Would you have an au pair look after a baby under 1?

[agnesrose86]

We had a brilliant au pair until I started maternity leave at Christmas. We are now considering our options for when I go back to work in September. Our new baby will be 9 months and we also have two other children (5 and 3). Our older children will be at school/pre-school from 9-3.30 on our working days so the majority of the childcare will be the baby. Do you think an au pair would be too young/inexperienced to be left with a baby all day?

There are some nannies who begin their careers as au pairs and then at some point they decide they want to do nannying work (ie more hours, more permanent, younger DC) and they have enough experience to start looking at nannying type jobs.

Sometimes they call themselves nannies and sometimes they call themselves au pairs - they could be suitable whichever title they choose, you have to look at the individual's experience. As long as you make sure the person you choose has appropriate experience, and you are paying a proper nanny wage for a nanny job then it doesn't really matter what they call themselves.

I can't work out what hours you actually need childcare for given your DCs different ages and you say you and DH work part time?

I wouldn't if I were out the house and not on hand tbh. I have used an au pair for a just under 1 as wraparound care and an extra pair of hands but I don't think many would cope with full sole charge. They make mistakes - sometimes little and insignificant but sometimes much more serious. It's a lot of pressure for a teen/very young adult too. Plus sole charge during the day makes it difficult to go to English classes which is why most come.

They may prove themselves capable but it's not a solution to rely on.