What’s a Night Nanny? Roles, Benefits, Costs and How They Help Families

April 28, 2022

A night nanny (sometimes called a newborn care specialist, night doula or postpartum doula) provides overnight support for new parents by caring for the baby during the night and helping families get restorative sleep. If you’re a new parent wondering “What’s a night nanny? Do I need one?” this guide explains what they do, how they support breastfeeding, what to expect during a typical overnight shift, the costs and how to choose the right kind of newborn care.

What’s a Night Nanny?

A night nanny is a caregiver who provides overnight support for newborns and their parents, helping babies sleep safely and giving parents restorative rest. Beyond hands-on care, night nannies offer evidence-based guidance and support to ensure parents feel confident in making safe, informed decisions for their baby. Night nannies can also be known as postpartum doulas, newborn care specialists, night doulas and baby nurses. The title Nurse is legally protected in most states and should only be used by a licensed Nurse (RN, LPN, LVN). The other titles, however, describe similar support roles for families in the postpartum phase though credentials vary across providers. Families may want to check the National NAPS Registry for Night Doulas to verify training and standards.

What Does a Night Nanny Do Overnight?

So, what exactly does a night nanny (or night doula) do overnight? In practice, their role goes far beyond simply “watching the baby.” They combine hands-on newborn care, household support and evidence-based guidance for parents, helping the whole family rest, recover, and thrive during those critical first weeks.

Typical responsibilities during an overnight shift include:

• Newborn care: Feeding, diapering, swaddling, soothing and monitoring the baby throughout the night. Night doulas also help with common issues such as helping baby transition to the crib or learning to take a bottle, rather than breastfeed overnight.
• Breastfeeding support:  If you’re breastfeeding, the night doula brings baby to you for nursing, then manages burping, diapering and settling afterward. This support can even help parents get more sleep while breastfeeding. Doing all of the post-breastfeeding care of baby ensures you get more sleep. If you’re pumping, night nannies assist by cleaning and sterilizing pump parts and ensuring safe handling and storage of milk.
• Bottlefeeding Support: Safe formula prep, bottle cleaning/sterilization and A night doula can also help wean overnight bottle feeds or get baby used to feeding from a bottle.
• Sleep support and routines:  Many parents ask “when will my baby sleep through the night”? and while only your baby truly knows, a night doula can gently help infant learn healthy sleep habits and support longer stretches of sleep. This is especially helpful for parents who want to get newborn twins on the same schedule.
• Household tasks: In addition to tasks related to bottles, making formula and pumping, a night nanny also keeps a clear and organized nursery and ensures baby supplies are ready for the morning.
• Parental education: Sharing research-backed guidance on infant safety, feeding, diapering and sleep routines, giving parents confidence in their newborn care
• Emotional and partner support: Offering a calm, nonjudgmental presence and education about normal postpartum mood changes so families understand the difference between PPD and the “Baby Blues“
• Documentation: Logging feeds, diaper changes, sleep patterns, and milestones using tools like the LMS Live app or another baby-tracking system. This is especially helpful for twins and multiples.

The ultimate goal is simple: restorative sleep for parents and safe, nurturing care for the baby with ongoing guidance and support grounded in the latest evidence. By morning, parents wake up to a fed, settled baby and a home ready for the day.

Who Hires Postpartum Doulas and Night Nannies?

There’s no “one size fits all” reason parents hire overnight postpartum care. In most other countries, new parents receive community or government support. In the U.S., with families spread out and many jobs not offering paid maternity leave, it makes sense that parents sometimes need a helping hand.

While sometimes the reason is as simple as, “I just ran the equivalent of a marathon, and at the finish line they handed me baby,” here are some of the most common reasons families hire overnight newborn care:

• Limited time off: Parents are up against the clock of maternity leave and need restorative sleep to function at work.
• Other children or family responsibilities: Parents want to be present for older children or manage household responsibilities during the day.
• No nearby family support: Parents may live far from or simply don’t have relatives who are available to help overnight.
• Multiples: Twins or higher-order multiples often require 20–24 feeding and diapering sessions per day. It makes sense that weeks worth of 24 hour care without a break leads to sleep deprivation, and then illness or exhaustion.
• Post-NICU care: Babies returning home from the NICU often need extra overnight support, especially if maternity leave was exhausted during the hospitalization.
• Infant Sleep Support: Lots of parents wonder things like how to stop swaddling, how to help a baby whose days and nights are mixed up or how to help an infant sleep independently. If this sounds like you, Night Nurses Answer Your Infant Sleep Questions might help you right now!
• Mental and physical health support: Postpartum mood and anxiety disorders can affect any parent. Restorative overnight care helps prevent exhaustion, supports mental health and allows parents to recover physically

If you’re considering night nanny care, you can prepare to talk with a potential caregiver by reading What Should I ask a Night Nurse?

How Night Nannies and Doulas Support Breastfeeding

In the early nights after birth when baby is likely feeding every 2-3 hours a night nanny offers lactation support through your breastfeeding session to ensure nursing is off to a successful start. Then we’ll provide all care after baby has nursed doing the diaper changing, burping, diapering and swaddling back to bed. The goal is for parents to never get out of bed, maximizing post-birth recuperation. Many times parents and night doulas will text each other when it’s time to nurse.

As the weeks go on and you’re able to have a “stash” of breastmilk for overnight feeds, an overnight caregiver can use this pumped milk for overnight feeds or continue to bring baby to you. As baby becomes more alert, usually around week 6, the newborn caregiver will be up and caring for baby during the wakeful overnight periods. This equates to about 2-3 more hours of sleep for parents when nursing.

Night Nanny vs. Baby Nurse: What’s the Difference?

Baby Nurse is a phrase that comes from the ancient practice of wet nursing, where others would breastfeed baby when a mother could not, or would not, nurse. Formula was not yet available. The reasons why wet nursing was normal practice throughout history are worth reading, and as such an ingrained part of so many cultures. So it makes sense that “baby nurse” is still used today. In our modern times though, the title of Nurse is legally protected in most states and should be used by licensed Registered Nurses, Practical Nurses and Vocational Nurses.

When Is a Registered Nurse Needed Overnight?

Licensed Night Nurse (RN/LPN/LVN) care is appropriate when there is a medical need for care of the child. Common reasons for this in the home include: using feeding tubes or other medical devices, giving prescribed medications to baby or when a child has a chronic or complex medical condition.

We often think of Mother/Baby Nurses as being helpful to newborns, but they are equally valuable for parents. While most birth mothers don’t see their OB until about six weeks postpartum, checkups within the first 7–10 days at home can catch small issues before they become big problems. Additionally, Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) are the most common complication of pregnancy and can affect both parents. Nurses cannot diagnose these conditions, but they can provide screenings and recommend follow-up care if needed. In addition, a maternity nurse can monitor physical recovery, including suture healing, blood loss, and overall well-being.

Does Insurance Cover my Night Doula?

In most cases, non-medical night doula or night nanny care is an out-of-pocket expense. However, coverage options are expanding as more insurers and employers recognize the importance of postpartum support.

Here are a few possibilities to explore:

• Private insurance: Some insurers may reimburse part of postpartum doula care, especially when billed under “lactation support” or “postpartum visits.” Coverage varies widely, so it’s best to call your provider directly.
• Licensed nursing care: If overnight care is provided by a Registered Nurse (RN, LPN, LVN) for a medically necessary reason—such as pediatric monitoring after a NICU stay—insurance is more likely to cover services with a doctor’s referral.
• Employer benefits: A growing number of companies include postpartum doula or newborn care in employee benefit programs.
• Financing & Baby Registries: Let Mommy Sleep offers pay-over-time or financing options. Parents can also add postpartum services to baby registries through platforms like BabyList.

While it’s not guaranteed, it’s worth checking with your insurance provider, employer, or benefits administrator. Even when insurance doesn’t cover services directly, families have more creative payment options than ever before. Here are some detailed strategies on how to get insurance to cover my night nanny.

How to Decide if You Need Overnight Newborn Care

If you’re wondering, “Do I really need a night nurse?” the answer often depends on your family’s circumstances. Some parents hire overnight newborn care simply for peace of mind, while others find it’s the only way to safely recover and function during the day.

You may benefit from a night nanny, newborn care specialist or postpartum doula if:

• You’re returning to work soon and need healthy, restorative sleep to function.
• You don’t have nearby family or consistent overnight support.
• recovering from a C-section, complicated birth or balancing an ongoing health condition with being a brand new parent.
• caring for newborn twins or higher order multiples, which can mean 20+ feeds and diaper changes every 24 hours.
• Your baby is coming home from the NICU and you want expert, evidence-based support as you adjust.
• You or your partner are struggling with postpartum anxiety, depression or overwhelming fatigue.
• You’d like guidance on safe sleep, feeding and newborn routines from someone trained in evidence-based care.
• Helping baby sleep through the night without “crying it out” is important to your family.
• You simply want peace of mind knowing your baby is safe and gently cared for overnight.

What’s a Night Nanny? Final Thoughts

While it’s often portrayed as one in the media, overnight newborn care isn’t a luxury. It’s a way to protect your health, safeguard your baby’s well-being, and make the early weeks of parenthood more sustainable. For many families, the investment in sleep and expert support pays off in confidence, recovery, and a smoother transition into life with a newborn.

If you’d like to meet a night doula or are still wondering, “What’s a Night Nanny?”, please reach out. We’re here to help!