Hosting an au pair is an incredible opportunity for families looking to embrace a new culture while securing flexible childcare. If you’re thinking about welcoming an au pair into your home, you likely have questions about how it works and what to expect. Here are the top 10 questions about hosting we get asked about an au pair and how it can benefit your family.
1. What is an au pair?
An au pair is a young adult, typically between 18 and 26 years old, who travels to the U.S. on a legal visa to live with a host family for up to two years. In exchange for a weekly stipend, room, and board, the au pair provides childcare and becomes an integrated part of your family, while also experiencing life in the U.S.
2. What is the difference between an au pair and nanny?
While both au pairs and nannies provide childcare, there are key differences between the two. Au pairs are young adults with prior childcare experience who come to the U.S. on J-1 visas as part of a federally regulated cultural exchange program. They live with host families and follow specific rules set by the U.S. Department of State.
Nannies, on the other hand, are typically domestic employees who may or may not have formal childcare training. They don’t necessarily live with the family, and their role isn’t tied to a cultural exchange program.
3. How much does it cost?
The Cultural Care au pair program costs an average of about $1,760 per month, paid annually. This includes the au pair’s weekly stipend and a $500 yearly contribution toward their educational requirement. In addition, host families should account for other costs such as room and board, extra insurance, and any other expenses that enhance the au pair’s experience, such as activities, outings, or family trips.
4. Where do au pairs come from?
Au pairs come from countries all around the world! Cultural Care Au Pair recruits, screens, and interviews candidates from over 30 countries globally.
5. How long do au pairs stay?
Au pairs commit to staying with a host family in the U.S. for a minimum of one year. However, they have the option to extend their stay for an additional 6, 9, or 12 months, either with their current host family or with a new one.
6. Do au pairs cook and clean?
Au pairs assist with household duties directly related to the children, such as doing the kids’ laundry, preparing their meals, and keeping their rooms tidy. They can also help with shared family chores, like loading the dishwasher after meals or tidying up shared spaces. However, an au pair’s household responsibilities should be reasonable and not solely assigned to them—they are meant to support family life, not take over all household chores.
7. What age groups can au pairs care for?
Au pairs can care for children up to 18 years old and cannot be the sole caretaker of infants under 3 months old. If you have a child with special needs, your au pair must have prior experience working with special needs children.
8. What qualifications do au pairs have?
Au pairs have at least 200 hours of experience (usually many more) as babysitters, tutors, kindergarten assistants, camp counselors, and sports instructors in their home countries. They also complete a training program that prepares them for their time in the U.S before they join their host families.
9. Does an au pair need their own bathroom/car?
No—au pairs do not need their own bathroom or car. Host families are only required to provide a suitable private bedroom in their home. However, many families rely on their au pairs to drive their children to school and activities, so they often give their au pairs access to a car for their free time as well. This is especially helpful when good public transportation isn’t available in the area.
10. Do au pairs provide overnight care?
While au pairs can technically provide overnight care, it’s not recommended as a regular part of their schedule. Au pairs can work up to 10 hours a day within a 24-hour period. For example, if an au pair works overnight from 8pm to 6am, they cannot work again until 8pm the next day. Scheduling overnight shifts should be clearly discussed and agreed upon during the matching process, as many au pairs prefer schedules that allow them to attend classes and socialize in the evenings.