Where to start looking for an au pair or mother's help?

[Apparentlychilled]

Hey there
I think we need an au pair, but I don't know where to start looking. We live in Yorkshire and have DD 4.5 starting reception next week and DS nearly 2, staring 3 schoolday- length days at nursery next week too. DC3 is due in January.
Are websites like childcare.co.uk or findababysitter the way forward?
TIA

Do you want someone living at your home, who is there to experience life with a family in Great Britain, practice their english skills and in return do some housework and entertaining children?

Or do you want someone local who comes to help out with housework and/or childcare?

The roles are different and depending which you want changes the starting point. Not sure how many au-pairs would want to come to Yorkshire, many seem to want to be in large city esp London. Maybe you would find someone who didn't want to be in London - aupairworld is a site to start on looking for an au-pair. Search on here for tips from parents who have used aupairworld so you know what to put in ad and how to narrow down applicants to those who do really want to be where you are located.

Someone live out, local... Advertise locally.

I don't mind if someone lives here (an the children possibly learning a diff language from him or her would be a bonus). I really want an extra pair of hands to help at either ends of the day and in particular w teatime, bath time and bedtime, esp once DC3 arrived.

I appreciate that neither can be left w small DC unattended (I think it's under 2 for an AP, right?), so it's really just to help out.

I appreciate that some may prefer London but I guess there must be APs who are interested in exploring the rest of the UK.

Would a mother's help really want what is effectively a job working a split shift?

Bump. Anyone else able to comment on whether an AP or mother's help might be more appropriate for us?

Hi.
If you choose your ap well then they are great. My so does look after my under 2 year old. In fact my ap's have done a far better job at it than the trained nanny we recruited initially! No preconceptions about you shouldn't do x y or z.. My bubba has his bum changed more than I do it! Is carried everywhere by ap! I have older neighbours who are at home during the day so there's always someone to get help from should they need it! Ultimately the childcare you choose ... Is just that... Your choice. I only work 2 shifts a week but day care just wouldn't work. Having an ap is great.
As for location. We moved from north yorks 7 years ago to Brisbane, but e are put in the country here too on acreage .. Never had a problem getting an ap. lots of people don't want London! Leeds York middles borough Newcastle depending where you are also have a great buzz fur younger ones!
I use only German aps as I find they work and fit in well for us! Have had sweedish and Danish and english girls before.
I recruit through au pair world. Our first nanny came through a uk agency who then replaced her with an ap. wouldn't use an agency ever again! Very expensive and yes.. Didn't work well for us!