Some parents hire them to help with newborns so they have time and energy to care for older siblings. And baby nurses can help you handle a growing family. The biggest benefit is that they allow you to sleep, which is a necessity, not a luxury. Studies show that chronic sleep deprivation can increase a new mom's risk for postpartum depression and inhibit her ability to bond with the baby.īaby nurses can also teach new parents the ropes, especially if they don't have family close by. What are the benefits of a baby nurse?Ī baby nurse can help parents, especially new moms, navigate the first hectic, overwhelming weeks with a baby. Night nurses generally don't do household chores unrelated to baby care, nor are they there to babysit older siblings. You also shouldn't rely on a night nurse to diagnose any potential health issues you'll still want to raise any questions with your pediatrician as they come up. Keeping a log of sleeping, feeding and changing times to help the family develop a schedule.Organizing the nursery and doing baby's laundry.Soothing the baby and encouraging regular sleep habits.Dealing with baby-specific health issues, like cradle cap, circumcision, umbilical cord care, diaper rash, reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Baby feeding, including bringing the baby to Mom for breastfeeding, preparing bottles and helping with latching on or pumping if needed.What does a night nurse do?īaby nurses support families in all aspects of newborn care, such as:

There are many specialists who work with families and are knowledgeable about infant development and basic eating, sleeping and care, but not all are baby nurses.įor example, the role of night nurse or baby nurse is distinct from that of a postpartum doula (who helps new moms recover from birth and adjust to parenthood) or a baby nanny who will remain with the family as the baby grows up. When deciding to hire a night nurse, make sure you match your candidate to your family's needs. Most work the overnight shift, but some are hired for round-the-clock help. Baby nurses usually help for a few weeks, though some are retained for months. Some baby nurses are hired by frantic parents during the first few weeks after birth, and others get booked well in advance, visiting the parents-to-be in the hospital and sometimes accompanying them home with the baby. They do, however, have expertise in infant care and development, including feeding, sleep training, CPR, managing multiples and treating the special needs of preemies or babies with a medical condition. While they’re called baby nurses, they may - or may not - be licensed or registered nurses with medical training. Also called 'newborn care specialists,' they typically work at night, feeding and changing the baby so the parents can get some much-needed rest. A night nurse or baby nurse is an expert in newborn care who helps new parents during the first few weeks of life at home.

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