Au pair program changes could leave families priced out of child care

At an average cost of $25,000 a year, au pairs can be more affordable than most full-time nannies or day care, according to CulturalCare.com.

Davis and Glen Griffin of Houston, Texas, say having a live-in au pair to care for their three children has been a lifesaver.

“We would not have survived the pandemic if it hadn't been for our amazing au pair from Sweden,” Davis Griffin tells ABC News, "and now we are on our fifth au pair, who is from Germany.”

The Griffins both work full-time jobs outside of the home and hired their first au pair in 2016, when their children were 6, 4 and a year old. “We’re really excited to invite someone into our family that could help teach their language and culture to our kids. These women truly become part of our family,” Griffin said.

Launched by the U.S. State Department in 1986 as a cultural exchange visa program, au pairs have become an affordable child care option for tens of thousands of U.S. families.

To qualify for the program, foreigners ages 18-26 must meet U.S. federal requirements, including age and education. They agree to live with American families for up to two years, caring for children in exchange for room and board, transportation and educational expenses. As of 2023, the State Department said there were about 29,000 au pairs living in the U.S.