au pair

5 questions about hosting an au pair during COVID-19

February 10, 2021

Sarah Vogel is a local childcare consultant with Cultural Care Au Pair. In this role, she helps families decide if hosting an au pair is the right childcare solution for them and provides year-round support to host families and au pairs. Her most challenging and rewarding role is being a mom of two children, ages 4 and 6. To learn more about Sarah and the au pair program, learn more here.

Finding flexible, affordable, and trustworthy childcare was never easy. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. Suddenly, many working parents were juggling working from home with overseeing online school and keeping younger kiddos entertained. While families could survive this scenario in the short term, it certainly wasn’t sustainable in the long term.

It’s no wonder that interest in the au pair program spiked during the pandemic. While classrooms and day care centers closed, news outlets featured stories of au pairs helping parents not just survive, but thrive, during the pandemic thanks to these key benefits:

Ability to limit exposure to the virus with live-in childcare
Structure and support for kids at home
Competitive cost – comparable to other childcare options
Families gain a new cultural perspective and enjoy sharing American culture with their au pair
Au pairs become like a member of the family, sharing comfort and support during these unprecedented times

Benefits aside, it’s still important for families to consider what it means to have a new person in their homes during a pandemic. Here are a few of the questions I’ve received from families considering hosting an au pair during this time:

Are au pairs still coming to the U.S.?

The short answer is – yes. Due to the pandemic, there are some challenges and delays in the visa process, and there are travel restrictions in place from certain countries. However, hundreds of au pairs have successfully joined their host families in the U.S. since this summer.

Given these circumstances, Cultural Care recommends that host families apply with an agency at least 3 to 4 months before they would like to welcome an au pair into their home and that they are able to be flexible with the start date.

How do you welcome an au pair during COVID?

In the past, families would go to meet their au pair at the airport or bus stop with signs, balloons, and hugs. These days, it’s best for everyone to follow state and local safety guidelines when welcoming an au pair. Many families put a welcome sign made by the kids on the au pair’s door or a goodie basket in his or her room. There are also considerations around social distancing and quarantine (more on that later). The bottom line is that you can still make an au pair feel welcomed even if it’s not the same as before.

Does an au pair need to quarantine when he or she arrives? What do we need to do during our first days and weeks together so we all stay safe?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed guidelines for those coming to the U.S. from other countries. Additionally, families should check state and local rules around testing and quarantines for those arriving to your area. Depending on the family’s situation, they may ask their au pair to stay in the bedroom they’ve provided for a period of time while monitoring for any health issues. Or, a host family may ask the au pair to stay at a hotel at their expense after he or she arrives.

Either way, it’s important for the family and au pair to stay connected during their time apart. Some families cook dinner together over zoom or have a game night over Facetime.

My kids are doing virtual learning. What role can an au pair play in their online schooling?

Au pairs can offer invaluable support for online learning students and their parents. Au pairs can be responsible for helping children log into online learning sessions, overseeing homework time and planning activities when they have breaks.

On the other hand, au pairs are not trained educators and can’t be responsible for making lesson plans, teaching new material, or corresponding with a child’s teacher.

I want my au pair to have a great experience, but I also want our family to stay safe and healthy. How do I find that balance?

The answer here is communication. Clear and consistent communication before an au pair arrives and when they are here about important topics like mask wearing, social distancing, and travel is essential to ensure a host family and au pair are on the same page.

It’s also important for your family to follow the same guidelines as your au pair. That means, if you ask your au pair not to dine inside a restaurant, your family isn’t doing that either. Sharing the responsibility for keeping each other safe will help strengthen the bond between your family and au pair.

Lastly, don’t forget about flexibility and fun. All of us have learned to be more flexible as the pandemic has gone on. We are also finding new ways to enjoy life safely. Remember, au pairs come to the U.S. to experience American life in a family, so think about what special traditions, foods, and experiences you can share with your au pair. Many au pairs who have been here during the pandemic say that they have become so close with their host families because they spend quality time together and have supported each other through difficult times.

During this uncertain time, finding the right childcare is more important than ever. Please feel free to contact me with any questions and to discuss if hosting an au pair may be a good fit for your family.

Guest post: Three reasons to consider live-in childcare

February 27, 2019

Sarah Vogel is a Cultural Care local childcare consultant with Cultural Care Au Pair. In this role, she helps families decide if hosting an au pair the right childcare solution for them and provides year-round support to host families and au pairs in Bethesda and Chevy Chase. Sarah is also the co-founder of DC Baby, an organization that supports new and expecting parents through networking and educational programs. Her most challenging and rewarding role is being a mom of two little ones (ages 2.5 and 4.5).

(Photo: Cultural Care Au Pair)

“What should I do about childcare?”

It’s a question I’ve heard many times personally (as a mom of two) and professionally (as the co-founder of DC Baby). And it’s not always an easy one to answer. From scouring listservs for nanny recommendations to waiting for a coveted spot in a daycare center; finding the right childcare for your family is no simple task. Especially in the DC area, which boasts the highest childcare costs in the country.

One option many parents have heard about, but haven’t considered for themselves, is hosting an au pair. Au pairs are young people from around the world who provide live-in childcare for American host families for up to two years. This cultural exchange program is regulated by the U.S. State Department. All au pairs have childcare experience and undergo a multi-step screening and training process before joining their host families.

Often, people will tell me that the au pair program sounds great, but they aren’t sure about having an au pair live in their homes. It’s natural to feel a bit uneasy about having a new person live in your home, but there are three big benefits to choosing this option for your family and for your children. These include:

Convenience: Having a live-in caregiver means traffic jams or Metro delays won’t cause schedule changes that make you (and your caregiver) run late. It also means that you’ll save time explaining the ins and outs of your household because your au pair is part of it. He or she knows how to run the dishwasher and where to look for your son’s lost stuffed animal. And if you ever need to get in touch them outside working hours, you can simply knock on their door or ask them over dinner.
Flexibility: There’s nothing quite like the flexibility of live-in childcare when there’s a snow day or an unexpected early release from school. When you have an au pair, you can schedule them to work up to 45 hours a week (maximum of 10 hours per day)—and since they’re in the home with you, it’s easy to adjust these hours on the fly. These hours can include days, evenings, and weekends. This flexibility is one of the major reasons why families choose to host au pairs year after year.
Trust: We all want to trust our children’s caregivers, and living with an au pair helps you develop a stronger sense of trust sooner than you would with a nanny or daycare teacher. Often, au pairs and host families form a relationship that feels like family. In fact, one host family I work with calls their au pair “the niece they wish they had!” Sharing time and space makes it natural to form close ties. And those close ties help your au pair better care for your little ones!

Are you intrigued? I’d be happy to talk to you and share more information about this childcare option. You can also check out my other blog post written for Beltway Bambinos reader on tips for finding the right au pair to welcome into your home!

Guest Post: Four Tips to Find the Right Au Pair for Your Family

February 12, 2018

Sarah Vogel is a Cultural Care local childcare consultant with Cultural Care Au Pair. In this role, she helps families decide if hosting an au pair the right childcare solution for them and provides year-round support to host families and au pairs in Bethesda and Chevy Chase. Sarah is also the co-founder of DC Baby, an organization that supports new and expecting parents through networking and educational programs. Her most challenging and rewarding role is being a mom of two little ones (ages 3.5 and 19 months).

“What should I do about childcare?”

It’s a question I’ve heard many times personally (as a mom of two) and professionally (as the co-founder of DC Baby). And it’s not always an easy one to answer. From scouring listservs for nanny recommendations to waiting for a coveted spot in a daycare center, finding the right childcare for your family is no simple task. Especially in the DC area, which boasts the highest childcare costs in the country. It’s enough to make even the calmest of parents lose their cool.

There’s one answer to this question that you may want to consider: host an au pair.

Au pairs are 18-26 year old young people from around the world who provide up to 45 hours a week of live-in childcare for American host families. This cultural exchange program is regulated by the U.S. State Department. All au pairs have childcare experience and undergo a multi-step screening and training process before joining their host families.

Hosting an au pair may be right for you if:

You need childcare with flexible hours and schedules (au pairs can work evenings, weekends, and days. Plus, their schedules can shift from week to week).
You’re looking for more affordable childcare options. Au pairs can work up to 45 hours a week for approximately $1,587 a month.
You want to expose your baby to a new language or help your older child become fluent in one that they are learning at school.
You have older kids and need help before and after school.
You’re open to hosting a young person in your home and learning about his or her country and culture.

Are you intrigued? You aren’t alone. Thousands of families decide to welcome an au pair each year. But how do they find the right person? Here are four tips that can help you through this process:

Start early. When people ask me how long it takes to match with an au pair, I tell them: “The more time you have, the better.” Why? Because finding the right au pair to join your family takes time. It’s not a decision you want to make with a looming deadline.Try to give yourself 8-12 weeks to fill out your host family application thoroughly, review different au pair applications, figure out what you do and don’t like, and have interviews with your top candidates.

If you would like an au pair from a particular country (France, for example), make sure you apply at a time when the most candidates from that country are available. In the case of France, many au pairs want to arrive in summer as their academic year ends in June.

Figure out your “must haves” and “dealbreakers.” As you can imagine, finding the right au pair can feel a lot like dating. That’s why I tell potential host families to think about their “must haves” and “dealbreakers” when considering potential au pairs.

Do you need someone who can drive? Or an au pair with experience caring for an infant? Is it ok if your au pair wants to spend lots of time with your family when she’s not working, or do you want someone more independent? Answering these questions before you start the matching process can save you time and avoid selecting an au pair who isn’t the right fit.

Also, think of the values you consider most important in both a childcare provider and a housemate, because your au pair will have both roles. Consider topics like cleanliness, sleep patterns, and diet. They will have an impact and it’s important to address that in advance.

Go with your gut. While au pair applications are thorough, your gut can be your best guide in the matching process.Does an au pair sound good on paper, but was aloof during your interview? Move on.Did you think you wanted an au pair from Germany, but find a candidate from Argentina more attractive? Reach out to her. Because you’ll be living with an au pair, it’s more important to consider how that person makes you feel and not just his or her qualifications or availability.

Ask the right questions. It’s important to interview a potential au pair a few times before finalizing a match not only to learn about their experience, but also to figure out if this is the right person to join your family. I recommend having the first interview be a “getting to know you” conversation to see if it’s a good personality fit. The second interview should focus on his or her childcare experience and related skills and interests. Last, but certainly not least, focus your last conversation on life with your family and how you will take on challenges that you may face living together.

Some questions you may want to ask include:

- What do you like most about working with children? What do you like least?
- What do you love most about children that are (insert your child’s age or children’s ages)?
- Tell me about a time when… Here, you can ask about a challenge your au pair may face with your children (e.g. a baby won’t stop crying or a toddler has a meltdown).
- What is the most important thing I should know about you as a person?

Finding the right childcare is such an important decision, and I’m here to help! Please contact me to discuss if hosting an au pair is the right fit for your family.