How do we know an au pair fits our child?

Honesty creates the best foundation

Our most important tip for the consultation calls: describe your everyday life rather too honestly than too rosily.

Talk also about the days when things get turbulent. What happens when your child is overwhelmed? How does it show that something is becoming too much? Which situations are particularly challenging for you as a family? And where would you like support in everyday life?

Especially with a child with a disability, topics may also be raised that might initially seem uncomfortable or very personal. The more openly you talk to each other, the lower the risk that after arrival sentences fall such as "I didn't know that" or "I imagined it differently."

At the same time, explain how you deal with these situations. The au pair is not left alone from the first day. You show routines, explain your child's particular characteristics and guide the au pair step by step into everyday family life.

A clear boundary also matters here: nursing and medical activities are not part of an au pair's tasks. That responsibility remains with you as parents. The au pair is there to accompany, occupy and support your child in everyday life, not to take on the role of a carer.

The best foundation for a good match is not a perfect first impression, but that both sides know from the start what they are taking on.