Questions to Ask When Hiring a Night Nanny or Postpartum Doula

May 22, 2017

Considering hiring help when your newborn or twins arrive? Before the interview, it might be helpful to think about what aspects of baby care will be most helpful to you. Questions to Ask When Hiring a Night Nanny or Postpartum Doula is a starting point for families considering in-home care of their newborns, infants or twins.

Questions to Ask When Hiring a Night Nanny or Postpartum Doula – Overview

Family preferences to consider before you begin the search for newborn care:

• Daytime nanny versus overnight newborn care
• Importance of supporting your feeding and parenting choices
• What type of infant care experience or certifications matter to you
• What are your goals and expectations for infant sleep?

Questions to Ask When Hiring a Night Nanny or Postpartum Doula

Would daytimes or overnight newborn care be more helpful for my family?

A daytime nanny who can do household tasks and help look after older kids as well as the newborn might be your perfect postpartum solution. A night nanny whose goal is for you to get as much sleep as possible could also be your main support. Day or nighttime care are both enormously helpful of course, and the decision usually comes down to personal factors. For example, a parent whose partner is returning to work may opt for a night nanny if they are “on” 24 hours a day. Parents with older kids might opt for a daytime nanny so they can have one-on-one time their older children.

Do I want help breastfeeding, pumping or bottle feeding?

Newborn breastfeeding support can be invaluable to new parents as breastfeeding is about more than just “the milk.” If you’re open to nursing, it will only help to have lactation teaching in place before your baby arrives. If using formula, having a caregiver who is nonjudgemental and well versed in bottle feeding is vital too. Infant feeding decisions may evolve over time and don’t have to be all or nothing either.

Newborn and Postpartum Experience and Philosophy

What kind of newborn and postpartum care experience matters to me? 

The care of babies 0-1 year old is a specific area of expertise. Whatever name you use, postpartum doula, newborn care provider or night nanny, the caregiver should be able to easily demonstrate thorough knowledge of newborn and infant care. This means swaddling, safe sleep, reducing the risk of SIDS, appropriate feeding and soothing techniques.

Learning about a postpartum doulas or newborn care providers experience is perhaps the best way to know if they’re a fit with your family. For example, just because someone has taken a newborn care training class doesn’t mean they have ever held a real baby. On the same note, there are many experienced twin nannies who have never had formal training!

It’s important to pause here and note that only professionals who have completed Registered Nursing, Licensed Practical Nursing, Certified Nurse Midwife or other higher level Licensed Nursing degrees should be called “nurse” or “baby nurse.” While the term is a colloquial norm, it’s actually illegal in most states for a newborn caregiver to use the “baby nurse” title without clinical licensure.

Approaches to Infant Sleep and Daily Care

Do I want someone to help my baby sleep through the night, or will I be more of a ‘go with the flow’ type when it comes to infant sleep? 

Sleeping through the night is often seen as the “finish line” in infant care, especially when newborn twins arrive. This is because parents are returning to work, have older kids they need to be present for or simply can’t function safely if sleep deprived. On the other hand, a baby-led approach to sleep is also fine (and completely normal in many other parts of the world, but that’s for a different blog)! Either way, a newborn caregiver who understands and supplements your sleep philosophy means consistency of care. It will be helpful to think about how you feel about sleep training, attachment parenting or getting baby on a schedule before baby arrives.

There are many titles for your support person; postpartum doula, newborn care provider, night nanny and baby nurse. Unless a Registered Nurse or medical care is specifically needed, the title your newborn support person uses probably isn’t that important. The most important thing is that you have helpful and reliable care during the postpartum phase; for you, your infant and your family.