Anyone got any au pair experience?

[magooagain]

Can she speak French?

[Driller]

lord trumpton said:

OP, just wanted to ask without sounding like I'm being an arse...

Why would you want someone to help look after your 4 month old child? Is it because you are both busy with work or similar?

Yep, both very busy at work. I never get home earlier than 20.00 (4 days a week) and sometimes it's 21.00. She works shifts (ATCO) so gets quite a lot of days off but can also be away evening and night.

The local creche works 8.00- 18.00 but sometimes we're just not going to be able to take/collect her. No parents/family in the area.

magooagain said:

Can she speak French?

She speaks some French and is very keen to learn so should pick it up quickly. We want the kid to be bilingual hence an English speaking nanny. We looked at Scandinavians for that reason.

[Mashedpotatoes]

So the wife works nights you say.
So just you the 22 year old and a nice bottle of wine..
I think an update in a month would be good

[Tony 1234]

Mashedpotatoes said:

So the wife works nights you say.
So just you the 22 year old and a nice bottle of wine..
I think an update in a month would be good

[sday12]

Driller said:

Au Pair World

"Blocked by ParentSafe" WTF?

[thewildblue]

Ive had one since December to help me look after my 9 yr old son. I leave early in the morning so he cant be left on his own. My au pair is superb and does all the housework etc. She is leaving to go back to Hungary start of May so Ive tasked her to find her replacement....takes all the ballache out of it. Joys of being a single dad.

I need someone I can trust in my house, my son is fine as he wont take any grief from anyone( he gives me enough grief from time to time) so I dont have to worry about that, it more being able to leave them alone in your house all day.

Dont get a fit one, it will lead to temptation...try and get one that doesnt drink as well...removes any potential opportunites...

[Driller]

Nice one, did you have any references for her and how did you find her?

[ILoveMondeo]

Wilmslowboy said:

"Trust her alone with the kid"

Sounds like you needed a nanny not an au pair,

THIS, a million times over if they are to be left alone with the kids for long periods or overnight. Especially babies.

An au pair may be great, or a complete baby shaker.

They may be fantastic with kids, or they may not know which end the food goes in and which end poops.

Qualified Nanny costs a lot more but they will definitely be certified up to their eye balls, know how to care for kids and have criminal and sometimes other background checks and probably even more vetting if via an agency.

Conversely, most "proper" nannies wouldn't be doing your washing and ironing for you (they may do the kids) or cleaning the toilets, they aren't home help and you wont keep one long if you treat them as such.

Based on many conversations with a good friend who has been a full time nanny (mostly live-in with the family) for 15 years.