Maternity Leave and Au Pairs

Host moms who are bringing in an infant qualified Au Pair can feel good about the 200+ hours of infant care they already have, but handing off the baby to go back to work is still complicated.  I’ve talked to a few moms who have worked to keep the transition as smooth as possible.
 
One of the mothers I recently spoke to said she likes younger Au Pairs because they have fewer opinions on how to raise kids. Her previous childcare provider was an older nanny from the US more set in her ways. The host mom started looking for an Au Pair to help with her twins and baby on the way, because she was tired of fighting with the nanny over how to work with her kids. She says her Au Pairs have been more willing to accept the parenting methods she prefers.  
 
Another host mom I talked to made sure that she and her Au Pair were on the same page by writing down her childcare philosophies into an extensive handout for the Au Pair to reference. She also had the Au Pair keep a daily behavior log of the baby’s naps and moods to help instruct the Au Pair how best to adjust to the needs of a growing baby.
 
Finally, all of the host moms I’ve talked to about transitioning back to work after having a baby, brought their Au Pairs in weeks, or even a months, before they returned to work. This is a good idea because the Au Pair can get to know the baby’s disposition, help the Host Mom during the newborn phase, and make sure that both of their childcare philosophies align.   


Posted: 2/28/2013 8:00:00 AM by Summer Blackhurst