Military Families Share Why AuPairCare is Their Childcare Solution

AuPairCare has been a trusted partner for families across the United States, providing live-in childcare through its unique cultural exchange program. With over 35 years of experience and a commitment to flexibility and personalized support, AuPairCare is uniquely equipped to meet the needs of military families.

Military spouses face extraordinary challenges trying to find flexible and reliable childcare that fits their family’s unique needs and schedules. From deployments to PCS changes, these factors of military life add complex dynamics to an already difficult task. That’s why many military families decide to host an au pair. In fact, over 10% of families who host an au pair in the United States are military families. In this blog, read reviews from military moms and dads in our program to see why choosing AuPairCare for live-in childcare can be a great fit for your family.

Can an au pair work around an unpredictable schedule?

Au pairs can work around your unpredictable family schedule, whether you need them to work off-hours or discuss options together to adjust the work schedule week to week. The flexibility in your care schedule is why many military families love hosting an au pair.

AuPairCare host mom and military spouse Amanda shares how the flexibility of her son’s childcare has made her life drastically easier.

"No week looks the same in the military. My husband deploys and travels a lot, and I travel for work, so keeping any kind of routine for our child felt impossible. Having an au pair changed that. The flexibility is huge — shift work, long days, sudden changes, she adjusts to all of it.

During deployment, routine becomes a safety blanket for kids, and our au pair keeps things consistent even when one parent is gone. She fills in the gaps, handles kid's meals, driving, daily childcare needs — all the things that would otherwise fall on me as a solo parent.

I even think back to an unexpected medical situation with my husband. I truly don’t know how we would have managed without her. Looking back, I wish I’d known about this years ago. I would have had more sanity and probably still had hobbies — things that make me feel like myself.”

— Amanda, Military Mom, Veteran & AuPairCare Host Parent

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What do military families look for in childcare during deployments?

During deployments when one parent is away for an extended period of time, the other parent typically needs an extra set of hands who is reliable, caring, and provides a stable environment. For many military families with children, hosting an au pair has been a lifeline during moments that ordinarily are the most stressful. Over 10% of families who host an au pair in the United States are military families.

“When my husband was deployed, having an au pair was absolutely critical for our family.”

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Take it from an AuPairCare host mom and military spouse, Julie. She has hosted au pairs for over 7 years and tells us why it is essential for the success and well-being of her family to host an au pair when her husband is away on deployment.

"When my husband was deployed, having an au pair was absolutely critical for our family. Deployment already throws everything off - the routines, the emotional balance, the logistics of daily life. And when it happened over the summer, it was even harder because that’s usually when we get to spend time together and travel with the kids.

But even though Daddy wasn’t there to go on these trips or be part of those special moments, we still had another adult in the house who felt like family. Someone who could play with the kids, have fun with them, keep the days feeling normal, and give them that extra support they needed.

Traditional childcare can’t do that — they don’t step into your home life, they don’t travel with you, they don’t fill in those emotional gaps when a parent is suddenly gone. But an au pair does. There’s just this continuity you can depend on in a chaotic life.

During deployment, having that steady presence — someone who knows your kids, knows your routines, knows how your family works — makes all the difference in the world. It brings a sense of stability during a time when everything else is shifting."

- Julie, longtime AuPairCare host mom and military spouse

How can my childcare choice ensure stability for my kids as a military family?

Stability for military kids starts with having a trusted caregiver who can stay consistent even when your family’s schedule can’t. Between deployments, late nights, shift changes, and PCS moves, routines are often the first thing to fall apart-and that instability can be tough on children. Choosing childcare that integrates into your life is key to providing children with the routine and stability they need.

Instead of waking up your kids and taking them to a crowded daycare center, or disrupting their day-to-day life during a relocation process, having live-in childcare can help support your children during these times where lots of change is taking place.  

Hear from military spouse Tamara on why routine and stability is so important for military families with young children.

"When you’re in a military family, nothing about your schedule is predictable. You don’t know when your spouse will have to stay late, head to training, or when you’re going to get hit with a curveball and have to figure out what’s next. That’s why having flexible childcare is so important for us because no week ever looks the same.

With an au pair, there’s this stability and consistency you just can’t get with traditional childcare. You’re not dealing with different daycare workers or a babysitter canceling at the last minute. You have one person who lives with you, knows your kids, understands your family’s rhythm, and can step in when life changes without warning.

That kind of consistency matters for military kids. When one parent is suddenly gone or their schedule shifts overnight, having someone they already trust helps keep their routines intact and keeps the household moving. It brings a sense of calm into a lifestyle that can be chaotic, and that stability is something you really can’t put a price on."

- Tamara, military spouse

Why au pair childcare is a great solution for military families.

When you look at the experiences of AuPairCare military families across the country, one message stands out clearly: au pair childcare offers families the unique blend of flexibility, stability, and emotional support that military life demands. Whether navigating an unpredictable schedule, managing solo parenting during deployment, or helping children stay grounded through PCS transitions, an au pair in the home becomes more than a caregiver, they become a familiar, trusted presence your family can rely on. For many military parents, this partnership brings peace of mind, consistency for their children, and a level of support that traditional childcare simply can’t match. That’s why hosting an au pair continues to be one of the strongest childcare solutions for families who serve.

Ready to explore how an au pair can support your military family? Learn more about hosting an au pair with AuPairCare today.

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