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Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

How much space does an AP need? Double bedroom, own bathroom?

33 replies

Feierabend · 18/02/2010 08:43

I've been wondering about getting an au pair when DD1 starts school, as I don't want her to go to after school club when she's still that little and not keen on childminders either. We're currently trying to buy a bigger house. If we are going to have an au pair, how big does the house need to be? Will she need her own bathroom, for example, or can she share our family bathroom? Will she be happy with a single bedroom or does it have to be a double? Ideally of course she'd be on her own floor (e.g. converted loft) but our budget won't stretch to a 4 bed house. What does everyone think?

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Lifeinagoldfishbowl · 18/02/2010 10:32

I have a double sized bedroom and share the family bathroom - there is only 1 bathroom.

madcows · 18/02/2010 10:32

Our au pair has a single room (with space for single bed, small desk and wardrobe only), and shares the bathroom that the kids use. That seems to be fine with her. Putting a laptop in there was probably the best thing we did.

Re bilingualism. We tried to find someone willing to speak Dutch, but found it much harder to recruit. Mainly because they are coming here to improve their English! Once we took out of our ad the fact that we wanted them to speak Dutch to the kids, we had a lot more interest (this was on au pair world). In the end we got a Dutch speaker (only fair as dh speaks only dutch to the kids), but she rarely speaks to them in Dutch. (But at least she can read all their story books and watch DVDs together!)
hope this helps.
madcows

Original poster
Feierabend · 18/02/2010 10:28

Thanks Harriet!

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HarrietTheSpy · 18/02/2010 10:14

If you want the language component, it's a good option.

Re the space - a great location could make up for this in principle too. Hopefully others will come along with more thoughts.

Original poster
Feierabend · 18/02/2010 09:01

Not keen on CM because I'd prefer dd1 to be in her own home after school. dd2 goes to a lovely nursery so I'd like to keep her there rather than change to CM. And, I'd get a German au pair to help the dds learn German - they are growing up bilingually but dd1 refuses to speak German with me!

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HarrietTheSpy · 18/02/2010 08:51

Sorry was that clear? Most of her friends' families do have two bathrooms and don't share with the AP.

HarrietTheSpy · 18/02/2010 08:50

Our AP has the loft space in our house with her own bathroom. Most of her friends have access to another bathroom apart from the family uses for morning, evening routine, i.e. a downstairs shower room with loo or their own bathroom. Although some of their rooms are "very small" accd to our au pair.

I think it's a question for you as much as the AP. I wouldn't have done it in our old place which had three beds, one bath, and one main living room as you would really be on top of each other. But if you don't mind the idea of spending lots of your time at home potentially with the AP (and THEY don't mind either - think about if they had friends round in the evening where they could socialise) then it might well be fine.

Why aren't you keen on a CM? It wouldn't have worked for us because of my work schedule but if I could find one that would accommodate that, both my kids for part of the time, and was nearer (all big ifs) I would definitely consider it over an AP.

Original poster
Feierabend · 18/02/2010 08:45

Oh, also, can au pairs drive to pick children up from school or would it be better to be within walking distance from the school?

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