Welcome to ABC Nannies, your trusted resource for navigating the world of newborn care with expertise, empathy, and understanding. As mothers and childcare experts ourselves, we understand the importance of finding the right support for your family. Whether it’s you’re a first-time parent or you’re welcoming another sweet addition to your family.
In this blog, we’ll explore the various newborn and infant care options available to you. Our goal is to help you make an informed decision about the best support for your family during this transformative time.
What’s a Night Nanny (a.k.a Night Nurse)?
A night nanny provides overnight care for newborns, offering feeding, soothing, and sleep support so that parents can rest and recharge. From soothing midnight cries to feeding the baby to ensuring a tidy nursery, our night nannies will take care of your baby/babies overnight so you can get some much-needed rest.
If you have a medically fragile newborn(s) or a baby/babies with special needs, a true “night nurse” – an RN who provides private, overnight newborn care – could be right for you. “Night nurses” often garner a higher rate of pay. However, their unparalleled expertise and dedication to your baby’s health and well-being make them a preferred choice for many families.
Our team of night nannies is composed of dedicated, knowledgeable professionals. Some are RNs, most are former career nannies with a wealth of newborn/infant experience, and many are mothers themselves. All of our night nannies are deeply passionate about providing support during this special time.
Night nannies are available to work 8-12 hour shifts per night, 2-7 nights per week.
What’s a Newborn Care Specialist?
Introducing the newest addition to newborn care line-up: the Newborn Care Specialist (NCS). An NCS is a caregiver who is uniquely trained to offer expert care during the crucial early months of your baby’s life, both days and nights. Their skills and training typically surpass the capabilities of a traditional night nanny.
With newborn-specific training under their belt, our NCS’s offer support beyond basic care tasks such as overnight care and sleep training assistance. They possess the expertise to identify subtle nuances: lip ties or allergies, recognize signs of reflux, colic or even feeding difficulties, offer guidance on establishing healthy feeding habits, provide suggestions on different soothing techniques, and more. Most NCS’s are well-versed in caring for children who are medically fragile and multiples.
While certification isn’t required, many of ABC’s Newborn Care Specialists go through the extra step of obtaining their NCS certification. Certification typically involves completing a training course, passing an exam, and fulfilling other requirements set forth by the certifying organization. Obtaining certification demonstrates the NCS’s proficiency, knowledge and commitment to providing care for newborns and infants.
NCS’s are available to work 24/7 for the first 1-6+ months of your baby’s life. They’re also available for daytime care (4-6 hour shifts) and overnight care (8-12 hour shifts) 2 to 7 days/nights per week.
What is a Postpartum Doula?
For mothers seeking holistic, nurturing postnatal support, a postpartum doulas (PPDs) could be ideal for you. PPD’s focus is on mothering the mother during daytime hours. PPDs are well-versed in maternal care, breastfeeding support, and emotional support for new parents. Whether it’s facilitating self-care moments, preparing nutritious snacks, assisting with household chores, or providing care for baby while you rest, PPDs are committed to empowering you.
A certification is not required to be a sleep trainer. However, ABC’s postpartum doulas are typically certified through organizations such as DONA International or CAPPA, the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association. Certification demonstrates their expertise and commitment to professional standards.
PPD’s typically provide daytime support, with shifts typically ranging from 4-6 hours each, 2-7 days per week.
What’s a Sleep Consultant?
When your baby, or babies, are not sleeping normal day-to-day life can seem daunting. Hiring a sleep consultant, also known as a sleep trainer, can be a game-changer for parents. A sleep consultant works closely with parents. They analyze sleep patterns, establish healthy, safe sleep routines, teach self-soothing techniques, address sleep regressions and provide support for ongoing success.
Some sleep consultants choose to pursue certification, while others have extensive experience caring for infants as mothers, nannies, night nannies, NCSs and more without a formal certification.
Sleep consultants and trainers are available for singular consultations with families or ongoing support until your baby/babies are sleeping through the night.
Let’s Discuss Your Needs
At ABC Nannies, we’re more than a placement service, we’re your trusted partner in parenthood. With our diverse range of newborn care options and unwavering commitment to excellence, you can embark on this journey with confidence, knowing your baby is receiving the highest standard of care. Contact us today to discuss your family’s unique needs – we’re ready to help.
