Has anyone had an au pair couple?

[ScaredySquirrel]

I'm looking for an au pair, and a couple has replied to my ad.

I am considering it and wondered if anyone had any experience of this? for us, it may be ideal, because I am looking for 2 childcarers anyway - one childminder for the baby and one au pair for the older children.

i wouldnt. I think its very strange

I don't think it's strange but I think it works better where there's a measure of independence eg separate accommodation and clearly defined jobs eg one does childcare and shopping and the other does cleaning and gardening. That said I did have an application from a sweet pair of twins who wanted to au pair but wanted to stay together, although I personally found that a bit clingy and worried how well they'd cope, and that would have worked without the separate accommodation.

An au pair shouldn't replace a professional CM/childcarer for the baby because they are unlikely to be experienced or qualified enough to provide that level of care and it would leave little time for English classes. Also if you have a couple in a relationship they may be more interested in each other than the baby!

Usually where a couple au pairs together one is doing childcare and the other is more of a cleaner/handyman (or person!). I don't think you are likely to find a couple where one will be an au pair and the other will have sufficient experience to look after a baby with the higher level of care which that requires. From a practical level, I would struggle with having one extra person in my house long-term, never mind two!

Would you be comfortable with another adult couple living in the house, sharing bathroom with your children, eating with you everyday, inviting their friends to watch films in their bedroom, etc... This is what most aupairs do. You would have this, but twice.