What to Expect from a Night Nurse
So you're thinking of hiring a night nurse, but you're not quite sure what that actually includes. What do they do? What hours do they keep? How many weeks will you need one? I was just like you! But I hired one and learned a lot along the way.
Let’s get right to answering your questions.
How Does a Night Nurse Work?
A night nurse typically arrives at your home around 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. and stays through the night, usually leaving around 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. Their job is to care for your baby while you sleep. If you're breastfeeding, they can wake you up when it’s time to nurse, or they can bottle-feed your baby with either breast milk or formula.
Wondering about price? See what a night nurse costs in the DMV.
You might hear night nurses referred to by different names, including:
- Night Nanny
- Postpartum Doula
- Newborn Care Specialist (NCS)
- Overnight infant care
- Night Nurse (some providers are active or retired nurses, but this term is also unoffically used as a catchall for non-medial overnight care provders)
Scope of Work
Here’s a general look at what night nannies handle while on the clock:
- Night feedings
- Diaper changes
- Burping
- Soothing baby back to sleep
- Baby-related housekeeping tasks
Here's an example of the actual tasks listed in my contract:
- Full infant care during shift hours
- Sleep training (if requested by parents)
- Sharing evidence-based info and techniques
- Logging baby’s sleep and feeding habits
- Restocking nursery supplies
- Cleaning bottles and pump parts (hand wash or dishwasher)
- Tidying the nursery
- Baby laundry
Sleeping Arrangements
Sleeping setups vary based on the night nanny's policies and the parent's preference. Some night nannies:
- Stay in the nursery with the baby
- Sleep in a separate room with a monitor
- Stay awake the entire shift
If you have a strong preference, you’ll be able to find someone who aligns with your needs. You'll just want to ask upfront what type of sleeping or lounging accomodations are expected.
How Many Weeks of Night Nurse Help Do You Need?
There's no standard length. Families usually plan around their recovery, a return to work, or their budget, so ask whether you can add or drop nights as you go. You might want:
- Part-time help, like 2–3 nights a week
- Short-term coverage, such as every night for the first two weeks
- Longer-term support, like a few nights a week for three months
- Help starting right when you get home from the hospital, or even later—around the 4-month sleep regression
If you're recovering from a C-section or caring for twins, consider booking more nights in the first few weeks, when you need the most rest.
Sample Night Nanny Schedule
Middle-of-the-night routines vary depending on:
- Baby’s age
- Whether you’re nursing or bottle-feeding
- Whether you're giving breastmilk or formula
- Your baby’s temperament
Still, here’s a typical high-level example of what a night might look like:
- 11:00 p.m. Night nanny arrives, washes hands, gets an update on baby’s day, such as last time they ate.
- During the night:
- Baby wakes
- Night nanny either wakes mom to breastfeed or bottle-feeds the baby. If its not time to eat, the night nanny instead soothes baby back to sleep
- After feeding: burps, changes diaper, holds baby upright for ~30 minutes
- Washes bottles and/or pump parts, and completes other tasks as needed
- 7:00 a.m. Debrief on the night and departure
A mother may to choose to be woken to nurse, or set an alarm to pump. You can pump in bed and leave the bottles and pump parts outside your bedroom door.
You might be wondering: is it really that helpful if I have to wake to pump or nurse? Most mothers I've spoken with report that even if they were waking to breastfeed or pump, a night nurse helps because its cuts the awake time in half when you're not changing, burping and soothing the baby back to sleep. In addition, night nannies are often baby whisperers when it comes to sleep training and can set you up for long term success (if that is a goal of yours).
Final Thoughts
Every night nanny has their own approach, so communication is key. Be upfront about your goals and expectations, and take the time to find someone whose style fits your family. You can browse night nannies and other postpartum care services on Cradley.
Hiring overnight help is a big step, and for many families, a total game-changer!
