Let’s be real — parenting can be a wonderfully rewarding experience, but it’s not easy. Trying to juggle work, household duties, and parenting all at the same time can make it feel like you’re constantly racing against a buzzer that never arrives.
Of course, ask any parent if they’d change it for the world and they’d say not a chance. Still, while parenting may bring plenty of joy, most parents would welcome an opportunity to make things a little easier.
And that’s where other people come in. In this day and age, there is plenty of outside help available, including child daycare, hiring a nanny, or working with an au pair agency.
For many families, the lack of personalization makes child daycare a no-go. The high cost of hiring a nanny also takes that off the table. Hiring an au pair offers a welcome midway point, allowing for flexible, personalized care without breaking the bank.
This is where Go Au Pair comes in. They’ve been matching families with international au pairs since 1989, and are still going strong.
But is their service any good? Should you consider it for your own au pair needs? We’ve put together an in-depth, honest review that can help you decide.
Who Is Go Au Pair? Go Au Pair was founded back in 1989 as one of the original six sponsoring agencies authorized to execute the Au Pair program, a government program that allowed qualified young people from around the world the chance to live and work in the United States in exchange for providing 45 hours of childcare a week.
Since then, Go Au Pair has helped tens of thousands of families find au pairs that offer flexible, consistent childcare support in addition to cultural exchange. Today, they recruit au pairs from over 37 countries, and they’re still one of the largest such agencies operating in the United States.
Who Is Go Au Pair’s Service Aimed At?
Go Au Pair’s service is primarily aimed at families who want live-in childcare support, but in reality, their service goes much, much further. Go Au Pair recruits its au pairs from around the world, which means there’s a cultural exchange element to the experience, too. It’s a great way to expose your children to other cultures and languages from the comfort of your own home.
You’ll need to have the space to accommodate the au pair, since, as we said, they’ll be living with you. Beyond that, there’s no strict criteria about which families can and can’t use their service. If you’re tired of the inflexibility of daycare or don’t feel comfortable selecting (or paying for) a nanny, then Go Au Pair’s service could be the ideal solution. Their service really bridges a gap that many families not only want, but need. Unlike with other childcare services, with Go Au Pair, you’ll only pay one fee regardless of how many children you have.
How Does Go Au Pair's Service Work?
OK, so that’s what working with Go Au Pair offers. Now, how does it work? While Go Au Pair’s service offers a wide range of benefits, the process is actually a lot more straightforward than you might think.
Step One: Identify Your Needs
Figuring out what you’ll need from your au pair is key to ensuring Go Au Pair can pair you with the right person. You might need them to have a driving license, or perhaps they’ll be working with very young children (under 2 years old). Whatever it is, think about what’s most important to your family.
Step Two: Finding Your Au Pair
Go Au Pair has hundreds of potential au pairs in their system. Once you’ve found a potential match, you can schedule a virtual interview to see if it’s a good fit. Once you’ve made your decision, you can extend an offer, and the au pair’s visa process can begin.
Step Three: The Au Pair Arrives
Your au pair will arrive and quickly become part of your family, helping you with your childcare needs while also offering an important cultural exchange.
Step Four: A Seamless Experience
Your au pair will initially be with you for 12 months, though it’s possible to extend for another 12 months in many cases. During their time with you, your au pair will become an extension of your family, forming a lifelong bond with your children.
Can You Work For Go Au Pair?
Go Au Pair isn’t just for families looking for childcare support. It’s also there to help wannabe au pair’s find their USA host family, too! If you’re from overseas, are aged 18 - 26, speak English, have completed high school, and have some experience with childcare, then you’ll likely be eligible to apply. People who have au pair’d for Go Au Pair in the past typically say that they loved everything about the process, from getting to experience the USA first-hand to expanding their education and English skills.
Go Au Pair: The Pros
Flexible, live-in childcare
Upfront pricing
Affordable childcare that stays the same, regardless of how many kids the family has
Opportunity for cultural exchange and language learning
Excellent customer support
One-to-one, personalized care
Provides support for busy parents
Go Au Pair: The Cons
Need to know what you’re looking for
Have to be comfortable with a 12-month commitment
The Bottom Line: Is Go Au Pair Any Good?
There’s a reason why Go Au Pair is still considered one of the leading agencies in the USA's au [air field: they have decades of experience, and it shows. They’ve made it as easy as possible for US families to get the affordable, flexible childcare support they need. While you’ll need to do a little bit of work to ensure you find the right au pair for your needs, we’d say that it’s absolutely worth it — and not just because it’s cheaper than hiring a nanny. With Go Au Pair, you get so much more than childcare support. You get an opportunity to give your children an experience they’ll remember forever.
*contributed post*
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