Nanny, childminder, au pair, what's the difference?

A nanny (also called an in-home child carer) is an employee hired by a family to care for the children in their own home. She doesn’t need a licence and can look after siblings or share her time between two families; she often helps with meals, school runs and homework. An assistant maternelle (registered childminder) is a professional approved by the department who welcomes children into her own home or a childminders’ house. Her home is inspected and she may care for up to four children, with a special dispensation for six. She must obtain a formal licence and complete around 120 hours of training, including a first part before taking her first child. A young au pair is a person aged 18 to 30 from another country who lives with the host family to learn the language; she works no more than 25 hours per week doing childcare and light household tasks and is lodged and fed, with pocket money of about 320 € per month. The main differences therefore concern status, place of care, training requirements and working hours.

To register as an assistante maternelle – the French term for a licensed childminder – you need to obtain an approval (agrèment) from your local department. The authority checks that your home offers a safe, clean and stimulating environment for young children and interviews you to assess your childcare skills and motivation. Once approved you must complete a mandatory 120-hour training course: an initial 80-hour module must be done before you welcome children; it covers child development, health and safety, rights and responsibilities, and includes first-aid certification. The remaining hours are taken over the first three years. Assistantes maternelles are allowed to care for up to four children at once; with a special permit they may supervise up to six minors under 11 years but no more than four under the age of three. The approval lasts five years and is renewable after a review and further training. You must also carry professional liability insurance, notify the authorities of any change of address or household, and participate in ongoing professional development. Finally, each engagement with parents must be formalised by a written  specifying hours, remuneration, paid holidays and the employer’s declaration to Urssaf.

Choosing a live-out nanny (nounou a domicile) means your child stays in the familiar surroundings of home. A nanny adapts her hours to the parents' schedule, prepares meals, takes the children to school and activities, supervises homework and often handles light household tasks. This personalised care is ideal for babies and siblings, avoids commuting to a creche and offers continuity when parents work irregular hours. However, the family becomes an employer: you must draw up a written contract, declare wages to Urssaf, pay salary and social contributions and provide paid holidays. The hourly cost is higher than an assistante maternelle (minimum around 12 euros per hour for a qualified nanny compared with about 3.6 euros per hour for a childminder). You need to trust a stranger in your home and build a relationship over time. As the nanny works alone, she cannot offer the socialisation that a small group provides; and if she is ill you must find a replacement. Some families opt for a shared nanny to split costs but this requires coordination and agreement on schedules.

An assistante maternelle is an approved childcare professional who welcomes a small group of children into her own home. This family-like environment offers personalised care and encourages socialisation with other toddlers and preschoolers. She adapts her schedule to parents’ needs (early mornings, late afternoons) and provides activities, meals and naps. The cost is lower than a nanny at home (around 3.6 euros per hour), and parents can claim tax credits. However, you must bring your child to her home and follow her opening hours and holiday calendar. Your child shares attention with other children and you must trust someone outside your family. As the employer you sign a contract, pay salary and social contributions via Pajemploi and provide paid holidays. If she is ill, you need back-up care. Some parents choose a MAM (Maison d’Assistantes Maternelles) where several assistants work together for more flexibility.

Hosting a young au pair means welcoming a foreign youngster aged 18 to 30 into your home as part of a cultural exchange. They live with you like a family member and help with childcare and light household chores. A written agreement must specify the tasks, working hours and pocket money. The au pair cannot work more than 25 hours per week (usually 5 hours per day) and must have at least one full day off each week as well as time for language classes. In exchange for room and board they receive pocket money of at least 320 euros per month. You must declare them to the social security agency (Urssaf) and pay contributions, even though they are not employees. For young Europeans on a “stagiaire aide familial etranger” placement the conditions are similar but limited to 5 hours of work per day and attendance at French courses. An au pair cannot replace a professional nanny and should be integrated into family life.

When you hire a nanny you become the employer. You must sign a written contract stating hours, wages, tasks and paid leave. The hourly cost is higher than for a childminder (around 12 euros per hour) and you must pay at least the legal minimum. You have to declare wages to the Pajemploi service, issue monthly payslips and pay social security contributions. As an employer you grant paid holidays, respect notice periods, reimburse transport costs if agreed and provide certificates for tax credits. You also need to arrange a replacement during absences and handle end‑of‑contract formalities.

A shared nanny arrangement means that two families employ the same nanny to care for their children, usually in one home or alternating between homes. This solution makes home-based childcare more affordable because the salary and charges are divided between parents. Children benefit from socialising with another child in a familiar environment and still enjoy personalised attention without the crowd of a creche. Schedules can be more flexible than with group care, and parents avoid daily drop-off runs.However, a successful shared nanny requires real coordination between the families. They must agree on hours, vacation dates, house rules, feeding routines and parenting styles. Both households become employers who sign a joint contract, declare salaries to the social security system and agree on paid holidays, notice periods and replacements. If one family stops the arrangement or moves away, the other may need to bear the full cost or find another partner family. Space constraints and different expectations can also create friction. A shared nanny therefore suits families who live near each other, have similar schedules and are willing to communicate openly, but it can be complex for those with very different needs.

Selecting the right childcare solution depends on your family’s needs. A nanny offers one-on-one care at home and flexible hours; this option is ideal for infants, siblings or parents with irregular schedules, but it is the most expensive and makes you an employer with payroll and social contributions to manage. An assistante maternelle is an accredited professional who welcomes children into her own home and provides a warm, small-group environment. She is generally more affordable thanks to public subsidies, but you must drop off and collect your child and respect her fixed hours. An au pair is part of a cultural exchange: a young person aged 18‑30 from abroad lives with you, helps with childcare and light household tasks for up to 25 hours a week, attends language classes and receives pocket money. This arrangement is less costly and enriches older children linguistically and culturally, but it requires hosting and supervising a young adult and offers fewer hours.To choose, consider your budget, work hours, your child’s age and temperament, and how much social interaction you want for them. Also weigh your willingness to handle administrative duties and to invite someone to live in your home. Meeting several candidates, checking references and arranging a trial period can help you make the best decision. Some families combine solutions or adjust as their child grows.