A night nanny is a professional caregiver who provides overnight support to families with newborns, helping with tasks like feeding, diaper changes, soothing the baby or babies to sleep, and ensuring a good night’s rest for the whole family. The support of a night nanny allows parents to rest and recover safely in the knowledge that their baby is in expert hands.
1) What is a night nanny?
Night nannies are experienced caregivers who specialize in overnight care for newborns and infants. By being available right through the night, a night nanny is on hand while the rest of the household is asleep to ensure your baby is safe, nurtured, and well-rested.
As the parent of any newborn will tell you, lack of sleep can be extremely debilitating, which is why more and more families are engaging the services of a night nanny during the first few months after the birth. By taking responsibility for meeting the baby’s needs throughout the night, a night nanny can ensure you feel refreshed and ready for the joys of parenting during the day.
2) What is the role of a night nanny?
The primary role of a night nanny is to tend to your baby’s every need: feeding, diapering, and soothing them back to sleep at night. An experienced night nanny will also work alongside you to create healthy sleep habits and assist with baby-related household chores, freeing up your time to relax, get some deep sleep, and enjoy the wonders of your beautiful new baby.
For breastfeeding mothers, your night nanny will can gently wake you, assist with latching or positioning, and handle tasks like burping and diaper changes before soothing the baby back to sleep. By minimizing disturbance, new mothers can return to sleep more quickly after nursing and wake up feeling refreshed the following day.
3) Do night nannies stay awake all night?
During their overnight shift, night nannies prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of your newborn. When the baby is fed, changed, and sleeping soundly, your night nanny will assist with light household duties such as tidying the nursery, doing a load of the baby’s laundry and cleaning bottles. Once their tasks are complete, your nanny may rest, in the same room as- your baby/babies.
4) How to find a night nanny
Experienced night nannies can be hard to find, so we advise that families start their search at least two to six months in advance. By partnering with a reputable agency such as ABC Nannies, we can streamline the recruitment process and match you with suitable candidates who have already been through our rigorous vetting process.
If you are not sure if a night nanny is the right choice for you and your newborn, we have other support options available including Newborn Care Specialists, Postpartum Doulas, and specialist Sleep Consultants. Whatever stage you are at in your parenting journey, our team are on hand to work closely with you to understand your preferences and childcare needs.
Discover the ABC Nannies difference. With over 30 years of proven success, ABC connects exceptional nannies and household staff with local families who value professionalism, reliability and top-notch care.
- If you found this article useful, you might also enjoy this: ‘What’s the difference between a nanny and a family assistant?‘
- If you’re a family looking to hire a nanny, we’d love to help. Complete our Family Application here.
- If you’re a candidate looking for your next position, apply here.
