When it comes to childcare, investing in the best is a no-brainer. Yet with so many au pair agencies out there, how do you know which one will supply the best hands-on help for your family? The answer is to choose from one of the most popular and trusted Au Pair agencies, five of which you will find reviewed in detail below.
Go Au Pair: Best for quality combined with flexibility
Go Au Pair have been providing qualified in-home childcare for over 30 years. They stand out from the other Au Pair agencies because they allow host families to get the high-quality childcare they need, combined with the flexibility they also require. This means getting an exact match for your family’s specific needs is a breeze.
Go Au Pair also offers infant-qualified staff and staff with verified driving experience, making your experience as the host family easy and worry-free. In fact, you can use their excellent website to filter for the specific qualities and skills you need.
Another thing that separates Go Au Pair from the crowd is that they focus on creating lasting, long-term relationships between their staff and host families. Something that many report as much more effective and pleasant for children and parents alike.
Au Pair Care: Best for local support
One of the highest-rated Au Pair agencies operating in the US, Au Pair Care is another popular choice with host families. One of the reasons for this is the way that the agency is set up with area directors who can manage any issue.
Quality and safety are also very important to Au Pair Care, and they require background checks for both families and Au Pairs. Their process includes interviews for both Au Pairs and Families, which helps to create a more productive match.
However, signing up for Au Pair Care’s site is not free. In fact, they have a $50 registration fee, with a further $350 matching fee once a match has been made. They also work primarily in the NYC area, so families looking for an Au Pair in other locations in the US may not find them that helpful. Also, the time it takes to find an Au Pair and have them travel to your home is around 6-10 weeks.
AuPair.Com: Best search system on their website
AuPair.Com is loved by its host families, particularly because of its easy-to-use and effective searching system that is hosted on their website. However, AuPair.Com is not a full-service Au Pair agency, but more of a self-service platform that connects families to Au Pairs and allows them to handle the relationship from then on.
Standard registration on AuPair.Com’s site is free, but they also offer premium tiers which provide access to additional features. These include contract templates, which can be very useful once you have found a suitable candidate. They also include messaging functions that allow you to contact potential matches.
Users state that Au pair profiles are rich with information, which helps them make a suitable choice more easily. It’s also possible to browse candidates from their home country, even before you sign up. Something that can give you a good indication of whether there are any suitable candidates.
Expert Au Pair: Best for finding Au Pairs from all over the world
Unlike many of the other agencies reviewed here, Expert Au Pair is a smaller agency. This, of course, comes with both pros and cons. The pros are that you get a much more personalized service and feel when dealing with them. The cons are that they deal with your inquiry manually, and there is no automated site that you can use. Although a trained specialist interviews you to ascertain your needs, you could argue that this provides even better service!
One of the biggest strengths of Expert Au Pair is that they recruit their in-home staff from over 70+ countries. This makes them a great choice for families that have specific language needs. Expert Au Pair also offers a great value service, charging less than many other agencies while still offering that personal touch.
Au Pair 4 Me: Best for value
One of the most affordable and budget-focused agencies out there, Au Pair 4 Me is another great option. They are also known for their high level of Au Pair training, which includes pre-departure training and Red Cross courses. Something that not only ensures that your Au Pair is ready to hit the ground running when they arrive, but also considers safety as well.
Au Pair 4 Me is also a personalized agency, which means there is no online portal where you can search for an Au pair match. Instead, you will speak to matching specialists who will discuss your needs, and then they will comb their database for the perfect match.
EurAupair: Best for finding Au Pairs with previous experience
If you are looking for an Au Pair with extensive experience, then the EurAupair agency can be a great choice. This is because they specialize in Au Pairs who have previously worked in family homes. EurAupair supplies au pairs from European countries such as Germany, as well as South American countries like Colombia. Just be sure to talk to your personal coordinator about your preferences.
To register with EurAupair, you must contact the agency directly. You will then be asked a series of questions that will help to define the specific needs of your family and child. Once this has been established, the agency will do the searching for you and match you with the very best possible Au Pair for your needs.
Host families also report that they like the fact that EurAupair has been operating for over 30 years in the Au Pair field. They say that this helps them know that they understand the needs of both the family and the Au Pair, ensuring the best possible match for success over the long term.
Final thoughts
Finding a life in Au Pair who meets the specific needs of your family can be a challenge. However, when you work with one of the popular and trusted agencies above, you can maximize your chances of a perfect fit.
