Desiring quality child care is a given and abounds in most communities. An important first step is determining what type of professional child care is right for your family. Professional child care options can include in-home child care, nannies, au pairs, childminders and even babysitters.  Here are some benefits to professional au pair care.

1. Your baby or child receives individual attention.
2. Au pair care is ideal for a child with a disability or special needs.  One-on-one attention stimulates growth and development and helps these children enormously in reaching their developmental milestones.
3. A customised, individual stimulation programme can be followed, suitable and appropriate for your child, his age and his abilities.
4. The baby/child is in the familiar surroundings of the family home.
5. Au pair care has the flexibility of working extended hours.
6. The advantage of having the same care giver for your baby/child.
7. The convenience of having someone always at home and available.
8. The au pair can assist the family with additional jobs e.g light housework, shopping, school lifts etc.
9. Your child can have friends over to play with, in the comfort and safety of your own home.
10. Your child can have special outings with the au pair.
11. Limited exposure to germs and infections.
12. An au pair can offer care even during school holidays.
13. Many families take on summer au pairs to help out during the long school holidays.
14. Au pairs can care for children from all ages.
15. Au pairs are economical and, for many mothers with older children, a very convenient way of lightening the load.
16. Exposure to other cultures.
17. Some families take au pairs from other countries in a bid to make their children
    bi-lingual.