What is the difference between an au pair and a nanny?

Question

What is the difference between an au pair and a nanny?

Answer 1

an au pair is a nanny from another country...it's like a fancy way of saying "my [put country here] nanny" (like my french nanny...swedish nany...things like that). a nanny is like a person who acts as a babysitter 24/7...or however long she's hired. au pairs usually are hired by wealthier families, and stay with the child almost as a seond mother until they are about 8. nannies come and go...probably until the child goes to school.

Answer 2

An au pair is a young person (usually female) from another country. These girls do not usually have (or have only babysat) childcare experience and are au pairing to get to know a different culture. Au pairs are supposed to be treated as members of the family, live-in and receive a small weekly allowance (not a salary). Au pairs also usually have to do light household work. In general, au pairs aren't expected to provide proper childcare but to babysit the child(ren). Host families have to provide a course (usually language).

A proper nanny on the other hand is salaried, does no housework other than childcare (but provides high quality care), lives in or out and can work as many hours as you need (depending on country, an au pair can work a maximum of 25-44 hours a week).

I have been both and if I can afford it, I will get a nanny because it's so much easier. Au pairs are cheaper but also a lot more work in my opinion (privacy, you have to 'take care'  of her, take her out to experience something of your culture and of course au pairs are usually very young).  

Answer 3

An au pair typically is a young person from another country who lives with the family in exchange for providing childcare.

A nanny may be a person of any age from any country, not necessarily a young person from outside the country, and the nanny does not necessarily live with the family.

An au pair is sort of like an exchange student, except they exchange child care for their room and board. "Au pair" means "on par", which means that the au pair is to be treated as a part of the family and not as a servant (as nannies were traditionally treated).

Answer 4

For short:

Au pair is an English nanny

Nanny is an American nanny