviaoblivia 1109388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had an au pair growing up. I loved it. My sisters were home with her and she looked after me when I came home after school. I would definitely consider it for our kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109386 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:53:12 +0000 JerricaBenton 1109386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love the idea of my LOs getting lots of exposure to a different language, but I don't think any type of live-in help is my style. I'm a SAHM so I just don't think we'd have a need. I knew some kids that had au pairs when we were growing up. It seemed fun because they were always cool teenagers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109371 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:42:37 +0000 looch 1109371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it would be helpful for us if we could find someone that spoke German. For me, part of the benefit of an au pair is speaking a language other than English and since we are a bilingual household, this would help my son a lot.</p> <p>On the other hand, I feel as though I would still need preschool for socialization purposes, so I wouldn't see it as a cost savings in our budget. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-au-pairs#post-1109367 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:39:43 +0000 bushelandapeck 1109367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a good friend who recently started using an Au Pair from Austria for her two children, ages 2 and 4. It is a one year committemnet with the option to extend a second year if everyone is in agreement. She can work 45 hrs/week and the cost ends up being about $350/week (not including the extra cost for food/car insurance/miscellaneous household items). </p> <p>So far, it seems to be working out well for them and it has me wondering if this would be something for us to consider when LO#2 arrives. As it is, we pay more than that amount for 2 days of childcare with our nanny and we only have her 24 hrs per week. </p> <p>What do you think? Would you consider using an Au Pair? Do you know anyone who has done this? </p>