Why Are Au Pairs A Great Choice for Busy Families?

I receive so many emails from parents who ask me, "Are au pairs still a good childcare option?"  I always tell them "Yes!" and then I send them a list of reasons why.  I want to post this list for all parents who are sitting on the fence and wondering, "Should I consider an au pair?"

Hi there!  One of our readers sent us an email about an article she read on AuPairMom.com's blog (we really love this blog and the author, CV, provides tons of insighful advice to her faithful readers).  The blog has to do with au pairs working overtime.  Yes, we do know that host parents break the law, and ask their au pairs to work over the 45 hours a week (10 hours a day) limit.  However, we were surprised at the response AuPairMom.com received at how many host parents actually "indulge" in this practice!

We get many email requests for advice and information which really keeps me and the staff here at aupairclearinghouse busy!  One question that is repeated several times a month is "How can I be the best host mom?"  We answer this each time with basically the same advice.  We will be writing an article on this subject soon!  For now, here is what I tell host moms:

As we watch the terrible suffering in Haiti, many of us want to do something to help. It seems the very best thing we can do is to donate money to help buy water, food and clothes. Most credible disaster organizations tell us, "give money" instead of goods (etc., cans of groceries, clothes, etc.). I think this is a very good suggestion.

Yes, it is close to that time again!  Au Pair of the Year Award! 

Who is responsible for giving this award?  Is it international or held here in America?  These are only some of the questions we get from host parents around this time of year - in response to the letters they receive from their agency, encouraging them to perhaps nominate their au pair for this distinguished prize.

Hi to all our readers!  Happy New Year!

Your opinions and ratings of au pair agencies are very important to us - we share your reviews with other parents, particularly the new host parent who is feeling overwhelmed and unsure of which agency to sign up with.  

Au pair agencies all undergo different internal changes and some years are better than others in terms of the quality of the customer service they provide and the quality of the au pairs they recruit.

We just posted an article from the New York Post on Au Pairs and the Elderly. The idea of hiring au pairs to care for our aging parents is not a new idea that has been considered by some au pair agencies and elder care programs.

Dear readers, please forgive the website page - we took the site down for updates and are still working to get the "look" and feel of the website back again.   It is a temporary situation.

We apologize for any inconvenience! 

It is the same website!