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Kristen Commons
Citizen
Username: Uncommon
Post Number: 3
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, April 2, 2006 - 11:32 pm: | 
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We have an 18 month-old and are expecting twins in July - I am a stay-at-home mom. We've reviewed several Au Pair programs and understand we will need someone who is qualified for infant care. Has anyone been in a similar situation and can provide some insight on how "qualified" these Au Pairs really are? Additionally, any pros/cons for specific Au Pair programs would be greatly appreciated.
I have reviewed all previous threads on the subject and would appreciate any feedback. Many thanks. |
AlisonS
Citizen
Username: Alisons
Post Number: 86
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 7:53 am: |
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Hi Kristen -
I'm on my second Au Pair and have some info that I'd be happy to share with you. I don't have a ton of time to post today so if you want to PL me we can chat on the phone.
I've used two different agencys. Had a problem with the first one then switched. To me in terms of the most important thing that you want to look at with the agency is the quantity of Au Pairs that they place in your town. The girls want to have a good time and if they are able to have a lot of friends here it makes a difference.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Alison |
SOSully
Citizen
Username: Sullymw
Post Number: 1208
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 9:11 am: |
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I believe the infant qualification is just a minimum amount of infant care experience. No specific training. No qualification test. Which means it's a bunch of hooey. Our experience has been that au pairs are coached on what to put in their applications (you will start to see a pattern of how questions are answered and information presented), so your interviews with them are extremely important. I'm not trying to paint a negative light on this because we love our au pair, but we have seen many other families burned by putting more faith in the application than in their own "sixth sense" about the person after interviews.
We have used 2 different agencies and I have to say they are not the most well-run businesses, but they seem to care about the girls and for the most part their transition to/from their home countries is pretty smooth. We are currently using Cultural Care.
My advice to you...ask a million questions and lay out your rules upfront. We had one girl who looked GREAT on paper, but she was flabbergasted that we were not going to allow her to drive our car into the city every weekend to go to clubs. She didn't know if she could deal with that. Well sweety...if that is your priority and your only concern (she didn't ask about the kids), we'll pass. Another girl told us she wouldn't be available for babysitting on the weekends because she'd be driving to South NJ. Oh really? With our car? Very often au pairs have friends or even boyfriends in the same area and that is their motivation for coming. Be sure that they are actually interested in being an au pair....not just here to party.
There are many, many excellent au pairs. Be picky, don't compromise. Good luck |
David Victor
Citizen
Username: Davidv
Post Number: 12
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 3:29 pm: |
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They are young, wild and usually get knocked up-----I would get an older Phillipino or Polish woman, or a woman from one of the Islands. |
shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 1205
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 8:55 pm: |
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We had an au pair from the time our daughter was seven months old until she was 19 months old. It was a great experience, and we had a wonderful, qualified au pair. You'd be surprised at how many girls from overseas have extensive experience with babies. Unlike here in the US, many of the girls come from large extended families where the older ones take care of the younger ones. Or they take care of a neighbor's baby. True, as the poster above says, they don't take a 'qualification test.' But neither did I to become a parent. They do get some training from the organization when they arrive. But the most important training they will get is from you. And since you are an at-home mom, you will be there to supervise. I think having an au pair in your situation is ideal. It's an extra pair of hands, and the scheduling is very flexible. Feel free to PL me. |
akb
Citizen
Username: Akb
Post Number: 403
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - 10:51 am: |
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We had an infant qualified au apair who was a pediatric neonotal nurse in her native country and we had one who had been a babysitter for a friend and really should not have been qualified as such. Because my husband works from home much of the time, we were in the same position as you are - needing an extra pair of hands/childminding rather than full-time nannying. When au pairs work out, it works really well. When they don't ... well, it sucks. We've had both scenarios. (The 2 mentioned above worked out well.) The pay is, of course, far less than a live out nanny, but in exchange you have to accomodate her in your house, insure her for a car, pay some school costs etc.
I agree - trust your gut instincts. The one who did not work out for us we picked in a rush and both had qualms. Listen to your inner voice.
We use Interexchange, by the way. |
commons
Citizen
Username: Uncommon
Post Number: 4
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - 12:43 pm: |
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Thank you all for the (mostly, ahem . . .) consistent feedback. It sounds like we need to do our homework and really delve into the interviews. Interview tips are great! Right now we are looking closely at Cultural Care as we recently moved from Maplewood to the mainline area in Philly. The local coordinator has been extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Additionally, they have about 33 Au Pairs in very close proximity to us. Interexchange and Au Pair in America are also on the list. We have a lot of work ahead -- especially finding someone who WANTS to look after all our babies. |
SOSully
Citizen
Username: Sullymw
Post Number: 1218
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - 1:00 pm: |
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best of luck to you |
pfmfmfaf
Citizen
Username: Pfmfmfaf
Post Number: 61
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - 9:03 pm: |
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We've had 16 (yes, that's right, 16) au pairs starting when our first child was 8 weeks old. It's generally been a great experience (with only two exceptions) and we've been fortunate enough to have worked with very good community coordinators. Since the regulations (and the fees) are essentially the same for all the agencies, I suggest going with an organization where the coordinator is truly local and the au pairs don't live too far from one another. Our current coordinator is in Westfield, and most of the au pairs live in the Westfield/Berkeley Heights direction, hence, our au pair must drive quite a distance for meetings, etc. We've been with InterExchange, but I know families who've used Culture Care, too. Please feel free to PL me if you have any questions. |
Amateur Night
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 1814
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 1:44 pm: |
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I'm on my second au pair and wanted to point to another difference between companies: the selection process. I started with au pair in America and was very frustrated by how long it took to get applicants, how few they give you at a time, and the process of allowing multiple families to compete for the same applicant. Our second year, I switched to Au Pair care, with a coordinator right here in SO -- they give oyu access to their entire database, and you "reserve" applicants for a period of time so you can she can make the decision without a lot of competition. This worked much better for me. We got great au pairs each time, but theprocess was so much easier the second time around. Au PairCare has great info on their site about interviewing, as well: www.aupaircare.com.
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SOSully
Citizen
Username: Sullymw
Post Number: 1220
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 2:38 pm: |
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Cultural Care is also VERY slow in giving applicants. They give you a deadline and then they don't come thru with applicants, especially if you turn down the first one. Frustrating |
Mtam
Citizen
Username: Mtam
Post Number: 81
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 10:58 pm: |
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I didn't find that with Cultural Care at all. That's the agency we are using now and thus far we have found them more selective. I also like that I'm not competing with other families for an applicant--who needs that stress and pressure? That's one of the reasons I left Au Pair in America. I do not think it is a very monitored agency, it's too big, and if something goes wrong and you have to do a placement in-country, it's a nightmare. I felt they and the local coordinator were more interested in making sure the girls had a great time, and finding them another placement, than in really enforcing rules and propriety. Other friends have had a great experience with them, but I have been much happier with the smaller agencies--it feels more controlled. I also believe Cultural Care has a smaller percentage of applicants who actually make it through. |
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