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Home › Articles › Caregivers › Childcare International Style

Childcare International Style

Is Au Pair Care Right for Your Family?

By Tracy B. McGinnis

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Aside from exposing your children to new cultures with au pairs, Kaplan and Dearing believe there are many advantages to having an au pair versus other types of childcare. "The best advantages of au pair care include one-on-one childcare, a flexible schedule, no daycare late fees and having your au pair become part of your extended family," says Kaplan.

"The biggest benefit other than the obvious flexibility of a live-in [caretaker] is that you are guaranteed at least one full year of childcare – in some cases two if you want to renew," adds Dearing. "Many nannies so often quit at the first sign of trouble within the home or their relationship with the family. The au pairs we work with are sincerely interested in legally spending a year in the U.S., living in an American home and working on their education. They have committed to the year and are very willing to work with families to fit in."

Support
One of the biggest concerns families have when it comes to considering au pair care is sharing their home with another person. "Parents worry about what will happen if something doesn't work out with their au pair," says Kaplan. "Au Pair Care assists families in re-matching with a replacement au pair."

In addition to replacements, sponsor agencies provide families and au pairs national and local support systems to help everyone acclimate to the new environment and resolve problems that arise.

After families have chosen an au pair, the U.S. Department of State regulations require agencies to provide orientation, childcare development training, safety instruction and a minimum of 24 hours of child development instruction. Some agencies also provide CPR and fire safety training.

Costs

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