What is the difference between au pairs and nannies?

Expectations: A nanny is somebody hired by you to take care of the baby. Usually for some extended period of time per day, several hours, and in shifts through the week. They can be from another country, or the lady across the street. An au pair is generally a student or young person from another country seeking an experience here, and agrees to watch kids in exchange for a visa and financial support.

Nanny is an employee: An au pair is a young person who comes to the us on a specific program through the state department. That young person is subject to very specific rules for how they can work and what else they must do that are regulated by the type of visa granted by the state department. A nanny is an employee of you and duties/wage/hours are specifically negotiated between the two of you without regulation.