The State of Newborn Care in the United States: Gaps in Oversight and the Need for Standardization is a workforce policy paper written by Let Mommy Sleep Founder, Denise Iacona Stern. The full report is available on SSRN.
In-home newborn care and postpartum support is a rapidly growing industry. Medicaid now covers birth and postpartum doulas in most states, night nanny care is available as part of many employer benefit packages and caregivers are increasingly choosing in-home newborn care as a career path. The global postpartum products market is projected to reach $3.90 billion by 2030, a reflection of surging consumer demand for postpartum support across all categories, including in-home care services.
As use of private newborn and postpartum care becomes normalized, standards, protocols and oversight lag behind. And while the work is healthcare-adjacent, there is no recognized credential or oversight. Simply put, families cannot verify caregiver training and caregivers in turn have no mechanism for remediation in the event of a dispute.
Labels that imply standardization without independent oversight unintentionally obscure a wide variation in training and work expectations, further evidencing the need for a standardized system.
-The State of Newborn Care, 2026
The State of Newborn Care in the United States: What the Research Shows
The first 12 weeks of life represent a high-risk period for newborns and parents, but there is no credential for those who support families during this time.
In-home newborn care as a profession has grown rapidly driven by unmet demand during the postpartum phase.
Despite increased use, the sector lacks national standards, creating preventable safety, public health and professional issues.
Newborn care training and practices among caregivers vary widely.
Aggregation and accountability are necessary to protect families and providers alike.
While private agencies and training programs offer certificate opportunities, there are no nationally accepted or enforced safety guidelines. The first step to elevating care for families, and protected the caregivers who are called to do this work, is meaningful credentialing.
The Newborn & Postpartum Support (NAPS) Night Doula Certificate was built in response to exactly this gap. It’s not a government credential, but it is a voluntary evidence-based standard for caregivers and families while the industry awaits the national oversight it needs. It is a rigorous, voluntary standard overseen by a third party Advisory Board of Registered Nurses and postpartum subject matter experts, developed by the organization that has been advocating for mandatory national standards since 2010. Read the full policy paper here.
Let Mommy Sleep provides bilingual (English–Spanish) newborn and postpartum education programs, including night nanny training, postpartum doula education, twin care instruction, breastfeeding support, pelvic floor education, home organization guidance, and grief doula training, all developed and reviewed by registered nurses, IBCLCs, and public health professionals.
Doula Nocturna / Night Nanny and Newborn Care Class
The Newborn and Postpartum Support Certificate Class contains: postpartum physical and mental health recovery, daily soothing, feeding and diapering techniques, infant sleep expectations and more.
Having a night nanny or a postpartum doula experienced in caring for multiple babies can help keep families healthy, organized and safe. This class covers feeding, soothing and all the essential aspects of newborn care for twins and higher order multiples, including safe sleep strategies and routines for a well-organized home.
You’ll learn how to:
Support tandem breastfeeding and how to bottle feed both babies simultaneously or staggered
Ensure the twins are sleeping safely
Manage daily logistics and maintain family organization
Home Organization/ Organizacióndel Hogar
The Home Organization class helps you prepare your living space for the postpartum phase with topics like:
How to organize the nursery and household safely
Monthly, weekly and daily checklists
Maintain functional spaces to make daily care easier
The class also contains healthy easy to make recipes for healing and recuperation. Postpartum doulas find this course especially helpful.
Basics of Breastfeeding / Conceptos Básicos do Lactancia
In our Breastfeeding class, participants learn the basics of breastfeeding and how to support parents with feeding at home. Topics include feeding techniques, recognizing hunger cues and establishing effective feeding routines.
Introduction to the Pelvic Floor / Introducción alSuelo Pélvico
The Introduction to the Pelvic Floor class covers advances in medical research and provides education to keep this vital area healthy. Participants will learn exercises, practices and essential care to support postpartum recovery and prevent complications.
Grief Doula Class / Doula de Duelo
The Grief Doula Class is designed for those supporting families through loss. Each module is based on compassionate care principles and best practices, equipping participants with the skills and confidence to guide families through the grieving process with sensitivity and support.
Newborn Care Classes in Spanish | Clases de Recién Nacidos FAQ
Why offer newborn care classes in Spanish?
Let Mommy Sleep offers newborn care classes in Spanish to make evidence-based newborn care information accessible to the Spanish speaking audience. Bilingual night nannies and parents alike can also choose to learn in whichever language they prefer.
What qualifications do I need to get a job as a night nanny? Previous newborn care experience is important as well as health and safety certificates in safe sleep, Infant CPR/First Aide and the Newborn and Postpartum Support Certificate. Learn what you can expect when you work as a night nanny at Let Mommy Sleep.
Let Mommy Sleep classes and materials are for educational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and online classes don’t take the place of hands-on experience. Families should always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding medical concerns about pregnancy, postpartum recovery, or infant health. Class materials are guided and overseen by a third party clinical advisory board.
Many companies now include pregnancy and postpartum benefits in their employee benefit programs. From help covering the costs of fertility or adoption, to in-home postpartum support services, these benefits are designed to go beyond family leave.
Below is a breakdown of each postpartum employee benefit program:
Postpartum Employee Benefit Programs
Pacify
Pacify is a program that gives employees on-demand access to perinatal and postpartum support. Through their dedicated app, employees can connect with birth doulas, postpartum doulas and lactation consultants. In addition to hands on birth support, caregivers who have been approved through Pacify can provide in-person or virtual support with breast or bottle feeding, sleep or newborn care after baby arrives. Read What’s a Night Nanny?to learn more about overnight newborn care.
Highlights:
You can get real-time support from trained professionals.
It’s especially helpful for first time parents who might need help on-demand; they are unsure what to do at 2 a.m. or who want guidance on breastfeeding and newborn routines.
Employees control the process through the Pacify app.
Maven
Maven Clinic is widely regarded as the best-in-class employee benefit for its proven results in improving maternal health outcomes and comprehensive coverage. Maven also serves Medicaid populations, improving access to care.
Highlights:
You get 24/7 virtual access to experts in many areas, including maternity, postpartum, mental health and parenting.
Maven often includes a care advocate who helps you find the right support and navigate benefits.
Some plans include a tool like Maven Wallet, which can reimburse you for eligible postpartum services like doulas or lactation support.
Additional services such as Maven Milk, their secure breastmilk shipping service and ensure wraparound care on the return to work.
Progyny
Progyny is best known for fertility benefits, but it also includes support for pregnancy and postpartum care as well as parenting and menopause. The program is built around personalized care and ongoing support.
Highlights:
Employees connect with a dedicated Patient Care Advocate (PCA). PCA’s are registered nurses and other fertility specialists to provide personalized plans of care.
Progyny offers child well-being services like connection to social workers and peer support groups to “help parents connect with others at similar childhood stages.”
It’s designed to feel like a coordinated, high-touch support system, not just a list of resources.
Carrot
Carrot is a broader family benefits program with an emphasis on family building, covering fertility treatments, surrogacy, adoption and pregnancy. Carrot also extends into postpartum care as well as hormonal health coverage for those experiencing menopause.
Many potential users now report Carrot benefits are difficult or impossible to use. This is due to Carrot’s 2026 stipulation that requires individual doulas to be registered with Medicaid in order for services to be reimbursed.
Let Mommy Sleep
Unlike platform-based benefit programs, Let Mommy Sleep provides direct in-home care and virtual doula support from Registered Nurses and NAPS-certified night nannies. There is no app intermediary. Companies work directly with a dedicated corporate support contact and caregivers are deployed within 24 hours of a request.
Let Mommy Sleep is appropriate for companies that want:
In-home overnight newborn care as a standalone benefit
Postpartum home visits by a Registered Nurse, bridging the gap between hospital discharge and the six-week OB appointment
A direct reimbursement model without platform fees
Virtual Postpartum Doula Support for real-time assistance.
Learn more or contact us if you’d like to explore corporate care for your company.
Postpartum Employee Benefit Programs – Solutions for Small Business
Cleo – Formerly known as Cleo Health, Cleo notes that it’s purpose is to “fills the caregiver support gap” and amplify existing benefits. This means they provide an employee support platform that helps employees navigate through all stages of life, not just family planning. While Cleo does support family building, they also to address preparing to care for older family members and end-of-life care. This puts the focus on holistic support for all employees, not just those with a focus on becoming parents.
The Lactation Network (TLN)– Not a full fertility-to-postpartum platform, but TLN helps employers build lactation support into health plans with in-home or telehealth lactation consultant care for breastfeeding support. This is often part of self-insured employer plans that want a dedicated lactation solution. And yes, a night nanny is worth it if you’re breastfeeding!
Direct Reimbursements for Postpartum Care– Separate from third-party platforms, some companies and health plans now offer doula reimbursement or coverage directly to employees. Walmart for example, allows employees to use a stipend of up to $1,000 per pregnancy for doula services or virtual doula visits.
Which Program Is Right for Your Company?
Choosing between these programs typically comes down to three factors: price point for your company size, ease of use for employees and whether you want a platform that handles family building broadly or postpartum support specifically. Maven is widely regarded as the most user-friendly given its size and infrastructure. Most platforms will also offer a demo, so we recommend requesting one from any program you’re seriously considering. For companies that want direct in-home care rather than a platform intermediary, Let Mommy Sleep offers corporate partnerships directly.
The Let Mommy Sleep leadership team combines lived experience, clinical expertise and years of hands-on work in newborn and postpartum care. The business was built to give families access to qualified overnight support while establishing clear, professional standards in an industry where expectations and training have historically varied.
Denise Iacona Stern — Founder & Business Development Lead
Denise is the Founder behind the growth and expansion strategy of Let Mommy Sleep. She is responsible for building the business infrastructure, establishing partnerships, and driving the company’s strategic direction as it expands into new markets. Denise is also the architect of the Let Mommy Sleep licensing model, ensuring new licensees are trained to deliver consistent, high-quality overnight newborn care aligned with the company’s safety and care standards.
Denise is the author of The State of Newborn Care in the United States, a workforce policy paper published on SSRN examining gaps in oversight and the need for national standardization of newborn care providers. She is also the recipient of the 2025 TITAN Award for Outstanding Female Entrepreneur, and regularly contributes to maternal health media and advocacy efforts focused on improving standards and access in postpartum care.
Joy Becker, LPN — Director of Recruiting (12+ Years)
Joy Becker has been with Let Mommy Sleep for over 12 years. As a Licensed Practical Nurse and former professional child care center owner, she has helped shape the clinical direction of the company, ensuring that all care is grounded in safety. While the scope of care of postpartum doulas and newborn care providers is non-medical, Joy is able to share evidence-based best practices in the home that are relevant to their work. Additionally, Joy directs instruction for the company’s nationally acclaimed newborn care training and postpartum home visiting protocols.
Now an owner of the flagship location, Joy is a key leader in training new staff and new licensees, ensuring they meet the high standards required to provide overnight infant care. Her long-term experience is a cornerstone of the organization’s stability and quality.
As Joy said on CBS Baltimore, “Health care is continually growing and evolving, and the patient population is becoming more diverse. Continuing education, through the many resources available, is a nurse’s most powerful tool to help others and herself.”
Jasmin Brunnelson — Director of Training & Quality (12+ Years)
Jasmin has also been with Let Mommy Sleep for over 12 years and has worked in every department at the company including working in family homes. This gives her a deep and unique understanding of how each facet of the business works together. She plays a critical role in training new licensees and shaping the company’s service delivery model. Her work ensures every partner is prepared to provide consistent, compassionate and safe overnight newborn care.
As the owner of Let Mommy Sleep in Washington DC as well as Southwest Texas, Jasmin continues to expand and refine best practices on the local and national level.
Jasmin helps maintain the company’s operational standards and supports ongoing education for staff and licensees. By creating and continually measuring the success of systems used on the local and national level, Jasmin’s role is crucial. Her work allows business operations to run smoothly for everyone; from individual caregivers to case managers to the company as a whole.
Erin Thomas-Walker, Postpartum Doula and Owner of Let Mommy Sleep Midwest
With a background in corporate banking and already a mother of 2, Erin opened Let Mommy Sleep in one of the busiest markets in the country, Chicago, in April 2020. Since then, Erin has expanded the business -and her family now as a mother of 3- across the Midwest, serving babies and their families in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin.
Erin is a Postpartum Doula, Peer Counselor in Breastfeeding and a nationally recognized newborn care expert. She has contributed to major publications including The Washington Post, Thrive, and Chicago Parent Magazine. Her experience as a mother and postpartum professional shapes her approach to care and continually informs the standards Let Mommy Sleep uses today.
Erin’s focus is on evidence-based care, safe sleep practices, and making sure families feel supported and informed during a time when rest is rare and questions are constant.
Clinical Advisory Board: Registered Nurses, IBCLC’s and Public Health Experts
Let Mommy Sleep’s Advisory Board is made up of Nurses, International Board Certified Lactation Consultants, Public Health Experts and postpartum mental health advisors. This board provides neutral oversight and helps guide our policies, safety standards and training protocols. Their expertise ensures our care model remains aligned with current research and evidence-based practice in newborn and postpartum care.
Why Our Leadership Matters
Let Mommy Sleep isn’t just a service, it’s a system built on real-world experience, clinical oversight and long-term commitment to safe newborn care. Our leadership team ensures families receive professional overnight support, and caregivers receive the opportunity to rise to the highest standards of care. This ensures accountability and consistency as the business -and the entire industry- grows.
Leadership & Oversight FAQs
Who sets care standards at Let Mommy Sleep?
Care standards at Let Mommy Sleep are established by the leadership team in collaboration with licensed nurses, experienced postpartum doulas and the company’s Advisory Board. Standards are informed by evidence-based newborn care practices, infant safe sleep guidelines and ongoing continuing education.
What qualifications does Let Mommy Sleep leadership bring to newborn care?
Leadership includes licensed nurses and business leaders with decades of combined experience in overnight newborn care. The Clinical Advisory Board includes Board Certified and Licensed experts in public health, breastfeeding, postpartum care and maternal mental health.
How does Let Mommy Sleep ensure caregiver training and consistency across locations?
All caregivers and licensees are trained under standardized protocols developed by leadership and clinical staff. All caregivers must complete the Newborn and Postpartum Support (NAPS) Certificate and are required to maintain certificates in Infant Safe Sleep, CPR and First Aid and ongoing continuing education to maintain consistency across markets.
What role does the Advisory Board play?
The Advisory Board provides subject-matter expertise from nursing, public health, postpartum and newborn care professionals. The board advises on safety standards and policy updates to ensure care remains aligned with current best practices.
How long has Let Mommy Sleep leadership been involved in newborn care?
Key members of the leadership team, including Joy Becker, LPN, and Jasmin Brunnelson, have been with Let Mommy Sleep for over 12 years. This long-term involvement provides institutional knowledge and operational stability, which allows training to remain dynamic but still consistent as the market evolves.
How are care and safety standards reviewed or updated?
Care standards are reviewed in monthly Roundtable meetings and also periodically updated and disseminated by leadership and clinical advisors to reflect updated guidance on newborn safety, infant safe sleep practices and postpartum health. Feedback from caregivers and families is also incorporated into ongoing improvements.
Who is responsible for maintaining quality as the company expands?
Quality and consistency during expansion are overseen by the leadership team, including clinical and training directors, with support from the Advisory Board. New markets and licensees are required to meet the same training and care standards as existing locations. Let Mommy Sleep is dedicated to safety and standardizing best practices. Read The State of Newborn Care, Policy Paper (2026) for more information.
Meet the Experts: Newborn Nurses in Southern California
Karla Pablo, RN and Maria Encarnacion, RN are the leaders of Let Mommy Sleep Southern California. Both are registered nurses, mothers and seasoned professionals with extensive experience in Labor and Delivery and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Together, they bring over 30 years of combined clinical expertise in newborn and postpartum care to families across Southern California.
Clinical and Hospital Expertise
Karla and Maria have worked in high-acuity hospital environments, attending births and caring for premature, medically fragile, and twin infants. Their experience in the NICU and labor-and-delivery units gives them an advanced understanding of newborn health, safe sleep practices, feeding, and postpartum recovery. This expertise is the foundation for the evidence-based care provided by Let Mommy Sleep nurses in the home.
Maria Encarnacion, a Registered Nurse (BSN) since 2007, has spent most of her career in the NICU, with additional experience in adult care. As a mother and working parent, she knows the physical, mental, and emotional demands of caring for a newborn. Maria emphasizes the importance of rest, saying, “Even one night of uninterrupted sleep can reset a parent’s mind and body. When parents are able to rest and gain clarity, they feel more present and patient, which benefits the entire family. I want every family to have that opportunity.”
Karla Pablo, a neonatal RN and current owner of Let Mommy Sleep Las Vegas, partnered with Maria to bring their expertise to Southern California. She has worked at St. Joseph’s Health in New Jersey and MountainView Hospital in Las Vegas, handling the high-volume birth center and complex neonatal cases. Karla’s hospital experience ensures that every nurse on the team is trained to the highest clinical standards.
Evidence-Based, Family-Focused Care
Under Karla and Maria’s leadership, Let Mommy Sleep Southern California provides overnight newborn support, postpartum check-ups from licensed nurses, and in-home baby prep classes. Every service reflects decades of clinical knowledge, hands-on experience, and an understanding of the unique challenges parents face. Families can trust that the guidance and care they receive are grounded in proven, evidence-based practices.
Karla and Maria’s combined experience as nurses and mothers allows them to guide families through the newborn stage with confidence. Their team helps parents rest, recover, and feel empowered, making the early weeks of parenthood safer, healthier and more manageable.
FAQ – Night Nannies and Newborn Care in Southern California
What does a night nanny actually do overnight?
A night nanny provides hands-on newborn care and feeding support during the night so parents can sleep. This includes feeding support, soothing, diaper changes, monitoring safe sleep and keeping parents informed. While the focus is on supporting the baby so parents get meaningful rest, caregivers also provide education and postpartum support to parents.
Formula can be given but night nannies also provide lactation support and breastfeeding assistance by caring for baby after the feeding session and handling pump and milk storage. Night nannies give breastfeeding parents 2-3 more hours of sleep overnight.
How much does a night nanny cost?
Cost varies based on location and caregiver experience but in general cost is $39-$50 per hour. Families typically pay more for newborn caregivers with licensed nursing credentials or those caring for twins. Let Mommy Sleep offers transparent pricing and flexible scheduling without long-term contracts.
Is a night nanny the same as a baby nurse?
Not exactly. A night nanny is typically a non-medical newborn care provider focused on evidence-based overnight support. A baby nurse is a licensed RN or LPN who can provide postpartum check-ups, pass medications and provide clinical care in medical situations. Let Mommy Sleep offers both options depending on family needs and caregiver availability. Learn more in What’s a Night Nanny?
Is it safe to have someone care for my newborn overnight?
Yes, when care is provided by trained, background checked and vetted professionals who follow evidence-based newborn care and safe sleep guidelines. Parents can always view caregiver’s Safe Sleep and newborn/postpartum care certificates, references and background checks.
How long do families usually hire a night nanny?
Many families use overnight newborn care for 3-5 nights per week for the first few weeks during recovery, and then taper down to 2-3 nights per week. Some need short-term support during recovery, while others continue longer for feeding challenges, twins or infant sleep support. Duration of care typically depends on how much outside support families have, how long they have before returning to work and if they have older children.
Let Mommy Sleep Southern California serves: Los Angeles, Long Beach, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Fullerton, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, Torrance, Downey, Pomona, Santa Clarita, Riverside, San Bernardino, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, Carlsbad, San Diego, Vista, Encinitas, and surrounding Southern California communities.
