Au pair/mothers help

[sleeplessinseatle]

Hi

I'm trying to work out if we could afford part time help after DC2 is born.

How much do Au pairs/mother's helps cost in north west. What duties would they do, and what's the difference?

If anyone has a clue I'd be really grateful

Thanks

What kind of hours and duties are you looking for?

Au pairs live in, are not British and come over expecting more of a cultural exchange. They are sometimes experienced and rarely qualified. They do a bit of childcare and cleaning in exchange for around £70 a week in pocket money plus bed and board.

Mothers helps can live in or out, are sometimes qualifed, usually have a bit of experience and can be older Granny types rather than young people looking to get into nannying. They will do childcare, cleaning, cooking, ironing - whatever you need help with. They may be competent enough to have sole charge of the baby if necessary, an au pair almost certainly won't be. Cost varies but £6 to £10 gross depending on hours and experience, part time pays higher than full time as people often need to fit another job round it.

Seriously, unless you need childcare, I would spend the money on a cleaner. Both the above will clean but to varying standards!

The difference is that if you host an au pair, they are living with you as a member of your family. They should have the opportunity to participate in family activities. They should be helping with before and after school care of children who are usually at an age where they are already attending play-school. They will do a share (not all) of domestic chores (au pairs will usually do the household tasks associated with the children - tidying up after breakfast, doing lunch boxes, sorting out sports kit, keeping kid's rooms tidy, kid's laundry, kid's meals etc).

They would not be expected to be in sole charge of any babies or small toddlers unless you are around most of the day yourself.

As frakkinaround says, Mother's Help can do any of the household chores you want help with. They need to be paid at least the minimum wage if they are not living as a family member.

Depends on what you want, if you want some help with DC1 (depending on how old - shold be attending play group at least) running around, a little cooking of DC1's meals that kind of thing while you focus on DC2 then it might be an AP, but doesn't sound like it.

Others have outlined what a mother help could do, and that may be it.

But I would go with frakkin's suggestion of a cleaner and if the budget is there add in a laundry/ironing service.