Comparing Au Pairs and Nannys
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A nanny is a general term that refers to a child-care provider who works in your home, and who works solely for you. A nanny may either live with you (a “live-in” nanny) or may live in her own home and travel to your home to work (a “live-out” nanny). Nannies will have diverse qualifications; some will have quite a bit of childcare experience, some will not; some will have professional training and be certified by an independent organization, while others will not. Nannies may come from another country, and some people have hired nannies illegally from other countries. As your nanny’s sole employer, you are responsible for following all employment laws and regulations, as well as paying employment-related taxes.
An au pair is a foreign national, typically between the ages of 18 and 29, that comes to work another country on a specific type of work visa. An au pair provides childcare for a family in exchange for a small salary, as well as room and board. In the United States, An au pair must be provided with a private bedroom, meals, a wage that will increase if the minimum wage increases, one full weekend off each month, and two weeks of paid vacations. In addition, Au Pairs typically are required to participate in some sort of post-secondary or college-level academic work while they are here. You are required to pay the first $500 toward required academic coursework.
Au pairs and nannies of all types provide certain benefits over other forms of child care that are available to you. With a nanny or au pair, if your child is ill, you still have childcare. Also, your day will start and end when you want it to, not when a childcare provider decides to open its doors. In addition, your child will be cared for in a familiar setting, and you can work with your nanny to tailor your childcare to your child’s needs. On the other hand, Au Pairs and nannies can be much more expensive when compared with the other childcare options.
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