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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

German Mothers Help/Au Pair

25 replies

HowsTheSerenity · 14/10/2010 09:17

I am leaving my family in December and have suggested that they get a mother help or aupair rather then a full time nanny to replace me (DC are all older now).

However, I am having trouble finding an agency that has older applicants. As the eldest child is 16 an 18 year old au pair is not acceptable. What I need is someone 25 plus who speaks fluent German and is happy to work 5/6 hours a day.

Any ideas or recommendations (apart from NJ and gumtree which I will put an ad in soon)?

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frakkinstein · 14/10/2010 10:00

If they're willing to use an agency try Felicity nannies, based in Germany.

Otherwise can you ask around the German expat population if anyone knows of a German graduate wanting to come over to improve their English?

Or aupairworld etc I think you can screen by age.

Original poster

HowsTheSerenity · 14/10/2010 10:06

Frakk - thanks. I was thinking a uni student who wants to improve their English. I have worked with uni students before who did a gap year in a school. I wonder if the zivvies would do it??

I will look at the agency. I have asked around at school but no one knows anyone of the appropriate age.

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frakkinstein · 14/10/2010 10:09

I think at 25 they're unlikely to still be at Uni

Someone who wants to go on to be a teacher?

Is there a German equivalent of the French magazine, ici londres?

Original poster

HowsTheSerenity · 14/10/2010 10:21

If there are no agencies I may just have to put an ad up in the elterncafe at school.
Arrgh this is frustrating!

OP posts:

frakkinstein · 14/10/2010 10:29

Have you tried all the 'bilingual' agencies?

Little ones, royal, pearl all say they're specialised bilingual ones.

Wellington - new agency - is run by a German lady.

Original poster

HowsTheSerenity · 14/10/2010 10:31

Ooh no have not used a few of those. Frakk you are a wealth of knowledge!!
This would be much easier if it was not for the German bit.

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frakkinstein · 14/10/2010 10:37

Also deutsche-in-London.net is worth a shot.

frakkinstein · 14/10/2010 10:39

I've replaced myself before now!

Plus I registered with a few of them. Admittedly my knowledge of German/German speaking nannies is weaker than my French but the principles are the same. And I'm bloody good at finding nannies (I'm practising )...

frakkinstein · 14/10/2010 10:44

Ooooh and greataupair you can screen by language and ages are on the profile.

Strix · 14/10/2010 10:49

I would go to greataupair.com and search for german who are in teacher training. I currently have one such girl. Sheis great. Her English most certainly is not in need of improvement. And she has several friends over here in the UK with whom she went to school. So I gather coming to England whilst you wait for your placement is the done thing.

I would put an ad up at a German Uni or wherever they train to become teachers. Although, you might get someone who is a bit less than 25. I think mine is around 23.

On another point you have scared me... do 16 year olds require au pairs? yikes. Mine are moving at at 15 to get jobs and pay me back for all my years of nanny expenses.

frakkinstein · 14/10/2010 10:54

Strix the eldest is 16! I had an au pair around till I was 18, being the eldest, because my ickle brudder still needed someone to make sure he came home from school and did his homework (and he wasn't going to do that for me!). I imagine the youngest is still definitely in need of someone to look after them but given that the eldest is 16 someone who's only a couple of years older wouldn't cut it.

My parents still have them to do the housekeeping

The mind boggles at what the 16 year old would be needing an AP to do.

I think children can be left fairly safely after year 7. Y7 they still need a certain amount of prodding to do things.

Original poster

HowsTheSerenity · 14/10/2010 11:10

The 16 year old boy still needs someone to drive him to rowing, yell at him to do his chores etc. He would not listen to an 18 year old. WOuld not want an 18 year old girl anyway in that situation.
The other kids are 8, 11 and 14. Parents work full time. I guess it is more aupair plus, mother help role.

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Original poster

HowsTheSerenity · 14/10/2010 11:12

More check that they are doing homework, make dinner, do the laundry, clean the kids bathrooms and give their rooms a vacuum etc, do school runs, drive them to activities.

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Strix · 14/10/2010 11:43

Oh jeez... that totally makes sense. I am in this for so much longer than I ever imagined...

Agree you wouldn't want an 18 year old. I think I'd look at older person who could also do a bit of housekeeping.

HarrietTheSpook · 14/10/2010 12:56

A 16 year old would need the 19 year old to buy the booze and go out clubbing with, that's what.

Libra · 14/10/2010 14:44

I may be wrong, but I have gained the impression that now is a good time to look for German would-be students who have failed to get into university and are now looking for something to do in a gap year that will look good for next year's application.

That is how we got our own wonderful German au pair a few years ago. She was 20 at the time. She returned to Germany and a university place the following autumn.

Strix · 14/10/2010 14:51

Oh, that's very cunnin gLibra. So, get them while they are down, eh? This isn't the one who appears on google maps with her happy positive smiling face by any chance?

frakkinstein · 14/10/2010 16:50

Damn... I so should have thought of that when I was 15/16!

Libra · 14/10/2010 18:56

Strix that is another (hmm less happy) non-German au pair.

Who is apparently enjoying her life after us just as much as we are enjoying life after her!!

Beckyboo4 · 15/10/2010 12:58

I have got my last 2 German aupairs from Aupairworld and they have both been 23. You could try there :)

Original poster

HowsTheSerenity · 15/10/2010 22:05

Thanks to everyone for the tips. I told the kids today that I was leaving. Lots of tears but I stuffed them with junk food to counteract it
Will lets the bosses know.

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blueshoes · 15/10/2010 22:49

As Becky says, Aupairworld is good for German aupairs. The website is based in Germany, not that it means much. You can get older ones.

Strix · 18/10/2010 19:45

Au Pair World is indisputably the rudest website I have ever used for finding au pairs / nannies. They almost put me off hiring a German because I thought she might be like them. Fortunately she is much nicer than they are and I have no regrets.

eastgirl · 31/10/2010 21:37

Hi HowsTheSerenity! Have you found a mother's help yet? I know a lady who speaks very good German. She just arrived to London and looking for a job, but December sounds good. I saw you were looking for someone older...well she is 55. You think she is too old? She definately has got a lot of experience with kids, she has three. She had been a housewife for almost 12 years. She would be happy to do the cleaning as well. The only problem is that she just started to learn English. I know it doesn't sound good, but she is hard worker and loves kids. Think about it!

Original poster

HowsTheSerenity · 01/11/2010 12:01

Hi eastgirl

I know my boss has seen a few she likes. The English is a vital part of the job though. Frustrating I know but there is a lot of organising and scheduling to do re kids activities.

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