The Difference Between an Au Pair & a Nanny

Definition of Au Pair

• Au pair is French for "on the par." This means that when you hire an au pair, you are really bringing someone in your home that will be another member of your family. Au pairs come from foreign countries. The United States Information Agency (USIA) started the au pair program in 1986 to be an educational and cultural exchange program with a childcare component, according to DOSFAN, a partnership of the United States Department of State and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Au Pair Needs

• You will need to provide an au pair with a private bedroom, meals and salary at the minimum wage. The au pair will get one weekend off per month and will get two weeks paid vacation. You cannot make an au pair work more than 10 hours a day or more than 45 hours a week. Housekeeping is not part of the au pair's job. The au pair can only work for you for one year. While here, au pairs are required to earn at least six hours of academic credit that the host families are obligated to pay for up to a maximum of $500.

Typical Au Pairs

• Au pairs are generally young and act as a kind of big sister to your children. But, because they are young and are in a new county away from their family, the host family needs to be sensitive to this and be supportive if necessary. Because au pairs are more an extension of your family, they will be able to travel with you.

About Nannies

• Nannies do not necessarily live with you. They can be young or more mature with childcare experience. The U.S. government does not govern nannies the way it does au pairs, so you can be more flexible with the type of hours you set, according to the Expectant Mother's Guide. You can also negotiate with nannies on housekeeping responsibilities. Nannies usually stay with you for longer than a year.

Considerations Regarding Nannies

• If a nanny is not going to live with you, the risk is that she may not always get to your house on time. If you cannot afford to be late for where you need to be, keep this in mind when interviewing nannies. You can use an agency to find a nanny or you can do this on your own. If you will be interviewing nannies yourself, it will be important for you to check the references.

Choosing an Au Pair

• If you choose an au pair, you will go through a sponsoring organization that will match an au pair with you, according to DOSFAN. The agency will provide background checks on the au pairs and make sure the host family can afford to participate in the program.