Comments on: Would you recommend an Au Pair to… http://AuPairMom.com/would-you-recommend-an-au-pair-to/2009/02/05/celiaharquail/ Helping Host Parents and Au Pairs build great relationships. Wed, 23 May 2012 08:31:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: 'sota gal http://AuPairMom.com/would-you-recommend-an-au-pair-to/2009/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-5482 'sota gal Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:50:49 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=666#comment-5482 Wow, I wish I would have read your post sooner. We have 3 yo twins plus a 7 yo and have had an au pair since right after our twins turned 1. It has been a struggle to find au pairs that can handle multiple, as you well know, and we have struggled over the last year with finding the right match at times. It also seems as though our "matching experts" aren't always able to assist in finding quality candidates. After talking to many of them I have learned that most do not have children themselves and I think you have a completely different perspective on applications once you have your own. At one point their best advice was to find a girl who had worked in a day care because they had experience with multiple children...lets just say that didn't work out as she had NEVER taken care of a child in their home and had no idea how to manage her day, even with my rigid routine for the twins. Wow, I wish I would have read your post sooner. We have 3 yo twins plus a 7 yo and have had an au pair since right after our twins turned 1. It has been a struggle to find au pairs that can handle multiple, as you well know, and we have struggled over the last year with finding the right match at times. It also seems as though our “matching experts” aren’t always able to assist in finding quality candidates. After talking to many of them I have learned that most do not have children themselves and I think you have a completely different perspective on applications once you have your own. At one point their best advice was to find a girl who had worked in a day care because they had experience with multiple children…lets just say that didn’t work out as she had NEVER taken care of a child in their home and had no idea how to manage her day, even with my rigid routine for the twins.

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]]> By: Jan http://AuPairMom.com/would-you-recommend-an-au-pair-to/2009/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-5475 Jan Sat, 09 Jan 2010 08:34:25 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=666#comment-5475 Hi Deb, My God baby's mom has just had twins in October and my God baby was a year old in August. Needless to say it is very busy in their home right now. Do you think an au pair would be right for this young family? Could you offer suggestions on finding the right match? Thanks, Jan Hi Deb,

My God baby’s mom has just had twins in October and my God baby was a year old in August. Needless to say it is very busy in their home right now. Do you think an au pair would be right for this young family? Could you offer suggestions on finding the right match?
Thanks,

Jan

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]]> By: NewAP Mom http://AuPairMom.com/would-you-recommend-an-au-pair-to/2009/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-4395 NewAP Mom Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:21:10 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=666#comment-4395 And trust me - new moms of twins DEFINITELY need the sleep. And trust me – new moms of twins DEFINITELY need the sleep.

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]]> By: NewAP Mom http://AuPairMom.com/would-you-recommend-an-au-pair-to/2009/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-4394 NewAP Mom Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:20:21 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=666#comment-4394 Yep, that's absolutely fine. Although twins is already a lot, and if you're overwhelmed, Annabelly, you should probably discuss this with your host mom. Yep, that’s absolutely fine. Although twins is already a lot, and if you’re overwhelmed, Annabelly, you should probably discuss this with your host mom.

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]]> By: Anony http://AuPairMom.com/would-you-recommend-an-au-pair-to/2009/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-4386 Anony Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:12:42 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=666#comment-4386 Actually, the Department of State guidelines say that another parent (or responsible adult) needs to be in the home. That is it. Some agencies even advocate using Au Pairs to assist with nighttime care of newborns. There is no "primarily caring for the infant" and "readily available" in the state deparment regulations. Honestly, I am just as readily available if I am sleeping than if I am in the back yard gardening, in the kitchen cooking or anything else. Actually, the Department of State guidelines say that another parent (or responsible adult) needs to be in the home. That is it. Some agencies even advocate using Au Pairs to assist with nighttime care of newborns. There is no “primarily caring for the infant” and “readily available” in the state deparment regulations. Honestly, I am just as readily available if I am sleeping than if I am in the back yard gardening, in the kitchen cooking or anything else.

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]]> By: AnnaAuPair http://AuPairMom.com/would-you-recommend-an-au-pair-to/2009/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-4385 AnnaAuPair Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:10:27 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=666#comment-4385 As far as I understand it and as my LCC has pointed it out several times: if the AuPair is the one primarily taking care at that moment, meaning the parents or grandparents are not available immediately (which is the fact if they are asleep), then the AuPair is not allowed to take care of an infant under the age of 3 month! So, I would say that your HM can't just leave you alone w/ the baby and go to sleep. A possibility would be that she goes to sleep while the baby is asleep too, but as soon as the baby is awake she has to be present (or at least close) and not somewhere in the house sleeping. As far as I understand it and as my LCC has pointed it out several times: if the AuPair is the one primarily taking care at that moment, meaning the parents or grandparents are not available immediately (which is the fact if they are asleep), then the AuPair is not allowed to take care of an infant under the age of 3 month!
So, I would say that your HM can’t just leave you alone w/ the baby and go to sleep. A possibility would be that she goes to sleep while the baby is asleep too, but as soon as the baby is awake she has to be present (or at least close) and not somewhere in the house sleeping.

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]]> By: Annabelly http://AuPairMom.com/would-you-recommend-an-au-pair-to/2009/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-4382 Annabelly Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:53:43 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=666#comment-4382 Yes, I am with an American Agency and I work in DC. I usually not "alone" at home, but if the mom is taking a nap for a few hours, then (I think) I am taking care of the kids by myself! I might be wrong (?!) Yes, I am with an American Agency and I work in DC.
I usually not “alone” at home, but if the mom is taking a nap for a few hours, then (I think) I am taking care of the kids by myself! I might be wrong (?!)

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]]> By: Anony http://AuPairMom.com/would-you-recommend-an-au-pair-to/2009/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-4378 Anony Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:07:33 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=666#comment-4378 Au pairs can take care of babies less than 3 months old, as long as they are not the only adult in the home. I went back to work when my babe was 2 mos for evening shifts. My AP took care of the baby from 4pm-2am for a while, and my husband had flexible enough scheduling that he could be there the entire time. Anabelly -- are you with an American agency? I get the impression that you may not be in the States. In the U.S. this is fairly highly regulated and your agency should have told you about this. Au pairs can take care of babies less than 3 months old, as long as they are not the only adult in the home. I went back to work when my babe was 2 mos for evening shifts. My AP took care of the baby from 4pm-2am for a while, and my husband had flexible enough scheduling that he could be there the entire time.

Anabelly — are you with an American agency? I get the impression that you may not be in the States. In the U.S. this is fairly highly regulated and your agency should have told you about this.

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]]> By: Annabelly http://AuPairMom.com/would-you-recommend-an-au-pair-to/2009/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-4374 Annabelly Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:03:30 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=666#comment-4374 I just read this and I didn't know Au Pair can NOT take care of babies before 3 months! What happend is the babies (twins) born when I am in my 7 Months? Sometimes I take care of the twins by myself and of the other two kids (4 & 6 years old) AT THE SAME TIME!! And sometimes the twins cry, the kids fight and I want to cry too!! :'( I just read this and I didn’t know Au Pair can NOT take care of babies before 3 months! What happend is the babies (twins) born when I am in my 7 Months? Sometimes I take care of the twins by myself and of the other two kids (4 & 6 years old) AT THE SAME TIME!! And sometimes the twins cry, the kids fight and I want to cry too!! :’(

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]]> By: Lina http://AuPairMom.com/would-you-recommend-an-au-pair-to/2009/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-978 Lina Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:16:24 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=666#comment-978 It´s such a hard question. I want to go as an au pair myself and I´ve been thinking about this quite a lot. I work with children between the ages 1-5 and I "know" these ages. But still, I would need my hostfamily to know that I´m not a mom; Because I haven´t got that experience, I think it´s quite hard to take care of children under the age of 6 months. There are so many signs you have to recognize and understand; As far as I´ve seen these signs get more legible the older the children get. And at the age of about 6 months I think it´s easier to understand the "baby-signs". So I wouldn´t like to care for a child younger than six months. I want to know that I understand and can give him/her what he/she needs. So, if you are interviewing a responsible and mature au pair; she knows her limitations. =) That´s my thoughts around the subject! =) It´s such a hard question. I want to go as an au pair myself and I´ve been thinking about this quite a lot. I work with children between the ages 1-5 and I “know” these ages. But still, I would need my hostfamily to know that I´m not a mom; Because I haven´t got that experience, I think it´s quite hard to take care of children under the age of 6 months. There are so many signs you have to recognize and understand; As far as I´ve seen these signs get more legible the older the children get. And at the age of about 6 months I think it´s easier to understand the “baby-signs”.
So I wouldn´t like to care for a child younger than six months. I want to know that I understand and can give him/her what he/she needs.
So, if you are interviewing a responsible and mature au pair; she knows her limitations. =)

That´s my thoughts around the subject! =)

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