How to Find a Free Au Pair: The Complete Guide for Families

Searching for an au pair is one of the most convenient ways to get help at home and offer your children an intercultural experience. But many families hit a stumbling block: traditional agencies charge commissions that can reach hundreds, sometimes thousands of euros. The good news is that you can do it without intermediaries and without paying for the search. In this guide, we explain how.

Why many families look for a free au pair

Agencies offer assistance, but their cost weighs on the family budget. With a free platform like AuPair Plus you can browse profiles, contact candidates directly, and manage the agreement on your own, with no registration fees or commissions.

What "free" really means

To be clear: search and contact are free. The costs of hosting remain your responsibility, and they're the same through any channel:

board and lodging for the au pair
a weekly allowance (in Italy generally between 70 and 100 € per week, to be verified according to regulations and the program chosen)
possible contribution for a language course
travel, which is arranged based on the agreement

You won't pay any fee to find and contact candidates on AuPair Plus.

How to find a free au pair, step by step

1. Define your needs. How many children do you have and how old are they? Do you need help with homework, language, after-school activities? How many hours per week? Clarifying these points saves you from misunderstandings.

2. Create your family profile. Sign up for free on AuPair Plus and tell your story: habits, city, children's ages, the room you'll offer, free time allowed. A well-crafted profile attracts more motivated candidates.

3. Search and filter profiles. Look at mother tongue, age, experience with children, length of stay, and availability dates. If you want your children to grow up bilingual, choose a native speaker of the language you're interested in.

4. Contact multiple candidates. Don't stop at the first one. Write to 4-5 profiles with a personal message, introducing your family and your expectations.

5. Have a video call. This is the most important step. Talk with the candidate, introduce your children, ask how she would handle concrete situations (a tantrum, an unexpected event, a difficult homework task).

6. Verify references and experience. Ask for contacts from previous families or people who can confirm her experience with children.

7. Put everything in writing. Agree on hours, days off, allowance, responsibilities, house rules, and duration. A clear agreement prevents problems.

Mistakes to avoid

Choosing based only on price or urgency. Compatibility and trust matter more than anything.
Asking for too many hours. An au pair is not a babysitter or full-time housekeeper: she has the right to time for studying the language and for herself.
Skipping the video call. Even just 30 minutes tells you a lot.
Not preparing the house. A decent bedroom and warm welcome make a difference in the first days.

Tips for peaceful coexistence

Dedicate the first days to settling in, set up a weekly check-in moment, and remember that the au pair is a temporary family member, not an employee. A relationship based on mutual respect makes the experience positive for everyone, including your children.

Conclusion

Finding a free au pair is possible, it requires a bit of organization but allows you to save money and choose for yourself. With AuPair Plus you can start right away: create your family profile for free and start contacting candidates.