Flexible work hours can be used to pick children up after day care, attend a child's piano recital or to accommodate the schedule of a babysitter. For those who can't work from the house, the next best thing can be having a day care worker at home, including a nanny or an au pair. Convenience was the reason Gail Grossman decided that she needed an au pair after spending weary hours commuting to Manhattan. The last thing I need is the extra stress of worrying when I will pick the kids up from day care, says Grossman, a recruiter for the advertising industry. I felt it was less disruptive for my children if they stayed at home.
Some children are more comfortable being cared for by the same person day after day.
Parents with two or more children in day care may find it less expensive to hire a nanny or au pair, Douglas says. The United States Information Agency started monitoring the au pair programs in 1986, deeming them an educational and cultural exchange program with a separate visa status. The au pair can only stay for one year, so parents start over with a new au pair annually. Despite the possible savings of an au pair, having someone living in your home 24 hours a day has its drawbacks. Privacy can be nonexistent, Douglas says.