Au pairs and sahms

[deliakate]

Are au pairs less attracted to positions where the mum will be at home with them all day? Was reading an article that suggested it was so, but I'm wondering if there is any truth in it - what do people here think???

Imagine the au pair will be out for at least some of the day with language courses?

Think it depends on age of children, au pairs cannot (or maybe shouldn't?) have sole charge of under 3s.

I guess im wondering why a sahm would need an au pair?

I don't know tbh. I think they would be less fussed than a nanny and often do muck in more when parents are around with tea/bath/bed or the morning routine.

It depends partly why they're needed - possibly for lots of children who need to be 5 places at once or where the father works away a lot. AP+SAHM isn't uncommon in Forces families.

The danger, and tge reason it's not often the preferred choice, is with a SAHM working hours can be very loosely defined and rather than, say, 7.30-9.30 to do school run and a bit of cleaning then 3-6 to do pickup you might end up one day 9-2, the next 2 hours here, 2 there etc.