What Is an ‘Aupair’? And How are they Different From Nannies

Originally Published on 16th December 2021

Childcare, nannies, babysitters, you name it. It’s something every family from Australia and anywhere else in the world considers a necessity when they want to make their lives easier. However, the struggle of going through agencies and word-of-mouth that would pair them with individuals that can care for their kids and homes is a bit too much for many.

With that in mind, a system that aims to solve that issue, to some extent, is the ‘Aupair’ system. This naturally begs the question, what is an ‘Aupair’? Is it something you should be considering at all? How is it different from nannies? What kind of responsibilities does an ‘Aupair’ have? Well, if you’re considering a more permanent solution to child care and house sitting, we’ll be answering all those questions, and hopefully, you’ll know when and why an ‘Aupair’ is the right solution for childcare in Australia.

The True ‘Aupair’ Meaning

Even if you were to take a look at the dictionary, you’d find that ‘Aupair’ refers to ‘a young foreign person who helps with housework or childcare, in exchange for food, a room and some pocket money’. And while that’s a rather strict definition, today’s ‘Aupair’ experience is quite close.

Today, an ‘Aupair’ is somewhat of an “exchange student” experience, only the ‘Aupair’ doesn’t have to be a student. They come to your home, usually from abroad, and help you with childcare and household duties. Their goal, apart from helping families, is to get a bit of cultural exchange, learn about the life you live, and improve their English language skills.

What do they get, apart from the cultural exchange and a bit of education? Well, they get a place to live in for the duration of the experience (usually up to a year), as well as a monthly allowance that should be enough for them to be able to travel a bit when they’re done with the family. Most ‘Aupairs’ tend to use a month or two of their time for travels, which is a part of the whole pairing and education experience.  

On the other hand, you get someone that lives in your home, and takes care of your kids, but is a lot more than a caretaker – they’re basically a member of your family. And when it comes to someone watching your kids, having them be close to the family is incredibly important when you add the trust factor into the equation.

The Difference Between ‘Aupair’ and Nanny

Now, something that you should keep in mind is that there’s a difference in the ‘Aupair’ vs Nanny debate. An ‘Aupair’ is not exactly a nanny. Actually, in most cases, they will have little to no training in terms of childcare. This isn’t a written rule and there are definitely exceptions, but you shouldn’t expect someone that has years of experience to show up at your doorstep.

For this reason, it’s usually not recommended that you leave babies who are less than 12 months old alone with the ‘Aupair’, and it is recommended that you spend some time with the ‘Aupair’ and the children before leaving them alone. Again – it’s a matter of establishing trust.

What is an ‘Aupair’ Supposed to Do?

This is arguably the burning question for families that are looking into agencies that offer the ‘Aupair’ experience – what exactly is the ‘Aupair’s role and what are their responsibilities? In most cases, it’s a matter of splitting it between childcare and light household duties. The ‘Aupair’ takes care of the children in the morning and afternoon, and does some light household duties when the children are at school or daycare.

The responsibilities begin in the morning, with the ‘Aupair’ waking up and preparing your children for school (or daycare). They’ll be helping them wake up, wash, and get dressed, and then prepare them breakfast and lunch. They should also help them make their bed and keep their room clean, which are all things children should be doing on their own but sometimes need a bit of motivation for. It is also an ‘Aupair’s responsibility, if possible, to take your children to a school or a daycare.

While the children are there, the ‘Aupairs’ usually do child-related household duties such as removing the children’s dishes from the table. These are all easy, simple tasks that keep the home clean and let you do your daily tasks and errands.

It is also the ‘Aupair’s responsibility to pick up the children when they’re done with school or daycare and prepare them an afternoon snack. We’re well aware that some families have after-school activities for their kids, so the ‘Aupairs’ usually take them there and pick them up afterwards too. And of course, they help your children with homework when they’re back home.

Last but not least, they prepare your children for bed at the end of the day. If you’re a parent, you’ll feel comfortable knowing that your kids and your home are being taken care of, and you don’t have to worry about a thing.

An ‘Aupair’ Is Not a Be All End All Solution

The goal of an ‘Aupair’ experience is a cultural exchange, not families getting caretakers for their children from agencies. As a family that has an ‘Aupair’ living at home, it is your responsibility to make them feel welcome, make them feel like a part of the family, and make sure they get to experience your life as you live it. It should be a learning experience for both you and them – that’s the definition of what is an ‘Aupair’. At the end of the day, if you’d like to give someone the opportunity to live in your home and care for it and your children, having an ‘Aupair’ is arguably the best way to do so. You won’t find the flexibility of being able to go to work and know that your child is being taken care of with other arrangements. Contact us today so we can find the perfect ‘Aupair’ for you!