Deciding which type of child care makes the most sense for your family is a job in and of itself. Three of the most popular options — nannies, au pairs and daycare centers — all have their benefits, but they can vary significantly in cost, structure, flexibility and the type of experience they provide.<\/p>
“When it comes to a nanny vs. au pair vs. daycare, there’s no ‘best’ option,” says Erin Carroll-Manning<\/a>, founder and CEO of Gentle Giraffes Newborn Care and Family Services, an agency in Massachusetts. “It depends on the family’s personal preference and an understanding of each one.”<\/p> Trying to decide between a nanny, au pair and daycare? From hours to cost, here’s everything you need to know about each.<\/p> Here’s an overview of what you can expect from nannies, au pairs and daycares.<\/p> Nannies are experienced child care professions that care for children in the family’s home. “Generally speaking, nannies are in charge of anything that pertains to the child,” says Paige Burlew<\/a>, founder of the Texas-based agency, Lone Star Nannies. “This would include things like child care, preparing meals for the child only, children’s laundry, sweeping up crumbs or picking up toys made by the child, changing diapers and washing any dishes used while the nanny was present.”<\/p> In some cases, nannies will take on additional duties, such as family meal planning, grocery shopping, etc., but, Burlew notes, this would fall more under a “family assistant” or “household manager” role, which would also command higher pay. <\/p> Nannies, per Burlew and Carroll-Manning, provide the following:<\/p> Read more:<\/strong><\/p>Key takeaways<\/h3>
Nanny, au pair, daycare: What you can expect from each<\/h2>
Nanny<\/h3>