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The role of the Registered Nurse or Newborn Care Provider is to feed, soothe, bathe, change & provide all other gentle care to baby through the night.

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Swim Safety, Sun Safety and Drowning Prevention: The Essential Summer Guide

Pools, the ocean, rivers and lakes can all be fun places for a family swim. What’s more, swimming is healthy for us in many ways! Before heading out though, take time to learn or refresh yourself on the basics with swim safety, sun safety and drowning prevention: The Essential Guide.

Swim Safety, Sun Safety and Drowning Prevention

Actively Supervise Children

  • Give children your undivided attention around water; this means no phones!
  • Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm’s reach to provide active supervision. Small children can drown in as little as one inch of water.
  • As SafeKids.org says, using the Water Watcher strategy if there’s more than 1 adult watching the children is an excellent idea. This means each adult has a scheduled amount of time to prevent lapses in supervision, ensuring adults know when it’s “their time.” Adults can decide to hold the card for any amount of time, let’s say 15 minutes each. The cardholder is IN CHARGE of supervision when they have the card; no phone, no other distractions. After 15 minutes simply pass it on to whoever is next. You can download a water watcher card below or even just print this one out.
water watcher card from safekids.org keeps infants safe
Download a Water Watcher Card

Swimming Pool Safety

  • Backyard pools should be fenced at a minimum of 4 feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates, therefore preventing a child from getting in without an adult.
  • When using inflatable or portable pools, remember to empty them after use. Store them upside down and out of children’s reach.
  • Install an alarm so you’ll be alerted if a child wanders into the pool area.

Be Aware of Drains

  • Teach kids never to play or swim near drains or suction outlets. Public wading pools, in-ground hot tubs, or pools that have flat drain grates or a single main drain system are especially dangerous due to the intensity of the suction.
  • Replace flat drain covers with dome-shaped ones
  • If a pool or hot tub has a broken, loose or missing drain cover, err on the side of caution and don’t use it.

Swim Safety and Drowning Prevention: Teaching Kids

  • Teach children that swimming in open water is not the same as swimming in a pool. Sudden drop-offs, currents and undertow are factors they need to understand.
  • Educate children to never go near or in water without an adult actively supervising.
  • Whether in a pool or natural body of water, make sure kids swim only in areas designated as safe because there are likely unseen dangers in those spots.
  • Everyone needs to know that water wings or pool noodles should never be used in place of a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (PFD).

Drowning

Drowning continues to be a leading cause of death for children. Despite what we see in the movies and television, it is actually very subtle.  The struggle to breathe is quiet, quick and several of the signs happen underwater, where we may not be able to observe swimmers distress. Children should *never* be unsupervised while swimming but knowing the physical signs of struggle in the water and drowning can help save lives. 

These are the signs that someone is struggling in water:

  • Head tilted back in a position to try to get air
  • Mouth is at water level
  • Vertical Body – upright instead of horizontal
  • Facing Land – a drowning person is usually facing land
  • “Ladder climbing” – a drowning person looks like they are climbing a ladder
Know The Signs of Drowning in babies, kids and adults
Source: Orange County Register, Surf Riders Foundation

Swim Safety, Sun Safety and Drowning Prevention – Tips for Infants in the Sun

Newborn and infant skin is very tender and should be protected from the sun, but sunblock shouldn’t be used. Little ones often react poorly to the chemicals in sunscreen and can develop a rash or irritation. If your baby is younger than six months, it’s important to follow these essential sun safety tips for infants.

Most experts do not recommend putting sunscreen on babies younger than six months. When compared to older babies and children, younger infants have a higher surface area to body weight ratio, putting them at greater risk when exposed to the chemicals. Plus, infants have immature, sensitive skin that can easily break out in rashes.

Essential Sun Safety Tips for Infants

  • Avoid peak sunlight hours (typically between 10 a.m.-2 p.m.) to minimize exposure to harmful UV rays.
  • Keep baby in the shade by using an umbrella, beach tent or shaded stroller.
  • Dress baby in clothes that covers his/her skin and a brimmed hat. Tight weaves are the best. If baby’s clothing is sheer or see-through, it will not do a good job protecting the skin. Hats should have a wide brim to protect the face, ears, and neck.
  • Since younger babies have not fully developed sweat glands, be sure to constantly monitor your infant for signs of overheating.
  • Keep baby hydrated by offering breast milk or formula. Bring a cooler and follow safety instructions when storing liquids.
  • Watch baby’s urine for signs of dehydration. If urine appears darker or less than usual, baby could be at risk for dehydration and should be moved to a cooler location.
  • For additional sun safety tips for babies, follow these recommendations by the FDA.

For children age 6 months or older, the Environmental Working Group’s 2022 list of safest sunscreens for children lists 73 products that meet its safety standards. This means these sunscreens provide adequate sun protection while avoiding ingredients linked to known health harms. The ingredients of concern are homosalate, avobenzone and oxybenzone. These chemicals have endocrine-disrupting effects. These means they interfere with normal functioning of the endocrine system and the reproductive and other biological processes regulated by it.

The good news is that it’s very easy to find safe sunscreens. Common brands which the EWG ranks a Number 1 in safety include: Adorable Baby, ATTITUDE, California Baby, Earth Mama and more.

Safest Sunscreens for infants and toddlers
Swim Safety, Sun Safety and Drowning Prevention

Hospital Bag Checklist: Our Nurses Favorites

You have everything for your newborn…but what about you?! Hospital Bag Checklist: Our Nurses Favorites includes comfort items to bring to the hospital or birthing center.

Hospital Bag Checklist: Our Nurses Favorites
Hospital Bag Checklist Our Nurses Favorites

Hospital Bag Checklist: Our Nurses Favorites

Bag for Hospital Freebies: A bag for your bags is essential! You’ll have lots of hospital freebies such as diapers and parenting hand-outs to bring home.  This one might be a little on the nose for some, but a foldable duffel bag can be helpful too! Something to bring your discharge orders, pamphlets, formula and giant water bottle home will be helpful.

Extra Long Phone Chargers: You and your partner will be fielding LOTS of phone calls and taking millions of photos…don’t forget that extra long phone charger so the phone will always be within arms reach.

Your Postpartum Outfit: The newborn coming home outfit and carseat are all ready but don’t forget your own clothes.  Loose clothing that won’t rub against your tender mid-section and has a bit of give while your body is in the postpartum phase is a must. For this reason, plenty of new moms choose to keep their maternity clothes for a while.  If you’re breastfeeding, your new go-to clothing options are those that make nursing easy. Nursing tanks and loose shirts are perfect and this nursing dress is easy to pack, functional and -if you’re into being stylish- pretty cute.

Nursing Pillow – Take advantage of the lactation counselors in the hospital by using the same breastfeeding pillow you plan to use at home. If you’re formula feeding, you’ll likely still use a nursing pillow to hold baby. Bringing your nursing pillow with you can help you feel confident at home.

Non-Skid Slippers: Just like our team does in the family home, be sure to have non-slip footwear for walking on those slippery hospital floors. This is for your safety and the safety of your precious newborn when being held. 

Lip Balm: We all know that giving birth means staying hydrated! Remember to keep your lips hydrated after baby arrives as well. It’s a small comfort your body might really appreciate.

Car Seat: A car seat won’t be in your bag of course but we like to remind parents that you won’t be able to leave the hospital without a properly installed, height/weight and age appropriate car seat. If baby is born at 37 weeks or before, s/he will have the pass the “Infant Car Seat Challenge” before leaving. Because pre-term babies’ airways can become constricted, hospital staff will perform the Challenge. Your baby is secured into a car seat, which is reclined to the appropriate angle for travel, and nurses will monitor the respiration and oxygen levels of the baby for 90 to 120 minutes. Babies who pass the test are cleared to leave the hospital. 

For the full list of Hospital Bag suggestions, visit our Amazon Store, amazon.com/shop/letmommysleep.  And if we should add or takeaway any items, let us know on Facebook! 

Paternal PostNatal Depression

Updated, May 2022 – Postpartum mental health issues are the most common complication of pregnancy. Postpartum Depression (PPD) and Anxiety in mothers and birthing parents is finally getting talked about, postpartum depression in men* called Paternal PostNatal Depression, or PPND, is just as common.

*While the studies that have been done solely include male partners and pronouns, the results and recommendations for care are still extremely useful to same sex and non-binary partners as well. Paternal PostNatal Depression is explained below.

What is Paternal PostNatal Depression?

A 2010 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that up to 14.1 of men suffer from depression after the birth of their child. This number rises when partners are also experiencing depression.  Other studies also note depression in new dads can affect up to 25% of fathers. The condition is called PPND, or Paternal PostNatal Depression, and with the amount of depression reported in men as a whole is typically about 5%, PPND is very real. We often attribute Depression in mothers to the obvious biological and hormonal changes experienced after childbirth. However, hormonal and emotional changes happen to men too. 

You can read here to understand the difference between typical baby blues and postpartum depression in the days and weeks after birth.

Who is at risk?

PPND can happen to any father but there are also risk factors you should know about before baby arrives that may help identify PPND early. These are:

  •  history of depression
  •  partner who has depression 
  •  an unplanned/unwanted pregnancy
  •  poor family relationships and little social support

How can PPND be helped? 

  • Early detection and action is KEY, especially if Dad or Dad’s to be are under significant stress and are predisposed to depression.
  • As reported in the NIH study, men underreport their symptoms. There is still a perceived social stigma to depression so talking about it and normalizing PPND is helpful.
  • You can take this assessment to see if they should be evaluated by a professional. 
  • For men at risk, regular exercise, proper sleep and family and social support helps. This includes Paid Leave as noted by the National Institute of Health.
  • A professional assessment by a mental health professional is also recommended. 

As Registered Nurse Elizabeth Hawkes has noted from her experience and research, postpartum mental health issues are 100% manageable with proper intervention and/or medication. Hawkes says, “It’s about time we include the entire family as one unit instead of only asking  ‘How is mom?’ How is baby?'” For mothers and fathers, knowledge is power in managing postpartum mental health complications before they arise. If you’re experiencing PPND or have thoughts that scare you, reach out to the resources above or Postpartum.net.

 

Paternal PostNatal Depression
Paternal PostNatal Depression,

Choking First Aid for Infants

Choking is a common cause of injury and death in children. While this is scary, the good news is that choking is usually preventable. If you do observe a baby choking, follow the steps below in Choking First Aid for Infants and call 911. You can also learn more first aid skills before baby arrives and take a Red Cross Infant CPR/First Aide class.

Choking First Aid for Infants

Parents and caregivers can help prevent situations that may cause choking in infants by ensuring that:

1.  bottle fed babies are monitored and using proper flow on the nipple – don’t prop the bottle on a pillow or other device to feed.
2. only developmentally appropriate foods are offered 
3. small items that can fit in the mouth are never in baby’s reach

Coughing is the best way to clear a partially blocked airway, but if your baby is unable to breath, cough or make a sound, the airway may be totally blocked and your help is needed to clear it. Be prepared to help baby by reviewing the steps below to understand choking first aid.

Choking First Aid for Infants
what to do if a baby is choking

While choking is a common cause of injury and death in children, but it doesn’t have to be.  Parents and caregivers can prevent situations that may cause choking in infants by ensuring that:

1. bottle fed babies are monitored
2. developmentally appropriate foods are offered, such as smooth foods only when solids are introduced
3. small items that babies or toddlers can grab and place in their mouths are never within the child’s reach.

What’s a Night Nanny?

There are lots of terms for a helper that supports new babies and their parents overnight such as postpartum doula, newborn care provider and baby nurse. The term “Nurse” is protected in most states and should only be used by an actual licensed Nurse, but the other titles describe similar support roles. So, let’s start at the beginning by answering the question, What’s a Night Nanny? and describing what happens during a typical overnight shift.

What’s a Night Nanny? Watch this!

What’s a Night Nanny?

A night nanny provides overnight newborn care to babies and evidence-based support to parents. In a nutshell this means that they feed, diaper, swaddle and soothe the infant in the overnight hours. They also keep the home clean and ready for the day when leaving the family home in the morning. This means cleaning and sterilizing bottles and breast pump parts, making formula if needed and ensuring baby’s area and clothing are clean and tidy.

Providing evidence-based education means being prepared to guide and teach new parents in feeding, safety, diapering, infant sleep habits and more. We provide supportive, nonjudgemental care and give parents all the information they need to make the best and safest decisions for their families.

What Exactly Happens Overnight?

The role of the Registered Nurse or Newborn Care Provider (NCP) is to care for baby through the night, usually from 10pm – 7am and provide ongoing support to parents as needed. This means we:

  • diaper, feed, burp, soothe, swaddle, bathe and monitor baby.
  • educate and teach new parents
  • provide breast and bottle feeding support
  • help get baby and twins on a schedule and sleeping through the night (if that’s what parents want!)
  • tidy the area where care is provided, get bottles and breast pump ready for the next day.
  • provide partner support and help understanding postpartum anxiety, depression or the “baby blues”

Baby’s night will also be documented using our documentation App, LMS Live or your preferred baby tracker app.

What's a Night Nanny?
What Happens Overnight?

Who Uses Postpartum Doulas and Night Nannies?

There is no “one size fits all” reason why parents have postpartum overnight care. In just about every other country besides the US there is community and government support for new parents. With families spread out and many jobs not offering maternity leave, it makes sense that parents would need a helping hand.

While the reason can and should be as simple as, “because I just ran the equivalent of a marathon and I want to,” here are some of the most common reasons people have overnight newborn care:

  • There’s no other choice – they’re up against the clock of maternity leave and need sleep to function at work.
  • They have other kids and family they need to be present for.
  • No family help available.
  • Twins, triplets and higher order multiples requiring at least 24 feeding and changing sessions PER DAY
  • Baby is home from extended stay in the NICU and guess what! Maternity leave was exhausted during this time.
  • To stay ahead of mental and physical health issues. Postpartum mental health disorders can affect anyone and restorative sleep helps both parents.

What if I’m 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 recuperation time. (Unless they want to get up!) Many times parents and caregivers will text, to give each other a little message that 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.

What’s a Night Nanny? – What’s a Baby Nurse?

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, 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.

We usually think of Night Nurse (RN/LPN) care as 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, passing medications to baby or when a child has a chronic or complex medical condition. Pediatric nursing is typically covered by insurance.

Nurses are helpful during the early postpartum phase for parents too. While it’s typical for birth moms to have a postpartum visit 6 weeks after giving birth, checkups within the first 7-10 days home from the hospital are also enormously helpful. Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD’s) are the most common complication of pregnancy and can affect both parents. While nurses cannot diagnose these issues, they can administer testing to determine if further care is recommended. Additionally physical healing, suture care and blood loss can be monitored by a maternity nurse.

If you’re not sure if you’d like help or what kind of help, please reach out and we can help walk you through all of your options.

Lactation Counselor Jordan describes a typical night helping families.
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