Au Pair in America

If you’ve recently moved or had a life transition and are trying to figure out childcare, you’ve probably realized—it’s not always easy.

Between waitlists, limited hours, cost, and trying to make everything line up with work schedules, it can feel overwhelming… especially when you’re in a new phase of life and don’t have a support system yet.

One option I always like to make sure families at least know about is hosting an au pair.

An au pair is a young adult (18–26) from another country who lives with your family and provides childcare through a U.S. Department of State–regulated cultural exchange program.

What makes it different from traditional childcare:
• Care happens in your home, on your schedule which means they can help with laundry, meals and transporting back and forth to activities
• Help with before/after school, evenings, and busy transitions
• One weekly cost per family (not per child)
• A built-in cultural exchange experience for your kids

It’s not the right fit for every household, but for families with multiple kids, non-traditional schedules, or just a need for more flexibility, it can be a really strong option.

I work locally with families who are exploring this or already hosting, so if you’re new to the area and trying to figure out what childcare could look like, feel free to reach out. Even if you just have questions, I’m happy to help.

Getting settled is enough—childcare shouldn’t make it harder.