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Childcare you can trust
like family

Supporting host families since 1989

Sarah Vogel
CCAP

Sarah Vogel

Local Childcare Consultant

Welcome an au pair as part of your family

Culturally enriching childcare

Learn about your au pair's language, cuisine & traditions and share your American culture

Au pairs can provide up to 45 hours/week of flexible childcare

Competitive cost

Starts at $1,775¹ per month.

The host family experience

Dedicated resources to support you in your journey

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Sign up today to view au pair profiles.

Sign up and complete your family profile today!

Access hundreds of au pair profiles. No cost to get started.

The largest number of available candidates

Meet some of our au pairs

Introducing our new app

The easiest way to find the right au pair for you

Steps to welcome an au pair

Step 1

Create account

Complete the form below, then continue creating your account online or download the app

Step 2

Complete your profile

Upload photos, references, and other details about your family

Step 3

Meet program requirements

Complete host family checklist and
in-home interview

Step 4

Interview & find your au pair

Match and decide on your arrival date

Step 5

Prepare for arrival

Stay in touch with your au pair while we handle the logistics

Step 6

Welcome your au pair

Start your cultural exchange experience!

What our customers are saying

“We really can’t place our finger on the exact moment Camila felt part of our family, because our boys fell in love with her almost immediately

She earned their mutual respect with quiet, kind, and calm authority. We now eat arepas and listen to Guayacán, a Colombian orchestra. We are actively planning our family vacation to the coffee region of Colombia, as well!”

Nicole, host mom in California

Hosting an au pair FAQs

Hosting an au pair has been an amazing experience for many American families, but the program is not right for everyone! You should consider hosting an au pair if the following statements are all true:

  • You are looking for a reliable, flexible, and consistent caregiver for your kids.

  • You are excited about welcoming a young person from abroad into your family, sharing American culture with them, and supporting them throughout their stay in the U.S.

  • You are willing and able to provide a private bedroom, at least three meals a day, and other amenities to make their stay more comfortable.

  • You are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and so is your partner (if applicable).

  • All adults living in your household would pass a criminal background check.

Cultural Care Au Pair is a government-regulated program, meaning there are guidelines in place designed to protect both families and au pairs during the exchange year. It also means that au pairs travel to the U.S. on a legal J-1 visa, allowing them to stay in the country (and with your family) for up to two years.

Moreover, all au pair applicants must undergo a multi-step screening process before being accepted by Cultural Care. As a host family, you can review available candidates knowing they have all been personally interviewed and submitted references (checked by Cultural Care staff), a criminal background check, and personality profile.

Many people use the terms ”au pair” and “nanny” interchangeably, but there are some important distinctions to make between the two. First, an au pair, by definition, is a young person from overseas who joins an American family to care for their children. They travel on a legal, one-year cultural exchange visa through a designated au pair agency. Au pairs are live-in caregivers who initially commit to a one-year stay but have the opportunity to extend their time in the U.S. for 6, 9 or 12 months. Their working hours and conditions are regulated by the U.S. Department of State.

Au pairs have at least 200 hours of experience (usually many more) as babysitters, tutors, kindergarten assistants, camp counselors and sports instructors. All au pairs attend a training program before joining their American host families. They are excited to join an American family and immerse themselves in American culture.

The term “nanny” on the other hand, is a more general term that can be used to describe both professionally trained caregivers and those with less formal experience.

Read more about the differences between au pairs vs. nannies.

Cultural Care Au Pair offers you the ability to search for candidates on your own as well as a dedicated Matching Specialist to provide you with matching support. Whatever your desired level of engagement is during the matching process, Cultural Care Au Pair is ready to meet your needs.

1Monthly minimum average cost to host an au pair, regardless of the number of children the au pair cares for. This cost includes the agency fees and the minimum weekly stipend paid directly to the au pair for 52 weeks, including 2 weeks of paid vacation. Does not include incidental costs of hosting an au pair, such as meals, insurance, and other amenities. Au pairs pay a smaller program fee to the foreign company that screens them, but no portion of that fee is used to pay for the costs of their international airfare or domestic U.S. transportation. Au pairs may be charged additional fees in the event of special travel requests.

2The U.S. Department of State has determined that au pairs are required to receive from their host families at least $195.75 per week. Host families and au pairs are free to discuss and agree to compensation higher than the required stipend minimum; however, this cannot be in exchange for the au pair exceeding the regulatory limits on working hours (10 hours per day; 45 hours per week) or performing duties beyond childcare-related tasks. The State Department formula is based on the federal minimum wage and applicable room and board credits. Any change in the federal minimum wage or the applicable credits will result in an increase in this minimum stipend amount. Please note, should a family extend beyond the first year, they would be responsible for the stipend for each week of the extension term.