This story is sponsored by Go Au Pair. Learn more about Go Au Pair.

It can be hard to find the best childcare option for your family. Parents might worry about finding a solution that can help their children to blossom or one that can accommodate their irregular schedules.

Traditional childcare options (such as nannies and daycares) can sometimes create more problems than solutions. Parents are often overwhelmed by arranging transportation, finding an alternative when a child is sick, or having to work around a daycare's hours which may not match a work schedule.

For these reasons and more, getting an au pair may be the easier solution you need. One host family reported, "before we even realized we wanted our au pair experience we came to the realization that to send our 6-month-old to a daycare, it was going to take almost a nine-month wait! If we hadnt found Sandra, we would have had to postpone starting our jobs."

An au pair can give your family a live-in, cultural and educational experience for your children. These vetted caregivers come to the U.S. for one year, ready to become a part of your family.

The following are five ways that an au pair is better than traditional childcare.

More affordable than you think

While other childcare options can cost a substantial amount per child,, the cost of an au pair is per family.

The weekly average cost per family is $359, according to Go Au Pair. “These program fees are per family, not per child, making au pair childcare one of the most affordable childcare options.”

Examples of good work ethic and the importance of education

Au pairs get to travel to the U.S. for a year, become close to your family, and further their education while they are here. A caregiver who cares so much about continuing education and bettering oneself can be a great example to your children.

“Au pairs are required to enroll for not less than 6 semester hours of classes at a post-secondary educational institution; but may audit the classes for no credit if they wish,” according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Parents can focus on parenting

Au pairs can help with the day-to-day tasks involved in taking care of the children, as well as assisting with their education. This can leave the parents with more opportunities to focus on fun family time.

“Au pairs make your life easier by performing common childcare tasks,” according to Go Au Pair. “Au pairs help out around the house, doing laundry and cleaning bedrooms and play areas for the kids — allowing you more quality time to spend with your kids.”

Supporting you in your parenting goals and plans

“There have been many moments proving to me that Lilian was the best person for our family,” said one host Mom, Sara. At one point, their au pair helped arrange and support the special dietary needs of the daughter. “I felt like crying with joy because trying to do that (on) my own had been so hard that I had to put it on hold for a while and finally we are able to get my daughter the nutritional support she needs by working together. I’m extremely grateful for Lilian and who she is as a person, and what she is doing for our family.”

Au pairs can expose children to a different culture and language

When you bring an au pair into your home, you are giving your family the opportunity to learn about the culture and country that the au pair is from. The au pair may even be able to teach your children a second language, broadening their education and cultural experience.

An au pair can be like gaining another member of your family

For the year they are with you, an au pair can become close to your family, creating life-long relationships.

“We were familiar with having au pairs because of (my husband’s) upbringing — he has these ‘older sisters’ all over the world, whom he has visited many times,” said host mom, Elena, about her family’s search for an au pair. “They are amazing and resilient women who have all done amazing things with their lives after their year in the USA. I realized this was who we were missing!”

For more information about working with an au pair, visit a reputable au pair organization like Go Au Pair. Find out how having a live-in child care option can help your family, children, and sanity.

This story is sponsored by Go Au Pair. Learn more about Go Au Pair.

All working parents want the best childcare possible for their little ones. Not only does childcare keep them safe and well cared for, but it can also prepare them for success in the future.

“The evidence is clear — children who participate in high-quality programs during their early years demonstrate lasting effects on IQ, boosted academic and economic achievement, and lower incidences of childhood obesity and chronic illness,” according to childcareaware.org.

However, with childcare options ranging from daycares to nannies and wide ranges in flexibility and cost, it can be difficult to know which option will work best for your family. Each form of daycare presents its own advantages and disadvantages. Here’s an overview of what you can expect from the different options.

Daycare center

One of the most commonly used forms of childcare is a daycare center, either operated out of a person’s home or in a dedicated facility. Daycares have set hours, usually Monday through Friday during work hours, and are known for having stability, being open year-round and operating under state guidelines that ensure the daycare providers follow health and safety protocols.

To be licensed, daycare centers must also follow guidelines for staff-to-child ratios. The National Association for the Education of Young Children recommends a ratio of 1:3 or 4 (depending on class size) for staff to infants and toddlers, about 1:5 for 2-year-olds, and no more than 1:10 for older classes. Children may receive less one-on-one time in large centers than they would in small daycares or with an in-home caregiver. Children in daycare also tend to get sick more often.

The cost of daycare centers varies, but plan on at least $8 per hour per child.

Part-day programs

For families that don’t need full-day care, there are part-day programs that offer childcare services. For example, some schools have before- and after-school childcare programs that cater to parents who need only a few hours of childcare per day. Certain daycare centers will allow parents to choose a part-time program for half-days or certain days of the week.

During vacations and school holidays, gymnastics centers, children’s museums and sports programs may offer special activity-based childcare. Cost varies depending on the location and the number of hours of childcare per week.

Family member or neighbor

When good friends or family members live close to each other, parents may be able to work out a plan to have inexpensive or free childcare. Children benefit from having a childcare provider who knows them and their families personally, and they may be watched in their own home or somewhere nearby. There is also flexibility in the hours of childcare, and it may include overnight care.

Stability is sometimes an issue, however, when caregivers get sick, have appointments or need to go out of town. There may also be less structure and fewer educational opportunities than in traditional childcare.

Au pair

Au pairs are international exchange students who act as in-home caregivers to families around the globe. Through this cultural exchange program, parents gain access to reliable, live-in childcare with flexible hours and the chance to experience elements of a new culture.

Au pairs at Go Au Pair, for example, are young adults 18 to 26 who must complete a 32-hour childcare training course and pass a criminal background check, a psychometric test and a physician’s evaluation to participate in the program. You can pair with someone from one of 16 countries worldwide or someone from within the United States. Each au pair is chosen to specifically meet the needs of your family.

You have the flexibility to choose the hours an au pair works, up to 45 hours per week and 10 hours per day. On average, the cost of an au pair comes out to $7.98 per hour per family, not per child, making au pairs an affordable choice for working families and less expensive than traditional nannying services.

For more information, visit goaupair.com, where you can register online for free to view au pair profiles.

This story is sponsored by Go Au Pair. Learn more about Go Au Pair.

If you are one of the millions of Americans looking for affordable, quality childcare, you know how daunting the task can be. Although cost may be the No. 1 concern for many, it’s important to take into consideration your family’s specific needs when choosing among child care options.

Though there may not be one right answer for everyone, here’s what you can expect if you choose to go through a daycare, nanny or au pair service.

Daycare

Daycare continues to be popular for parents seeking an affordable child care option. The good news is that Utah ranked No. 2 for child care center affordability in a survey by Care.com. However, Utah also has one of the highest birthrates in the nation, meaning families are having to pay more to provide care for multiple children.

A recent KSL article showed that, in addition to high costs, many Utah families face long waiting lists because of a shortage of space at child care facilities, particularly for infants and toddlers.

Despite the cost and competition for enrollment, daycare may still be your best option. If you value a routine schedule, social interaction, a highly trained and dependable staff (they will never call in sick), a daycare could be right for you.

Nannies

Movies like “Nanny McPhee” and “Mary Poppins” may make hiring a nanny seem to be a magical solution for child care, but there are a few things families should take into consideration while exploring that option.

First, consider your budget. Though using a nanny gives you the advantage of choosing the person who will care for your children in the comfort of your own home, you will most likely pay much more for that convenience. Care.com estimates the weekly cost of a nanny to be roughly four times that of a day care center.

Although it may be pricier, hiring a nanny does come with its advantages. Verywell Family points out that nannies provide individual attention and consistent care, in addition to flexibility and convenience. You can find a nanny who will work with your schedule and even perform minor household chores and duties, if necessary.

Au pair

If you have dreams of your children learning a foreign language or expanding their cultural horizons, you might want to consider hiring an au pair.

As a young, live-in child care provider from a foreign country, an au pair provides a unique cultural exchange experience while providing families with personalized care.

There are many advantages to choosing an au pair over nannies or daycare, especially when it comes to skills, scheduling, budget and personal preferences.

Daycare facilities and nannies typically charge more with each child, but an au pair will cost the same per hour regardless of the number of children in the home.

While you can’t always choose what you get with daycare personalities or nanny schedules, hiring an au pair puts the power in your hands to find exactly the care you want. You can pick from a specific country and even specify hobbies and interests you’d like them to have that best match your family.

To find a good au pair, it’s important to go through a reputable agency, such as Go Au Pair, which requires its au pairs to complete a 32-hour training course after they have been carefully screened, interviewed and background-checked.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Go Au Pair has been providing quality childcare for more than 30 years with representatives in over 50 countries on six continents.

If you are interested in hiring an au pair — or if you are interested in becoming one yourself — visit Go Au Pair today.