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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

Have you taken au pair on holiday? How did it work out?

12 replies

monkeypuzzeltree · 21/02/2015 22:52

We are just planning summer holiday, planning on going for two weeks. I was thinking of bringing au pair, paying her as usual and covering travel costs. Slight concern that if we rent a house in the middle of no where as we usually do that she will be bored. Having said that will also be plenty of time to herself, she currently does 35 hours a week for us. But in reality wouldn't be 35 hours of her with kids on her own, just an extra pair of hands and maybe a few nights babysitting. Has anyone had good/bad experiences of this? .

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fluffymouse · 21/02/2015 23:39

We did, it was more to give her a treat than anything else (we offered her the choice of a paid break or to come on holiday with us).

She helped out around the holiday cottage a little and did one evening of babysitting but had lots of free time.

SoonToBeSix · 21/02/2015 23:40

Your au pair does 35 hours!

Original poster

monkeypuzzeltree · 22/02/2015 00:09

35 hours - yes, basically before and after school and a morning for my youngest on the day he doesn't go to nursery. Doesn't often tot up to the full 35, if it does it's because she's babysat one night. I wanted 35 hours as I have my own business and some weeks I might need 35. I pay 100 a week, she has a car, phone, and I pay for college course - language.

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Messygirl · 22/02/2015 00:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Yerazig · 22/02/2015 09:43

I personally think for 35 hrs you should be paying a bit more then £100 a week but anyways if you explain very clearly if it's very remote not much to do to her and see her reaction. And also make it clear what hours you may need Her to do and any extra hrs to paid in top. Personally that would be my idea of a nightmare being on holiday in the middle of no where but each to their own, and it may be something shes interested in.

OddFodd · 22/02/2015 09:49

I would ask her if she wants to go but make it very clear that she's able to refuse. I think it's sounds horrendous personally but she may like the idea.

A lot of villas offer a babysitting service - perhaps you could look into that as an alternative?

MrsNuckyThompson · 22/02/2015 09:54

And surely you'll have to pay her a bit more than the usual? Because she's essentially giving up two weeks of her evenings and weekends!

Original poster

monkeypuzzeltree · 22/02/2015 15:40

It's not compulsory for her to come, of course she can say no!
£100 is over the rate in my area, majority pay £80 for 30 hours. We take our babysitting out of those hours, not on top as many do and I don't expect her to clean, cleanerdoes that. She pitches in with manning the washing machine and ironing kids clothes but it's really not a bad deal - I don't know why people are always surprised at how cheap an au pair is.

Fair point should we pay more since she loses her social time, hadn't looked at it that way. When I say the middle of no where, it will be a house with a pool in the French countryside.

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OVienna · 22/02/2015 22:07

I don't think you have to pay more at all if she is joining in with all the family activities as a group. If she is more like a babysitter and you need her to have quite a bit of time on her own with the kids while u and DH relax I would.

OutragedFromLeeds · 22/02/2015 22:19

You'd only need to pay her more if you were insisting that she come i.e. forcing her to give up her evenings/weekends at home.

If it's optional and she'll be working less than her normal 35 hours then there is no need to pay her extra. In that scenario she is choosing to spend her weekends/evenings/free time in France instead of your normal location.

You will obviously need to cover her food and living expenses as normal though.

I think it's a lovely offer. I assume you get on well generally, so shouldn't be too different on holiday.

Do make it clear in advance what sort of holiday it is, what hours/days you'll need her to work etc.

PrintScreen · 23/02/2015 06:57

We wool our last au pair away for a week. We were v clear it was optional and also that she's need to help a little (which I knew she would if anyway as it was her nature).

It worked fine but DH and I got little time alone as obviously she ate with us, stayed up late with us etc. In London she had friends and was out a lot, not so on holiday. luckily we all got on v well but I missed time alone with DH and would think carefully before doing it again.

Cantdecideondinner · 26/02/2015 22:32

We did it once. We were away for 2 weeks and she came out for a week in the middle. Youngest was at a nightmare age and needed co stant supervision. She worked her normal 25 hours and babysat so that we got a few nights out on our own or with our older children without an overtired screaming 1 year old who refused to sleep in the buggy and just wanted to throw food. It worked well, we paid her a little above her £120 a week but I wouldn't have done it again.

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