Where should my newborn sleep when we bring them home?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants should sleep in the same room—but not the same bed—as parents or caregivers for at least the first six months. Set up a bassinet or crib near your bed, and if space allows, create a second sleep area in your main living space for convenience.

What should be included in a diapering station?

A well-stocked diapering station should include diapers, wipes, creams, a changing pad, extra onesies, and a diaper disposal solution. Anchor any furniture to the wall for safety and plan for 8–12 diaper changes per day, or about 140 diapers in the first two weeks.

How can I set up a feeding area for my newborn?

For breastfeeding, include a supportive chair, water and snacks nearby, and a breast pump if using. For bottle-feeding, have at least 8 bottles and nipples ready, plus proper cleaning supplies. Always consult your pediatrician before choosing or changing formula.

How can I simplify daily routines with a newborn at home?

Simplify routines by prepping meals in advance, using separate laundry baskets for baby clothes, automating bills, and setting boundaries for visitors. Postpartum doulas recommend preparing easy snacks, freezing meals, and keeping commitments minimal.

What’s the safest way to disinfect my home around a newborn?

Regular cleaning helps, but bleach solutions are required to kill certain viruses like norovirus. Use 21 tablespoons of regular bleach per gallon of water, keep the surface wet for at least 5 minutes, and never use bleach near the baby until fumes clear. Also, open windows and use HEPA filters for clean air.

Let Mommy Sleep Blog - Overnight Infant Care + Resources

Essential Guide: How To Prepare Your Home for a Newborn

October 26, 2024

Essential Guide: How To Prepare Your Home for a Newborn shares our postpartum doula and night nannies best tips for home organization. Preparing the home for your newborn or twins’ arrival helps you to concentrate on enjoying your new family.

Essential Guide: How To Prepare Your Home for a Newborn sign on baby clothes and toys

How To Prepare Your Home for a Newborn – “Where will the baby ‘live’?”

One of the first questions to think about when preparing a home for a newborn is Where will the baby “live”? and by this we mean, where will the newborn sleep, have diaper changes and interact with the family for at least the first 6 months?

American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep recommendations state that for at least the first 6 months, infants should sleep in the same room (but not the same bed) as parents/primary caregivers. So, a crib or bassinet and diaper changing station should be set-up in your bedroom or where you sleep. If the home and finances allow, create a second space for your newborn in the main living area of the home. This limits having to carry and move the crib, diapers, changing products etc. each day and night.

Our night doulas have collectively supported hundreds of families in their first weeks home and the set-up that tends to work best is to have a pack and play in the living room next to the kitchen. This way we can do all the bottle feeding prep and clean-up, pump cleaning, handwashing and more while having a safe sleep spot for baby close by.

In addition to home set-up, nursery prep should also happen before your newborn arrives. You want to be sure to leave plenty of time to allow the crib mattress to air out, childproof windows and ensure your baby’s room is safe sand secure. You can find the nursery checklist in Creating a Safe Nursery for Baby

Creating a Safe and Functional Baby Station

Diapering Station: Set up a well-stocked diaper changing station that includes: diapers, wipes, creams, and a changing pad. These items can be organized in a caddy, a changing table or drawer for easy access. Remember that any diaper changing furniture and all other furniture, should be anchored to the wall before baby arrives.

In the first 2 weeks home a newborn will go through about 140 diapers. Average diaper changes are 8-12 per day so using 10 as an average, we can expect to go through 140. Remember to double this amount if expecting twins! Have boxes accessible and open.
Be ready by having a box of the next size diaper on hand as your baby grows.
To eliminate wasting any smaller size diapers, you can purchase “booster pads” which are pads that can be placed in a smaller size diaper to absorb excess liquid or temporarily use cloth diaper inserts.
Keep clothing close by the diaper station for quick clothing changes. We recommend 2 to 3 zipper onesies as emergency clothing!

Disposing of diapers: Where will the wet/soiled diapers go? Get a diaper pail or small bags that the diaper can be placed in and then tied up to eliminate odors and germs before they’re disposed of outside.

If the family is cloth diapering, create a plan of where the used diapers and covers will go after use.

Stocking the Feeding Area

If you’re breastfeeding, have a comfortable chair with a side table for water and snacks, plus a breast pump if using. A nursing pillow should be accessible.

In addition to the pump, properly sized flanges should be available as well as milk storage bags and labels if using.

For bottle-feeding, be sure there are properly sized bottles and nipples. You can expect 6-8 feeds per day for a healthy full-term infant so if possible, a minimum of 8 bottles should be purchased to be sure you don’t have to clean and sterilize bottles more than 1 time per day.

Newborns will all use the slowest flow nipples but parents should be prepared with the next size nipple for when baby is ready to take in more milk per sip. There is no set timeline for this and the child’s pediatrician will be able to direct parents on when it’s appropriate to “size up” on nipple flow. Either way, be prepared to respond to baby’s needs with a higher flow nipple.

Formula brand and type might be determined by what the newborn was given in the hospital or by what the pediatrician recommends in the first well visit. While it is good to have a newborn “ready-to-feed” formula at home, parents might want to wait to stock up on their preferred formula until baby arrives and the pediatrician can give a clear recommendation on the best brand and type for the newborn. Essential Guide to Baby Bottles has you covered on the many types of bottles out there.

Clothing

Use clear bins or a dresser (anchored to the wall!) for baby clothes, sorted by size or type. This makes it easy to find what you need as your baby grows.

We recommend 10-12 zippered one piece pajamas and outfits in addition to whatever clothing the parents like. The zippered onesie allows for easy diaper and outfit changes and is the most versatile for safe sleep and comfort.

Simplifying Daily Routines

Keeping the household running while a newborn is in the home is a challenge. Add in older siblings, or possible work or volunteer obligations and daily routines can become overwhelming. Postpartum doulas can help by keeping daily routines simple. Here are some ways to do that:

Laundry: Have a dedicated laundry basket for baby clothes and a separate one for your own. Baby clothes are often washed in more gentle cleansers and are washed much more frequently. Those little pieces of clothing can also easily get lost in with the rest of the family’s pile!

Purchase and open baby’s laundry detergent before the due date.

Meal Prep: Prepare and freeze favorite meals in advance. Stock up on quick, nutritious snacks and easy-to-prepare meals for busy days. Think about fruits, smoothies, granola bars and other easy to store snacks. You can eat these on the go, or with one hand.

Consider using slow-cooker or one-pot recipes to save effort during preparation and don’t forget breakfast! Here are our night doulas favorite 7 Power Breakfasts for New Parents.

Minimize outside obligations

Ensuring that you have minimal commitments and a short to-do list means a calmer household, less chance of emergencies and more quality time for the family.

Here are some ways you can minimize commitments during the postpartum phase:

Set Boundaries with Visitors: Decide in advance when and how you’ll welcome visitors. Are “pop-ins” okay? Create guidelines that prioritize your family’s well-being and let friends and family know what times are best for you. Consider using a shared online calendar to coordinate visits.
to ensure they receive care and attention.
Arrange for Help: Schedule times for family or friends to help with specific tasks like meal delivery, caring for older children or running errands. Consider creating a meal train or asking for help with grocery shopping.
If Hiring Help is possible, schedule babysitters or a cleaning service as needed. Be prepared with their contact information before baby arrives.
Limit Appointments and Commitments: Try to handle routine appointments (e.g., dentist, car maintenance, medical check-ups) before the baby arrives. Avoid committing to non-essential social events or meetings in the first few months.
Set Up Online Bill Payments: Automate your bill payments to minimize the need to manage finances during the busy postpartum period.
Cancel or Pause Memberships: Consider pausing or canceling memberships or subscriptions that you may not use during the newborn phase (e.g., gym memberships, social groups).

Cleaning & Disinfecting Viruses

Regular cleaning and disinfecting helps keep the home clean of course! However, during the winter months or even after the family has had guests or been exposed to large groups, a deep cleaning is helpful to keep bacteria and germs away from vulnerable newborns. In fact, keeping parents and adults healthy is vital too! Commercial wipes and cleaners kill most germs but not the category of viruses called non-enveloped viruses. To disinfect surfaces properly, a combination of bleach and water needs to be used.

Norovirus and rotavirus (2 of the awful stomach viruses) are not killed by commercial products like Clorox wipes. But you can disinfect using bleach. You may have seen recommendations to use 5 to 25 tablespoons of bleach in 1 gallon of water to create a disinfectant. This is a crazy wide range so it’s important to know that the amount of bleach used depends on what type of bleach you have. The label will tell you which you have.

In general you can use the amounts below but follow manufacturer instructions when using bleach or other disinfectants to ensure safe concentrations.

Regular Bleach = 21-22 Tbls to 1 gallon of water
Concentrated Bleach = 15-16 Tbls to 1 gallon of water

When using a bleach solution, clean the surface as you normally would first, keep the area ventilated, ensure the surface stays wet with the bleach solution for at least 5 minutes and never use bleach around your baby until fumes have cleared.

How To Prepare Your Home for a Newborn – Routine Cleaning and Disinfecting

Here are other must-do actions to keep germs away:

Handwashing- sanitizers are about 70% effective (and also do not work to prevent stomach bugs) but handwashing is in the 90% range of effectiveness in killing germs.
Opening windows – Fresh air and improved ventilation helps dilute airborne viruses, bacteria, and other contaminants by promoting air circulation.
Use a HEPA Filter if you can: HEPA air filters capture airborne particles, including allergens and viruses.
Don’t forget to Clean Electronics Regularly: Wipe down phones, tablets, and laptops with disinfecting wipes to prevent germs from accumulating.
Use Microfiber Cloths: These trap dust, dirt, and bacteria more effectively then traditional cleaning cloths.
Clean Your Water Bottles: Disinfect reusable water bottles regularly to avoid bacterial growth. Night Nurse tip: fill the bottle with water and drop a denture cleaner tab in it to soak overnight. Rinse well and it’s ready to go.
Vacuum Often: Vacuum frequently to remove dust, pet dander, and allergens.

Visitors and Boundaries

Part of keeping germs and contagious illnesses away is ensuring that visitors are healthy and practicing good hand hygiene

Create a Cleaning Routine

Establishing a cleaning routine can be helpful so that you know what needs to be done each day, week or month. This helps the home run smoothly but has an added benefit of giving volunteers a to-do list if they want to help. When well-meaning loved ones ask “What can I do?” just hand them one of our checklists! However, be very gentle with yourself; if you have a choice between cleaning and sleep, please choose sleep. ❤️

Are you expecting? Visit Your First Week Home with Baby: Ultimate Q&A for more helpful info!

7 Power Breakfasts for New Parents

October 19, 2024

updated Nov 16, 2025– Everyone has a favorite dinner they like to bring when a new baby is born, but breakfast sets a healthy tone for the whole day. Here are 7 power breakfasts perfect for postpartum parents, families with twins or anyone in need of a healthy morning meal.

Coffee (Yes, Even If Breastfeeding)
Caffeine is safe during breastfeeding in moderate amounts. Most medical sources, including La Leche League, agree that up to 200 mg/day (about 2 cups) is fine for most nursing parents.

Besides coffee, these breakfasts will keep energy up:

Protein Pancakes

Why they help: Protein is so important for energy and recuperation, especially if you’re breastfeeding!

12 egg whites or 1 ½ c liquid egg whites (do the liquid egg whites, much easier)
A Cup of rolled oats, pulsed until ground
1 banana, mushed
1 tsp cinnamon
Mix ingredients together in a bowl. Cook like a regular pancake. Top with almond butter, greek yogurt, fresh fruit

Double the batch, freeze some and then microwave as needed

Egg Muffins

Why they help: As postpartum doulas and night nannies, we bring these meals often because parents can eat them one-handed while holding baby.

3 packages Crescent Rolls
1 package of sausage (the kind that is in a tube, not in a roll)
8 eggs
Veggies
Cheese (I use a cheese blend)
Salsa (optional)

Preheat oven to 375

Cook sausage according to directions. Put half aside and freeze for another time. Whisk the eggs together, add salt and pepper to taste. Saute the vegetables for a few minutes until soft. Add eggs, stirring constantly. Add in sausage and cheese, finish cooking. Set aside egg mixture.

Take the crescent rolls and open them. Take two triangles and press them in a muffin tin. Add 2 spoonfuls of the veggie/egg/sausage mixture, add the salsa on top, if using. Close up the roll and repeat 12 times. Brush with one egg white and bake for 12 min at 375 until golden brown. You can wrap them individually in plastic wrap, keep in the freezer, and microwave as needed

Protein Toast

Why this helps: This combo delivers complex carbs, healthy fats and potassium, giving new parents steady energy without a sugar crash. The fiber and protein also help keep you full.

Ezekiel Bread
Almond Butter
1 banana
Toast one piece of Ezekiel bread. Spread with almond butter and 1 banana. You can add chia seeds, if you want.

Mixed Berry Protein Smoothie

Why this helps: These are a staple among parents of newborn twins! Berries deliver antioxidants and vitamin C, yogurt or milk adds protein and the natural carbs provide steady energy. Smoothies are hydrating, filling and gentle on a tired stomach, ideal for early mornings or late-night feeds.

1 cup frozen berries
1 c mixed berries
½ c rolled oats
1 tsp vanilla
½ c nut butter (almond, etc)
1 ½ c Almond Milk

Blend smoothie together. You can put together some smoothie bags ahead of time so all you have to do is empty the smoothie into the blender and add your liquid.

7 Power Breakfasts for New Parents – Tropical Smoothie

1 cup frozen tropical fruit blend
1 C frozen peaches
Cup of spinach
2 t unsweetened shredded coconut
1 t chia seeds
8 oz coconut water
Ice (optional)

Mix ingredients together and then top with some unsweetened coconut. You can put together some smoothie bags ahead of time so all you have to do is empty the smoothie into the blender and add your liquid.

Egg muffins are a postpartum Power Breakfasts for New Parents

Postpartum doulas make power Breakfasts for New Parents

Mixed berry smoothies are Power Breakfasts for New Parents

Frittata are night doula picks for power breakfasts for parents

vegan postpartum breakfast for new parents

Overnight Oats

Why it helps: Overnight oats deliver slow-release carbs and fiber, which keep energy steady through those unpredictable newborn mornings. The chia and nut butter add protein and healthy fats, making this a balanced, grab-and-go meal you can eat even if you only have one hand available.

Fill a mason jar with the following:

½ c rolled oats
1 c almond milk
2 tsp chia seeds
1 t almond butter
1 t cinnamon

Put lid on the jar, shake, and place in the fridge overnight. Take out in the morning, top with fruit, and enjoy

Egg Frittata

Why it helps: A frittata packs protein, veggies, and healthy fats into one pan, giving parents steady energy and keeping hunger in check longer than sugary breakfasts. It reheats beautifully, which means zero morning prep—just slice, warm, and eat while the baby naps (or doesn’t).

6 eggs, beaten
⅓ c milk
Vegetables you have in the fridge (we like sweet potatoes and goat cheese // ham, spinach, and cheese// red peppers and bacon// but use whatever you have!)
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to Broil

Whisk together eggs, milks, salt and pepper and then set aside. In an ovenproof nonstick skillet add your veggies, saute for a few minutes until softened. Reduce skillet to medium heat. Pour egg mixture into pan, let cook for 2-3 min. Transfer to oven and let broil for 3-5 minutes, until the top is slightly brown. This saves well in the fridge.

Vegan Sweet Potato & Chickpea Hash

Why it helps: This hash is loaded with complex carbs, plant-based protein, and iron-rich veggies, giving parents long-lasting energy without a crash. The sweet potatoes and chickpeas keep you full, while the veggies add nutrients new parents often miss when meals get chaotic. It’s also naturally dairy-free and reheats well, making it a flexible, nutrient-dense option for busy mornings.

1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced
1/2 cup cooked chickpeas (canned is fine, just drain and rinse)
1/4 red onion, finely chopped
1/2 bell pepper, diced
2 large handfuls of spinach
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
Olive oil for cooking

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium. Add the sweet potatoes, stirring occasionally til they start to soften about 5 minutes.
Stir in the veggies, chickpeas and spices. Cook an additional 5-7 minutes until the sweet potatoes are tender and everything is slightly caramelized.

Add the spinach to the skillet, stirring until wilted.
If using eggs, make small wells in the hash and crack an egg
into each well. Cover & cook until the eggs are set.

FAQ’s

What are the best easy breakfasts for new parents? High-protein, easy-to-eat meals like egg muffins, protein toast, smoothies, and overnight oats are ideal. They boost energy, can be prepped ahead, and work well for one-handed eating while holding a newborn.”

Is coffee safe while breastfeeding? Yes. Most experts, including La Leche League, say up to 200 mg of caffeine per day (about 1–2 cups of coffee) is safe when you’re breastfeeding.

What food should a postpartum doula or night nanny bring? Portable, reheatable breakfasts such as egg muffins, protein pancakes and smoothie kits are perfect. Meals that require no utensils and stay fresh overnight are especially helpful.

What foods support postpartum recovery? Protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats support healing and stable energy. Foods rich in iron, vitamin D and omega-3s—like oats, eggs, leafy greens, berries, and nut butters—are especially beneficial.

What’s a good quick breakfast for breastfeeding moms? Meals with balanced protein and carbs—such as oatmeal with nut butter, a smoothie with oats, or protein toast—help stabilize blood sugar and maintain milk supply.

What should I bring a family with newborn twins? Double-friendly meals like egg muffins, smoothie packs or a ready-made frittata are lifesavers. Anything that can be eaten hot, cold or one-handed is a win.

Bringing brand new parents a homemade meal, or having a healthy meal delivered is a wonderful way to support them and be part of their village!

Baby Safety Month: 3 Things to Know About Nursery Furniture

September 20, 2024

September is Baby Safety Month! While parents typically focus on baby gear like car seats and strollers, it’s also vital to be sure furniture and nursery items are safely made, tested and installed. Bookmark these 3 Things to Know about Nursery Furniture.

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1. You Don’t Have to Give Up Style for Safety

Companies such as Oxford Baby & Kids specialize in creative design, but their main focus is safe furniture that grows with the child, transitioning from cribs to toddler beds, daybeds, and full-size beds. Continuity of safety through all of these transitions is not only practical but gives parents peace of mind.

2. How a Product is Made is Just as Important as How It’s Used

While there are plenty of guidelines and certifications regarding infant sleep products, parents should know that products are put on the market every day that do not follow these guidelines. These products are eventually recalled, but many are sold before they can be pulled off of store shelves and large online storefronts.

With nursery furniture, look for cribs that are GREENGUARD Gold Certified, ensuring that your nursery is a healthy space for your little one. This Certification means the furniture has:

Screened for 10,000 chemical compounds and VOC’s
Rigorously Tested & Approved
Cleaner Indoor Air
Promotes healthier breathing environment

3. Installation Matters, Anchor All Furniture!

Anchor all furniture and heavy items to the walls to make sure they don’t tip over. Anchor these items before baby arrives, because we just don’t know the exact age or date babies will begin pulling themselves up or grabbing at heavy items. Be sure to anchor into wall studs.

The last thing to remember about furniture and baby safety is safe sleep. Babies should always be placed in the crib alone on a firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet. There should be no stuffed animals or other items in the crib and breathable crib bumpers. American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines show you how.

This blog was written with the help of our friends and 25 year industry veterans, M Design Village

Surgeon General’s Advisory: Parenting is a Health Issue

September 3, 2024

updated: Sept 2, 2025

In 2024, the Surgeon General issued a warning that parenting is a health issue and it sounded like a turning point. Finally, the government acknowledged what parents live every day. But here we are over a year later and little has changed. No new advisories, no sweeping legislation and federal family leave remains unpaid. A few states have expanded their programs, but the reality is most of us are still on our own.

Meanwhile, studies show maternal mental health has dropped sharply, one in three families are still dealing with post-pandemic stress, and nearly 30% of parents in the State of Parenting 2025 survey admitted they’d considered self-harm because the pressure feels unbearable. The system hasn’t caught up, so it’s up to us to protect our health.

That doesn’t mean “self-care” in the Instagram sense, it means doing the things research shows actually work:

Building a small but reliable support network—neighbors, a parent group, or even one trusted friend—helps buffer against burnout.
Protecting your sleep and taking real recovery time, whether that’s a nap, a walk, or even zoning out with a hobby, has been shown to make us more patient and nurturing with our kids.
If you have a partner, getting clear about roles and responsibilities.

These strategies aren’t flashy, but they’re evidence-based and they work. Until policy catches up, the best thing we can do is take our own health seriously and try to put real supports in place.

Parenting is a Health Issue: Quick Stats

In 2023, 33% of parents reported high levels of stress in the past month compared to 20% of other adults.
41% of parents say that most days they are so stressed they cannot function
66% of parents report feeling consumed by worries regarding money compared to 39% of other adults in 2023.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy whose also a Dad of 2 notes that parents experience unique pressures as shown in the numbers above. Stressors related to raising children, such as financial strain, time demands, concerns about children’s health and safety, isolation, and challenges with technology and social media ae very real.

Additionally, some parents and caregivers are disproportionately affected by mental health conditions, especially those dealing with family or community violence, poverty, or discrimination. Supporting parents is crucial for the well-being of both children and society, and requires policy changes and expanded community programs to provide paid leave, affordable childcare, and other essential resources.

We know the problem, what’s the Answer?

In response to these pressures, the Surgeon General’s Advisory urges a cultural, policy, and programmatic shift to support the well-being of parents and caregivers. It emphasizes the need to change societal norms to value and empower them, addressing the stressors impacting their mental health. This means:

companies expanding paid family leave
improving early childhood education
investing in mental health care and access
providing recommendations for governments, employers, and communities to reduce stress and better support parents and caregivers

Achieving each of these 4 goals will be an ongoing effort within our communities, health systems and the private sector. FOr now the Advisory serves as a call to action. As the website states, Surgeon General’s Advisories are public statements that call the American people’s attention to a critical public health issue.

Like many in the maternal health sector, Let Mommy Sleep continues to advocate for new parents and their health. Our 501c3 Mission Sleep provides free newborn care to parents whose partners are deployed, wounded or deceased. We will also continue to strive for sensible health insurance and postpartum visits. In the meantime these resources might be a help your family:

Crisis Text Line for mental health support: text BRAVE to 741741

Medicaid’s Paid Caregiver Program: If someone with a disability already receives Medicaid, their state may allow a family member or friend to become a paid caregiver.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) – Monthly cash assistance payments to low-income families with children, as well as additional services.

Introducing the National NAPS Registry for Night Doulas

August 20, 2024

There are so many highly skilled newborn nannies, infant-room daycare providers and postpartum doulas. These caregivers bring invaluable hands-on expertise to newborn care but may not have credentialed licensure or certification. To elevate infant caregivers, and ensure they have access to evidence-based safety and newborn care training, we created the National NAPS Registry for Night Doulas, a credentialing and verification system for qualified overnight doulas and newborn and postpartum caregivers.

What are Night Nannies, Postpartum Doulas and Newborn Care Specialists?

To understand what a night nanny or other postpartum provider does, we first need to define the overlapping but distinct roles of postpartum doula, night nanny, and newborn care specialist (NCS). While titles vary, all of these professionals assist families in the weeks after a baby is born. Their core job is to combine hands-on infant care with parent support. To understand the broader role these caregivers play, see our full guide: What’s a Night Nanny?.

Typical responsibilities include:

Diapering, feeding, soothing, and swaddling the newborn (or multiples).
Light household tasks directly related to the baby (bottle prep, pump part cleaning, organizing baby’s space).
Breastfeeding support and recovery care for the birth mother and partner.
Family support such as meal prep and sibling care (often part of a postpartum doula’s role).

It’s important to know these titles are not legally protected. Outside of licensed daycare centers or registered nursing care, newborn care providers are not governed by standardized regulations. That means anyone can call themselves a postpartum doula or newborn care specialist. While many are highly skilled, training and credentials can vary widely. For families, this makes verification and transparency essential showing a need for the NAPS Registry for Night Doulas.

What is the National NAPS Registry for Night Doulas?

Licensed professionals such as RNs are accountable to their state Board of Nursing. Until now, overnight newborn care providers had no equivalent system of accountability.

The Newborn and Postpartum Support (NAPS) Registry was created to fill that gap. It is:

A national database that verifies education, training, and evidence-based practice for overnight caregivers.
A public listing of individuals who have successfully completed the Night Doula Certificate curriculum.
A quality assurance tool for families, employers and benefit providers who want verified, consistent standards of care.

Parents and employers can verify a caregiver’s credentials directly on the NAPS Registry for Night Doulas. While the Registry emphasizes overnight caregivers, postpartum doulas who work daytime shifts can also be included. The NAPS Curriculum is based on the government-award winning contract Let Mommy Sleep held from 2015-2021 (ending during covid). Further, it is approved and overseen by a thir d-party Advisory Board of clinicians and subject matter experts.

What training does the Night Doula Certificate include?

Caregivers listed on the NAPS Registry have completed coursework and verifications that meet national best practices in newborn and postpartum care, including:

Newborn & Postpartum Care (core curriculum)
Breastfeeding Basics
Cribs for Kids® Safe Sleep Course
Bereavement Doula Training
Vaccine Attestation
Attestation of Age & Caregiving Experience
Infant CPR & First Aid Certification
Current Background Check

This curriculum ensures that every caregiver on the Registry has both knowledge and accountability, allowing them to provide safe and consistent overnight baby care. You can find all of the classes and continuing education, on NewbornCareCertified.com, the educational division of Let Mommy Sleep, LLC

What the NAPS Registry is Not

The Newborn and Postpartum Support coursework does not include the study of labor and delivery. Therefore this certificate is not appropriate if you’re an aspiring labor doulas or those who wish to attend births as professional support staff.

Why the NAPS Registry for Night Doulas Matters

Currently, the newborn care, night nanny, and postpartum doula industry in the U.S. is completely unregulated. There’s no state or federal oversight for in-home caregivers responsible for fewer than four children at a time. The NAPS Registry was formed to fill that gap by providing:

Evidence-based education – bringing consistency and professionalism to in-home newborn care.
Standards of care and transparency – every NAPS Night Doula is trained to the same high standards.
Peace of mind for families – parents know their caregiver is educated in safe, up-to-date practices and maintains current CPR, vaccination, and background checks.
Employer verification – employee benefit programs can easily confirm caregiver credentials. For example, HR reps can easily confirm eligibility with the online Night Doula registry.

And for families who don’t have access to corporate benefits, the Registry is still accessible and there are flexible ways to cover the cost of care, including payment plans and baby registries. Learn more about financing night nanny and night doula care here.

The future of newborn and postpartum care

By creating the National NAPS Registry, we’re setting a new standard for accountability and professionalism in an industry that touches families at their most vulnerable time. Families deserve safe, consistent, evidence-based support and newborn and postpartum caregivers deserve recognition for their specialized skills.

The NAPS Registry is how we bring both sides together. If you’re a night doula or postpartum nurse who would like to join our team, you can apply here.

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