May the au pair come along to therapy?

What lies behind it

Frühförderstelle (early intervention centre), Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum, Ergotherapie, Logopädie, an appointment in Neuropädiatrie: many families travel to several such places every week. The appointment itself often lasts 45 minutes, but with the journey there, finding parking, waiting and the journey back, that quickly becomes two hours.

This is exactly where an au pair can ease things. Whether it may accompany your child on its own depends on the practice, on your child's age and support needs, and on what you have agreed. Some settings want a parent present, others are open to a familiar person coming along. Ask them directly — that decision rests with the practice, not with us.

It makes sense to start slowly. First the au pair comes along once, gets to know the route, the routine and the contact people, and later takes on a journey it already knows. That way the appointment stays familiar for your child.

The second, often underestimated option: you accompany your child yourself and the au pair stays at home with the siblings. Then nobody sits in a waiting room who has nothing to do there, and you can concentrate calmly on the child whose turn it is.

We never give therapy recommendations. What your child needs is decided by you together with the professionals treating them.

Read more: Untangling therapy appointments.