When you become a parent for the first time, everything feels new. You’re learning how to care for a baby while figuring out how to function on very little sleep, and even the smallest decision feels big and incredibly important.
By the time a second or third child is on the way, you’ve got more experience and a better sense of what’s ahead, but that doesn’t necessarily make things easier. Caring for an older child while preparing for a newborn can be a lot. There’s more to juggle, more emotions in play, and fewer quiet moments to catch your breath.
The good news is that having steady, hands-on help at home can take a huge weight off. Hosting an Au Pair gives expecting parents reliable support during a time when routines change, emotions run high, and everyone’s needs multiply. So, if you’re about to add a new member to your crew, keep reading to discover how an Au Pair can help you prepare before the baby arrives, support you through those early postpartum weeks, and bring a sense of balance to your evolving family life.
Why “Expecting Parents” Need Extra Help
The last few weeks of pregnancy come with a unique mix of excitement, discomfort, and nonstop logistics. You’re prepping the nursery, juggling appointments, feeling extra heavy and fatigued, and still trying to show up for your older child.
Even if you’ve done it before, having some help around can mean the difference between barely getting through the day and actually feeling supported in it. An Au Pair can step in to help with the day-to-day, playing with your toddler while you rest, helping prepare meals, or keeping routines consistent when your energy is low.
With an extra set of hands already in place before the baby arrives, you can focus more on bonding and recovering, instead of scrambling to meet everyone’s needs at once. And because Au Pairs live in your home, they’re available during the moments that matter most, like early mornings, late-night wake-ups, and everything in between.
Beyond Traditional Childcare
One of the things that makes Au Pairs so helpful is that they aren’t babysitters who clock in and out. They’re live-in caregivers who become part of your routine and home life, which is especially helpful during times of transition. Infant-qualified Au Pairs have at least 200 hours of documented experience caring for babies under two, so they’re equipped to help with feedings, diapers, naps, and soothing, all while keeping your older child engaged and cared for.
Unlike daycare, there’s no drop-off stress or limited hours. And unlike most nannies or part-time helpers, Au Pairs can lend a hand to the entire family, not just the newborn. Compared to leaning on relatives or friends, this arrangement gives you a lot more consistency, less pressure, and a sense of ease during a time that doesn’t always feel easy.
Preparing Your Home for Baby with Au Pair Support
Getting ready for a new baby means handling a lot of moving parts, especially when it comes to preparing your home. Hosting an Au Pair gives you an extra set of hands for the everyday prep that can feel like too much to manage when you already have a child whose needs also have to be met.
Here are some things an Au Pair can help expecting parents with:
Stock the Nursery & Infant Supplies
From diapers to bottles, there’s a long list of essentials to gather before the baby arrives. An Au Pair can help by:
- Unpacking deliveries and checking items off your list
- Organizing drawers by size, season, or category
- Labeling baby clothes or bottles for easier access later
Having the help of an Au Pair during this phase makes it easier to stay ahead of the curve without feeling rushed or exhausted.
Baby-Proofing and Safety Setup
Before the baby’s first night at home, there’s furniture to assemble and safety to double-check. With direction from the Host Family and guidance from professionals, an Au Pair can:
- Help set up the crib, bassinet, and changing area
- Install outlet covers and organize baby-safe zones
- Assist with creating toddler-safe play areas nearby
Even small tasks feel easier with support. With help from an Au Pair, your family can approach this period with a little less stress and a lot more peace of mind.
Training and Routines Before Baby Arrives
The weeks leading up to birth are the perfect time to get everyone on the same page. With some planning, your Au Pair can feel ready to support your growing family from day one. Here are a few tips to help them step into their role with confidence:
Family Handbook & Communication Strategies
Clear guidelines help everyone know their role, especially once the baby is home. Use this time to:
- Outline infant care preferences, house rules, and daily expectations
- Walk through emergency contacts and safety plans
- Set up a system for check-ins, updates, and shared notes
This helps reduce guesswork and makes the transition easier for everyone.
Introducing Schedules & Role‑Playing
Even if the baby’s not here yet, practicing routines now can help you build trust and a flow with your Au Pair. Together you can:
- Review the expected daily flow, including wakeups, naps, meals, and quiet time
- Demonstrate diaper changes, bottle prep, safe sleep setup, and soothing methods
- Walk through common “what if” situations so your Au Pair feels ready to handle them confidently
These early touchpoints give your Au Pair a clear sense of their role and allow your older child to adjust to the changes ahead.
Postpartum Support — Early Weeks
The first few weeks after birth can be a blur. Between healing your body, feeding around the clock, and adjusting to a whole new person, it’s easy to feel stretched thin. Your Au Pair can be a great ally during this period by providing:
Hands‑On Infant Care from Day One
Infant-qualified Au Pairs come with hundreds of hours of experience with babies, which means they can jump in even during the newborn phase. They can help with:
- Bottle preparation and sterilization
- Diaper changes and outfit swaps
- Soothing techniques for fussy moments
- Infant laundry and tidying the nursery
Having this help from the start can make the birth-to-home transition feel a lot more manageable.
Household Management You Still Need
While baby care takes priority, the rest of the household needs attention, too. An Au Pair can also:
- Prepare simple meals for the family
- Keep shared areas tidy
- Run small errands
- Care for siblings so parents can rest or bond with the baby
These behind-the-scenes contributions add up to a calmer postpartum experience for the whole family.
Ongoing Postpartum & Family Support
Once the newborn fog starts to lift, the support you’ll need as parents changes, with new routines taking shape, energy levels fluctuating, and a larger emotional load. Your Au Pair can continue offering consistent help long after the early weeks, adapting to your family’s changing needs.
Flexible Scheduling Around Parents’ Needs
As you return to work or navigate sleep patterns, having a live-in caregiver means one less thing to worry about. Your Au Pair can:
- Adjust care hours around overnight feedings or naps
- Offer help on weekends or early mornings
- Adapt to shift work or rotating schedules
This flexibility is not only hard to find but also more affordable than most regular childcare options.
Bonding with Older Siblings
While you tend to the new baby, you Au Pair can make the space for intentional time with older children. They might:
- Read together during quiet moments
- Plan arts and crafts or playtime
- Help with schoolwork or enrichment activities
As older kids get used to sharing your time and attention, having someone focused on them helps ease the transition, give them an outlet for big feelings, and a sense that their needs still matter, because they do.
Emotional Support & Well‑Being
For many, parenting a newborn while caring for the rest of the household can feel isolating at times. But when you’re hosting an Au Pair, you’ll have a live-in person who can help by:
- Checking in during long days
- Offering short breaks so you can nap or reset
- Providing a calm, consistent presence that eases stress
The postpartum period isn’t easy, no matter how many times you’ve done it. With an Au Pair, there’s no need to carry it all alone.
Cultural or Language Enrichment
In addition to all the physical and emotional support they provide, Au Pairs introduce something special to families: a global perspective. Depending on their background, they might:
- Sing lullabies in their native language
- Share stories or customs from home
- Teach basic words or phrases through play
These small moments can broaden your child’s world from an early age.
Grow Your Family With Go Au Pair!
Welcoming another baby can make life feel a little extra chaotic; there’s more noise, more needs, and more moving parts. But there’s also more joy, more fun, and a lot more love to go around.
Having an Au Pair in the mix helps add some much-needed structure to the chaos, support when you need it most, and personalized care for older siblings during those moments when your hands are full.
Explore Au Pair profiles today to become a Host Family and start planning for the extra set of hands your growing family deserves!
