Overnight Care for Newborns

Overnight care is the saving grace of new parents. New babies are exhausting. Newborns need to eat every two to three hours, then they have to be changed, burped, and rocked and by the time you're done all that it's almost time for the next feed. This happens around the clock for the first weeks to months of life and it's very easy for parents to become overtired and burnt out. Having overnight care allows new parents to get the rest they so desperately need so they can be the best parents they can be during the day.

Who does overnight care?

When hiring overnight care most families are primarily looking for one of three roles, a night nanny, a postpartum doula, or a newborn care specialist. A night nanny generally does not have any specialized training or certification, but is experienced working with infants during the day. A postpartum doula may have worked with the family also as a birth doula, and often cares for the mother as much as they do the newborn. A newborn care specialist (NCS) is a trained professional in newborn care and educating parents. The term night nurse or baby nurse can sometimes be used to refer to these roles but is outdated. Now, a night nurse should only refer to a Registered Nurse (RN), and these professionals usually only work with medically complex babies. 

What can you ask of night care?

Every professional will have their standard practices of what else they do beyond infant care overnight. Some caregivers only tend to the baby and wash bottles or pump parts, while others are happy to do and fold laundry or even make breakfast for mom at the end of the shift. When hiring overnight care, prioritize what needs your family may have, and make sure to discuss these expectations clearly in the interview process to find the best match for your family. Keep in mind that all additional tasks will depend nightly on how the baby is sleeping, and these tasks should be able to be accomplished quietly without disturbing the baby or rest of the household.

Breastfeeding

You may think that if you’re breastfeeding, overnight care is not for you, but it still is! If your preference is to feed directly at the breast, the caregiver can bring the baby to you to nurse so you don’t even have to leave your bed, then collect them when they’re done eating. This way you don’t wake up to a crying baby, and you also don’t have to burp or change them. If you’re pumping and the baby is taking bottles, then you don’t have to wake up for every feed! When you pump overnight you can let the caregiver know when you’re done and they can collect the milk, store it as you wish, and wash your pump parts so everything is ready for the next session. Even if you have a good supply, it’s recommended to wake up at least every 4 hours to pump. 

Cost

Many caregivers, regardless of their training or certification, charge a premium for night time hours. Working nights can be hard on a persons body (and lifestyle) and thus demand a higher hourly rate. This rate is highly dependant on the market or area where you live and the caregivers experience and qualifications. For example a night nanny with no certifications will charge less than a RN with twenty years of experience. To find the market rate for your area you can reach out to a variety of professionals or agencies. 

How long does overnight care last?

How long you utilize overnight care depends on your baby, family, and financial situation. Some families use overnight care for only the first few nights, while others utilize it through the entirety of baby's first year. Most commonly overnight caregivers work with babies through the newborn phase (first three months) until they can start going longer between feeds and sleeping longer stretches.

Awake Care

Most night working professionals in the childcare field rest when the baby rests, provided everything is prepared for the next time baby wakes. This is because caregivers are working in dark nurseries, with white noise often playing, and the house quiet. Caregivers want to provide the best possible care to your baby, and in order to do this they must be awake and alert when the baby wakes. The best way to achieve this is for them to rest when the baby rests. Some caregivers may provide ‘awake care’ at a higher cost, sometimes up to double their hourly rate. This means that they would stay awake all night, regardless of when the baby sleeps or what else needs to be done around the house. This is really only necessary for medically complex babies and children.

The goal of overnight care is to allow new parents to get the rest they need in order to heal from birth, parent effectively, and ultimately enjoy their postpartum experience. At SunUp I provide overnight care as both a postpartum doula and newborn care specialist. If you're local to the Winnipeg area please reach out for more information!

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I’m Amy Loewen, a postpartum doula, newborn care specialist, and sleep consultant. I provide professional private childcare and household support to families of all shapes and sizes, specializing in the first year of life with a new baby. I take a collaborative approach, working with parents to set them up for continuing success with their new baby and meet any sleep or feeding goals they may have. This includes daytime or overnight care in your home, as well as remote consulting to support your parenting journey.