Moving into a host family’s home as an au pair is different from setting up your own apartment. Most household equipment already exists, and the family has routines you have not learned yet. The smartest approach is to protect your personal essentials, ask clear questions and avoid arriving with duplicates.
Before travel, confirm that the written arrangement covers duties, schedule, accommodation, meals, pocket money, study time, transport and time off. The official French au pair agreement information is a useful reference, but follow the instructions attached to your own immigration situation.
In this guide: what to bring · private-space essentials · commuting · FAQ
What an au pair should bring to France
Bring identity and visa documents, the signed agreement, insurance information, prescriptions, emergency contacts and clothing suited to the region. Ask whether towels, bedding, a hair dryer, toiletries, laundry products and meals are provided. That one conversation can save luggage space and prevent awkward duplicate purchases.
1. Keep personal documents separate and portable
Your passport and immigration papers should remain accessible to you. Use a small organizer for official documents and a different folder for children’s schedules or household notes. Keep secure digital backups as well.
View the Exacompta document organizer on Amazon France
2. Use packing cubes for personal boundaries
Packing cubes are useful after arrival because they keep underwear, sportswear and seasonal items separate inside an unfamiliar wardrobe. They also make future weekend travel easier. Measure the drawer or shelf before buying extra sets.
View the Amazon Essentials packing-cube set on Amazon France
Make the private room comfortable without taking over
3. Start with sleep essentials, not decoration
A sleep mask and simple earplugs may help if the house wakes earlier than you do. First discuss household routines, alarms and children’s needs. Earplugs should never prevent you from hearing an emergency or a responsibility you agreed to cover.
View the Loop Quiet 2 reusable earplugs on Amazon France
4. Charge devices safely
Ask which socket you may use and keep cables tidy, especially where children could reach them. Kenyan plugs need the right connection for French Type E sockets, and a plug adapter never changes voltage. Read our French plugs and voltage guide before connecting appliances.
View the SKROSS world-to-Europe adapter on Amazon France
5. Add storage only with permission
Do not drill, stick hooks to painted walls or rearrange family furniture without asking. Soft foldable organizers can be useful because they leave no marks and move easily, but first use the wardrobe for a week. You may already have enough space.
View the Lifewit foldable storage organizers on Amazon France
Prepare for school runs, classes and free time
6. Carry a practical day bag
Your day bag may need a water bottle, umbrella, language-class notebook, keys and a small snack. If you transport anything for the children, agree exactly what belongs in your bag and what stays in theirs. Never carry family identity documents casually.
7. Protect your phone battery
The phone may hold transport tickets, maps and host-family contacts. A compact power bank helps on a long day, but it should not replace charging the phone before leaving. Store emergency numbers somewhere offline.
View the compact 10,000 mAh power bank on Amazon France
8. Bring a reusable bottle
A leak-resistant bottle is useful for classes and outings. Ask which household supplies you may use and label personal items only if the family prefers that system.
View the Ion8 reusable bottle on Amazon France
For arrival spending, our guide to moving to France on a budget explains what to buy now, later or second-hand. The guide to what to pack from Kenya can help with the final suitcase.
Au pair essentials FAQ
Should I buy household items for the host family?
Not unless you have discussed a specific need. Normal household equipment should be clarified with the family, not silently purchased by the au pair.
What if my room lacks something essential?
Raise it politely and specifically. Explain the problem before buying or modifying anything.
Should I bring gifts?
A small, thoughtful and easy-to-carry gift can be kind, but it is optional. Do not let gifts displace essential documents or medication.
For the first days outside the host home, our first-week France shopping checklist keeps personal purchases focused.
Final thought: A good au pair setup is based on clear expectations, personal privacy and mutual respect. Bring less, ask more and let the real household routine guide your purchases.
