Considering an Au Pair - Advice?

Use a reputable source. I've had cousins, friends of friends who needed places to stay and neighbors. To do it over again, I'd make sure I had an employee. God got me through, but I like the idea of an "exchange student" then you can send them back and not have to see them again.

I had had many aupairs for the past 15 years. I am form Denmark, so they were always danish, in most cases they have been an amazing help, but some times one did not work out, and I sent them home or rather helped them choose to go :) Treat them more like an exchange student and not like a maid and you will be able to greate a loving family like environment for your children. many of mine stil saty in touch, three have come back again, one stayed for almost 3 years, and I have also had guys do the job...being my first two kids are boys.

any question you may have I can answer.. I am sure I have had the experience.

One thing... I never went tru an agency, but have a close friend who " manages" aupairs in NY, so i know a little bit about that scenario.
send me some specific worries and hopes you have.

hi. have you found an au pair yet? I know of a lovely girl from Germany who will give you 25 hours a week in exchange for free room and board. She currently lives with us and is super sweet. the demands of our family with 4 kids is too great for her we feel and want to find her a better situation. Are you interested? this is for real and we have already done a background on her and she is clean.

debbie

Hi J.,
Please email me. I work for Cultural Care Au Pair as a local childcare coordinator. I can tell you the pros & cons for hosting an au pair. However, the best advertisement is my current host families. I would be happy to have you contact any one of my 50 host families! Several of these families have had au pairs for many years now. Some of the horror stories are with young people who "call themselves" au pairs & come into the country without the proper J-1 documents. Open communication is the key to a happy relationship & I find that is what works best with the au pairs & their host families. Here is my email address: ____@____.com
Also, check out my website to see what activities I have enjoyed with my au pair group! http://l-rappaport.local.culturalcare.com/default.asp. I know we can find you the right fit for your growing family. Take care & stay well.

Hi J.,
I used the Nanny service for the first year and a half. Because I did not need a full time nanny, I was able to request a nanny, but she may or may not be available. I had 3 that I really like in particular and had 1 horribly bad one, and one I did not care for. Overall, I say go for it. All I did was not request her back.

I no longer use the service because she is now 2 and I don't I am able to drop her off at a sitters a lot easier.

I used Nanny's and Housekeepers. ###-###-#### You may let them know I sent you. Hehehehe, they don't quite understand where I get the leads from, I just tell them I network and they keep telling me they want to network too.

P.S. I just heard this website on John & Kate + 8 http://www.nannies4hire.com/?gclid=CPzVgM_Tu5ECFSBeagodbA...

Hi J.,

I just noticed this. Hope I am not to late. I am the Local Childcare Coordinator for the South Bay for Cultural Care Au Pair. I am also a host mom with an au pair from Romania who helps with my 4 and 2 year-old so I can tell you a lot about the program. We love it.

I would be happy to set up an appointment with you or bring over a brochure if you are still interested. Hope everything went well with your delivery.

T. Cota
Cultural Care Au Pair
Local Childcare Coordinator - South Bay
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