Au Pair vs. Nanny vs. Daycare

Au pairs and nannies both provide one-on-one, loving childcare—but they are different in some important ways. An au pair will travel to your family from overseas on a legal J-1 visa, and they bring their unique culture and language with them! Au pairs provide up to 45 hours a week of flexible childcare coverage (you decide the schedule each week based on your needs) and become an extended part of your family and parenting team.

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Learn more about who our au pairs are, what they do, and why more families than ever are joining Cultural Care Au Pair

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Disadvantages of Daycare

  • High cost and “per child” rates
  • Inflexible hours and expensive late fees
  • High child-to-staff ratio
  • Long waitlists
  • Lack of coverage when children are sick
  • Tendency to expose children to colds and other illnesses

Disadvantages of Nannies

  • High cost and salary variability
  • Lack of quality candidates
  • Lack of a qualified agency in the area
  • Lack of night or weekend coverage
  • The hassle of verifying her legal work eligibility
  • Absence of a back-up plan if she falls ill or quits

Benefits of hosting an au pair:

Weigh the pros and cons of an au pair versus a nanny or day care and you may be surprised! Au pairs provide the best of both worlds—the individual attention and convenience families are looking for at an affordable cost.

Up to 45 hours of care per week on a schedule you decide

An extra driver to transport kids to activities

Help with household duties related to the children

An extended member of your family and parenting team

Exposure to a different culture and language

A big sister or brother figure for your children

What our families are saying…

Choosing childcare is no easy decision. Because as parents, we don’t ever want to compromise on quality, flexibility, and trust when finding care for the most important people in the world. Hosting a Cultural Care au pair gives thousands of families across the country those very important benefits.

“Having made a change from working with a wonderful, long-time nanny, we didn’t quite know what to expect. But we’ve had a fantastic, 10/10 first experience with our au pair and Cultural Care. Everything from the match experience to navigating our au pair’s arrival during Covid was carefully and thoughtfully handled. Alex became a part of our family so quickly. Our son was enamored with her instantly: one of the first activities they did together was build an entire city out of cardboard. Our daughter, slower to warm, bonded with her gentle approach and caring, affectionate nature. Her impact on us all has been tremendous.”

— Dria, host mom in NJ

“Beyond the practical benefits of flexible, integrated childcare, hosting an au pair teaches our children that the world is larger and more diverse than our hometown. We love Italy and probably cook more Italian food now than we did before, but we have also learned many fun customs from Marta, including a visit from the Befana after Christmas and cracking our eggs at Easter.”

— Annie, host mom in MA

“We absolutely love our au pair and couldn’t imagine life without her. Childcare, family bonding, and cultural enrichment all in one shot. After struggling with daycare and babysitters, we no longer worry or stress. It’s amazing to have consistency!”

— Shannon, host mom in RI

“Marco is our superhero. In a year of amazing challenge, he regularly saves the day. He makes our three boys smile, and he is a powerful role model. Having an au pair has been an incredible gift to our family.”

— Debbi, host mom in CA

“After initially starting with nanny care, we turned to Cultural Care Au Pair so that we could have an au pair live with us as part of our family. Laura joined our family over 2 years ago to care for our then 1-year-old twins. Laura has helped them to see joy in the world from music and dancing to coloring and art to playing in the park. With Laura’s guidance, they have great vocabulary, having learned English and Spanish.”

— David, host dad in FL

“Karima has seamlessly become part of our family, quickly moving beyond the role of simply a childcare provider to a big sister and showering our boys with love and attention. She has also been a champion of cultural exchange, successfully teaching us how to make authentic French crepes. Our relationship with Karima is something we will cherish always.”

— Chieze, host mom in MA

We are here to help you

During your search for an au pair, your Matching Specialist will work with you to find candidates for you based on your criteria or simply act as a resource for help or advice. After you’re matched with an au pair, you’ll have support throughout the year from your Local Childcare Consultant (LCC) and Account Manager. 

Matching Specialist
Your Matching Specialist is responsible for helping you find and interview au pair candidates until you find your final match. They will talk with you to understand your family’s specific needs, search for candidates on your behalf, and guide you through the matching and interview process.
Program Manager
Your Program Manager is a Cultural Care representative who lives in your community and supports you and your au pair during the year. Your Program Manager will complete an in-home interview with your family before your au pair arrives, conduct an orientation after your au pair’s arrival to your home, and check in with you on a monthly basis. They will also help with the matching process.
Account Manager
Your Account Manager is available to answer all general questions about the program—including those related to your registration, au pair match, finances, host family account U.S. State Department regulations, and more.