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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.

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

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.

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.

I don't know anyone who had one, but it seems like a really great option for many families.

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!

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.

We have a family friend who has been using an au pair for the last 6+ years, ever since their twins started Kindergarten.

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.

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.

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.

@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!

I'm also not comfortable with live in help. I can think of other ways to expose my child to other languages.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Having a live-in anyone (parent/ nanny/ au pair) would not work for my family.

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.

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.

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.