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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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Toys Siblings Can Play with Together!

Updated November 19, 2023 – If you’re expecting your second, it’s normal to worry about how you’ll manage your time with a newborn and older child. How will you keep everyone happy and occupied? And what about twins…how will you handle 2 babies and then 2 toddlers?  Our night nanny and postpartum doula team have a few suggestion to help your days go smoothly in this blog, Toys Siblings Can Play with Together!

Toys Siblings Can Play with Together!

Toys Siblings Can Play with Together – Our Faves

We’ve got a full list of toys siblings can play with together on Amazon. Here are a few of our favorites:

  • The Aqua Magic Mat is a 40″ x 60″ is colorful and meant to be drawn on, so the baby can have tummy time alongside older kids. There are pens and small parts that come with this toy so supervision is of course a must. You can always add a separate playmat for baby on the side too.
  • Step 2’s Walk-In Play Kitchen is big enough for 2 or 3 kids to cook and create together and looks like a modern kitchen! It’s all wood, includes 15 play pieces and has moveable parts at all levels so even babies who aren’t standing yet can parallel play and watch.
  • Jumbo Foam Blocks are basically giant soft Legos! They’re sturdy and have endless possibilities for safe play.
  • For toddlers, the 40 piece cardboard block set with 3 different sized blocks means even more building! While you’ll probably have these for many years, parents should know that each of the 40 pieces must be put together individually.
  • The full set of Elephant & Piggie books. Go ahead and do yourself a favor and just buy all 25 books. We PROMISE your reading age child will adore reading these aloud to their baby brother or sister. And if you want to read aloud to the kids, Elephant & Piggie stories are warm, hilarious and often have a funny twist at the end. 
  • 4-in-1 Activity Center – This toy is not to be used without adult supervision but we love it because for less than $150 you’ll have a toy that occupies several kids at a time for years! Your baby will learn so much just from being held while watching the older kids slide, climb and shoot hoops! see the next section for more on this!

What the Experts Say About The Power of Play

Sibling Bonding and Play

While fostering good sibling relationships is ultimately up to the kids themselves, we parents can help the process along!  A Georgetown study notes that “Infants with siblings imitated more behaviour without explicit instruction than did infants without siblings.”  That means your little ones do learn from their older brothers and sisters. In addition to nurturing your infant with baby-age activities yourself, it’s great to encourage cooperation, bonding and good old laughter with toys kids can explore together.

If you’re expecting twins, toys such as an extra large playmat or other toys might be helpful. This blog So You’re Having Twins! Proven Support and Fun Facts has more helpful info for parents of twins and higher order multiples.

newborns, infants, twins and toddlers can all play together

You Are Your Child’s Favorite Toy

As the Zero to Three foundation says, whether you have 2 or more children or are a one and done family, you are your child’s favorite toy. You don’t need fancy or expensive items to nurture your newborn, infant or toddler. Understanding what your baby will respond to at each age makes development fun and educational for the whole family.

We’re Amazon Associates. That means we receive a small fee from purchases made from this site. This helps finance our non-profit, Mission Sleep which gives free overnight care to families whose newborns arrive when a parent is deployed, wounded or deceased.

new baby laughing with mom

How to Keep Kids Safe on YouTube

I originally wanted to do one simple blog post about keeping children safe online by using parental restrictions. After researching and learning about all the loopholes in common apps and websites though, it became quickly apparent that YouTube -with all of its amazing and wonderful content- needed its own in-depth post on safety. We’ll post more internet safety blogs over the next few weeks. As the mom of two 10 year olds and an 11 year old with iPads, I hope you find How to Keep Kids Safe on YouTube helpful. -Denise Stern

How to Keep Kids Safe on YouTube

Let’s Start at the Beginning

Access to YouTube means kids can easily view billions of videos. Violence and pornography are prohibited but with over 400 hours of video uploaded every minute it’s impossible for YouTube to catch and delete all the illegal or harmful content.  Even with set age filters, inappropriate content still gets through.

Recent examples of inappropriate content being viewed include the many videos of the Christchurch, NZ mass shooting and popular YouTuber Logan Paul’s filming of a dead body, an apparent victim of suicide, hanging from a tree in Japan’s “suicide forest.” It’s good that YouTube removes these videos of course, but removal only happens after the fact. Paul’s 19 million subscribers are mostly young kids so you have to wonder how many saw that hanging body before it was reported, reviewed and removed? 

Isn’t YouTube Kids Okay?

For these reasons YouTube Kids exists, but it’s not perfect.  The Elsagate scandal, where seemingly harmless videos included sexual, bloody, suicide and other violent acts by children’s characters resulted in the deletion of over 400 channels, but it’s a bit like whack a mole. (I don’t want to give them any more publicity but this CBS article and many others detail more disturbing videos and channels).

In addition to viewing, children need to be protected from exploitation when they themselves are the content. In March 2019 outlets such as NPR reported “tens of millions of videos that could be subject to predatory behavior,” meaning that pedophiles use comments to network and share links of videos starring children.

Again, YouTube acted on this unexpected situation by locking comment sections, but only after the fact and after predators had viewed and shared them.  

Currently under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission for collecting kids’ private data, YouTube is considering major changes of moving all children’s content to YouTube Kids, and eliminating the auto-play feature which can steer kids to unsafe content.  These 2 changes can help YouTube keep tighter control over content, but for now here’s what you can do to keep your kids safe:

How to Keep Kids Safe on YouTube

  1. Be Aware of Knock off Channels– There are fake channels that appear to be the real product. The channels are able to do this by cleverly manipulating keywords to sidestep child-protective algorithms.  Peppa Pig using a lowercase “l” instead of “i” or other subtle misspellings is one example of how this can happen. Another way is for a channel to include keywords such as “learn to read” or “educational.”  When in doubt look for channels titled “Official Channel” and the checkmark after the title. 
  2. Turn off Auto-Play Mode– Be sure videos don’t unintentionally keep running and eventually get to inappropriate content by turning off the auto-play option in the upper right-hand side of the screen.
  3. Keep Restricted Mode On – Depending on your device, Restricted Mode can be found by clicking your Account, then Settings and then choosing “Restricted Mode” from the menu, or scrolling to the bottom of the page.  Of course, there’s nothing stopping an older web-savvy kid from switching Restricted Mode off, so parents need to be watching over their shoulders or blocking YouTube altogether if they are concerned about inappropriate content.                           

        4. Use the Parental Settings on YouTube Kids– Parents can choose content for kids 8 and younger or older than 8 by using their email address and then a 4 digit passcode once YouTubeKids is downloaded. Using this tool will greatly help keep YouTube kids safe.

  5. Only post videos of your own children in PrivateMode– This means that only people with the link to your video can watch it. You choose who sees and comments on videos of your family.

Of course nothing can help keep our digital natives safe better than parental involvement. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends having proactive conversations with kids before they get online about what sites are allowed and each child’s screen time limits. Keeping devices in common areas of the home also helps parents keep an eye on kids’ activity. If you would like more tools to help manage media use by your children, please see the AAP’s Family Media Use Plan.

Should I Host an Au Pair?

Should I Host an Au Pair? answers parents’ frequently asked questions about au pairs so you can see if this international childcare option is right for you and your family.

Should I Host an Au Pair? Pregnant parents ask
Parent FAQs about au pairs

Should I Host an Au Pair?

How does a family actually host an au pair?

The first thing to do is register with an agency or even several agencies. Jaclyn Perovich a current host mom and Cultural Care Au Pair consultant notes that it’s perfectly fine if you need a placement quickly or down the road. Either way, registering with an agency is the first step so you can begin the matching process when you’re ready.

Once you’re registered, you can start looking at au pair resumes and email them for interviews. A Placement Manager will help you go through the au pair applications and narrow down your family’s specific needs. You might have twins, be expecting a newborn when your older child is a toddler for example. The selection deadlines needed to secure a particular au pair with you will then be shared. The deadline is important because the au pairs travel will be determined by your start date.

In addition to the agency Placement Manager there may also be a Local Childcare Consultant (LCC) to help. This is the person in your geographical area who will be your local support throughout the year. The LCC also conducts in-home interviews with families and provides orientation for both the family and au pair upon arrival.

Should I Host an Au Pair? FAQ’s

What happens if the au pair arrangement isn’t working out? 

If things aren’t working out with the host family and au pair, the local consultant will conduct a mediation. A “rematch” will occur if the relationship does not improve. The happens usually within 2 weeks.

Parents can set clear expectations and even over-communicate their needs to make set the relationship up for success. Following up with an email of the expectations and then having a hard copy of instructions in the home are also good ways to keep everyone on the same page.

When can the au pair work?

An au pair will work up to 45 hours of childcare per week, scheduled around your families needs.

Can an au pair work with newborns?

Au pairs can NOT be the sole caregiver for newborns. For infants 12 weeks and under their role is more of a “mother’s helper.”

How can families be sure their au pair is trained properly?

Reputable agencies provide safety and child care training.  Cultural Care Au Pairs for example, conducts four day reviews of child safety and development at the company’s training school in New York. They also require a classroom course on driver’s safety taught by the Red Cross and the Red Cross Full Service Training in adult and pediatric CPR/AED and First Aid. 

Should I Host an Au Pair? What are Alternatives to Au Pair Care?

Nannies are the main alternative to au pair care. The main differences between nanny care an au pairs is:

  1. Cultural Exchange vs. Formal Employment:
    • Au Pair: An au pair is typically a young person from a foreign country who lives with a host family for a certain period of time. While the au pair is expected to help with childcare and household duties, the main purpose is cultural exchange.
    • Nanny: A nanny is a professional childcare provider who is employed by a family to care for their children. Responsibilities can include newborn and infant care, meal preparation, transportation, and light housekeeping.
  2. Duration of Stay:
    • Au Pair: Au pairs usually commit to staying with a host family for a fixed period, usually 6-12 months, before returning to their home country.
    • Nanny: Nannies may work with a family for a more flexible period, and their employment may continue as long as both parties agree.
  3. Age and Experience:
    • Au Pair: Au pairs are typically young adults, who may not have extensive childcare experience. They can not care for newborns without a parent present.
    • Nanny: Nannies can be any age but often have professional childcare experience as well as formal training in early childhood education or newborn care.
  4. Compensation:
    • Au Pair: Au pairs receive a stipend, room, and board from the host family. The stipend is typically a modest amount, as the primary focus is on cultural exchange.
    • Nanny: Nannies are paid a salary or hourly wage for their services, and the terms of employment are more formal.

In addition to daytime nannies, parents of newborns might choose to have a postpartum doula, night nanny or night nurse. These providers usually work overnight hours while the parents rest and recover.

Your First Night Home: Newborn Diapering and Bathing

updated, Oct 1, 2025 – Your First Night Home: Newborn Diapering and Bathing includes our night nanny and doula team’s answers to FAQ’s about clothing, bathing and circumcision care when transitioning your newborn from hospital to home.

To read the whole guide, please visit Your First Week Home with Baby: Ultimate Q&A

Your First Night Home: Newborn Diapering and Bathing

Bathing FAQ’s

Should I bathe my baby every day?

Babies don’t need to be fully bathed everyday. Their skin is sensitive and can dry out a lot faster than adults. It’s best to give baby a sponge bath their first week or two. Making sure to get in their rolls and in between their fingers and toes. You would be surprised how much lint collects in fingers and toes! Once your newborn’s umbilical stump has fallen out and heals up, it’s okay to give baby a full bath.  Babies do not need to be bathed more than 3 times a week.

What temperature should my baby’s bath water be? 

Newborns and infants should be bathed in warm water, not too hot.  Test the water with your wrist, not your hand. Also, babies bodies lose heat quicker than adults.  Keep the bath time brief to avoid chills.

What kind of soap should I use on my baby?

Warm water is just fine for bathing newborns.  If you do use soaps, lotions or oils be sure they are non-toxic and infant safe so baby’s skin does not dry out or become irritated.  Avoid a scented soap or bubble bath.

What time of day should I bathe my Newborn?

There is no wrong answer to what time of day is best to bathe your baby but giving a bath as part of the bedtime routine can be a soothing way to wind down for sleep. There’s a reason why we often hear that babies enjoy “bath, bottle, books and then bed.”

Diapering FAQ’s

How often do I change my baby’s diaper?

It is best to change baby’s diaper every time you feed your newborn. Try to change your baby before feeding them. If you change their diaper immediately after feeding, they might spit up because laying horizontal can cause distress.

How do I care for my newborn son’s circumcision? 

If your male baby was circumcised, you were probably instructed to use petroleum jelly and gauze at each diaper change. When bathing, stick to sponge baths only and use unscented soap and warm water.  If you notice any continuous bleeding, trouble urinating, fever, or swelling, call your pediatrician immediately. The circumcision should heal in about seven to ten days.

Can I use baby wipes on a newborn?

Many doctors and newborn care professionals suggest using warm water and a clean washcloth to wipe at each diaper change.  Others say it is fine to use disposable wipes on newborns, as long as they are the unscented type.  The important thing is to be sure that baby is completely dry before putting on diaper creams or vaseline.  It is also fine to let your baby go diaper-free for 10-20 minutes (or longer if you’re okay with it) to allow the diaper area to stay dry.  

Should I Cloth Diaper?
Cloth diapers are less expensive than disposables and have less environmental impact but many families feel that disposable diapers win on convenience. Read our Expert Guide to Cloth Diapers to learn if cloth diapering is right for your baby.

How do I prevent diaper rash?

  • Frequent Diaper Changes: When possible, change diapers as soon as they become wet or soiled. Aim to change a newborn’s diaper every 2-3 hours. Don’t allow baby to sit in the wet diaper whenever possible.
  • Avoid Harsh Soaps or Wipes with Alcohol
  • Keep the diaper area dry: allow the skin to dry before applying cream. Also give baby time without the diaper on when they’re dry
  • Use diaper cream: After the skin is fully dry, use a diaper cream containing zinc oxide. Petroleum jelly can be used too, the important part is that the cream or jelly creates a barrier to protect the skin.
  • Try to avoid friction: keep the diaper a little loose

How Do I Know if My Baby is Eating Enough?

Your newborn will usually nurse/feed 8 to 12 times per day. It can be hard to know exactly how much is being taken in during each feeding session. But that’s okay because you’ll always be able to tell how much is coming out! You’ll see plenty of wet and soiled diapers once you arrive home with your newborn on day 3 or 4 of baby’s life.

Every baby is different of course but this wet and soiled diaper chart can help assure parents that baby is feeding well. You’ll also be visiting the pediatrician during this first week home and baby’s weight will be checked. As our postpartum doula Shiro says, weight gain is the other sure sign that your newborn is eating enough!

If you want to be sure baby is eating enough, read How big is a newborn’s stomach?

Your First Night Home Newborn Diapering and Bathing

Repaying Sleep Debt as a New Parent

updated, Aug 1, 2023 – Sleep debt is defined as the difference between the amount of sleep you should be getting and the amount you actually get. Parents of newborns realize that sleep deprivation is something that comes with the territory but every time you miss out on sleep, you add to the debt. Over time this debt builds up and can lead to both mental and physical health issues.  This blog, Repaying Sleep Debt as a New Parent tells how you can get back your health and wellness.

Repaying Sleep Debt as a New Parent

Sleep Debt- The Facts

It’s important to note that short term loss of sleep is sometimes part of life. We all go through times where we don’t get a solid night’s sleep, such as during the newborn phase and it’s important to catch up on sleep when we can. However, long term sleep deprivation isn’t something humans easily bounce back from. Cognitive and metabolic function deteriorates and sometimes these functions don’t come back to our baseline level.

Repaying Sleep Debt as a New Parent

Research shows that a combination of naps and overnight recovery sleep can be effective in counteracting some negative effects of sleep deprivation. However, one or two nights of substantial sleep aren’t enough to fully pay off a long-term sleep debt. What does this mean for parents of single babies and twins?

A 2010 study conducted by acclaimed British sleep scientist Iftikhar Mirza found that during a child’s first 2 years of life, new parents miss out on an astonishing total of 6 months worth of sleep! Sleep deprivation can lead to poor eating habits, mood swings, arguments, adversely affect your performance at work and can make getting behind the wheel very dangerous. 

How to Minimize Your Sleep Debt

While there are no perfect foolproof solutions, here are some practical ways for new parents to minimize their sleep debt:

  1. Switch nighttime duties with a partner or caregiver. If possible, alternate nights or times of night between one partner sleeping and the other is “on call.” If nursing, mom can breastfeed and partner can do the diaper changes and soothing. Other options are for Mom to pump during the day and having partner give baby a bottle or supplement with formula overnight. Work with your lactation consultant or pediatrician to figure out what is best for you.
  2. Get regular exercise. Exercise releases endorphins, increases healthy energy levels and lowers the risk of mood swings. Even if you are too tired, gentle exercise during the day, such as walking or yoga, can increase sleep.
  3. Do not consume too much food or alcohol before bedtime. Eating or drinking too much in the evening can over stimulate the digestive system and interfere with natural sleep rhythms, particularly reducing reduces rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
  4. Ask for help! It is important to rely on family members, friends, babysitters, night nurses, etc. for help. There is nothing wrong with having another person tend to the baby or household tasks while you catch up on much needed rest if it will make you a better, more attentive parent.
newborn sleeping in crib, postpartum mom in bed

Being a new parent is tiring, especially for those in the postpartum phase recovering from childbirth. IT IS OKAY to have dirty dishes and unfolded laundry. New parents, especially breastfeeding mothers, need their energy and while you may feel like you are missing out on “getting things done,” you will actually be catching up on something very important…repaying your sleep debt.

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