How many hours can an au pair work?
Au pair hours depend on the destination country and programme. Many European arrangements are around 25-30 hours per week, while the U.S. J-1 au pair programme allows up to 45 hours per week and no more than 10 hours per day. Families should include evening babysitting in the total agreed hours.
An au pair schedule should protect the cultural-exchange purpose of the placement. That means enough free time for language learning, rest, friends, and local life, not just childcare cover.
What counts as working time
School runs, breakfast help, bath time, homework supervision, and light child-related household tasks.
Evening babysitting when the au pair is the responsible adult.
Time waiting in the home for children or parents if the au pair cannot freely use that time.
How to avoid schedule disputes
Write down regular hours and expected babysitting before arrival.
Track schedule changes and agree them in advance.
Give predictable days off and avoid treating the au pair like on-call staff.
Follow-up questions
Does evening babysitting count as au pair work?
Yes. If the au pair is responsible for the children, it should count toward the agreed working hours.
Can an au pair work full time?
Usually no. Au pairing is cultural exchange and light help; full-time childcare is normally a nanny-style role.