Cleveland Overnight Newborn Services Q&A
Common Questions We Are Asked About Our Cleveland Overnight Newborn Services
What are overnight newborn services?
The most commonly used terms for overnight newborn services are night nannies or baby nurses. Both are antiquated terms. The modern terms are newborn care specialists and overnight postpartum doulas. Overnight services that require medical care are done by registered nurses or licensed practical nurses who offer overnight respite care for the parent(s). A night nanny is more of a babysitter used for overnight care. They rely on the parents to guide them and set the routine for night care while newborn care specialists and postpartum doulas are trained to help families set up schedules, give evidence-based resources and education, work on healthy sleep habits as well as help with lactation, formula feeding, and newborn care. Our Cleveland overnight newborn services allow for parents to maximize their rest while knowing their newborn is professionally cared for by a trained and experienced specialist.
Whether the family is breast/chestfeeding, formula feeding, bottle feeding, pumping, or any combination, both newborn and parent will be supported in their feeding preference. Overnight newborn care providers will bring the newborn in for nursing and then take the newborn baby to the nursery for diapering, swaddling, and comforting to go back to sleep. If bottles or pumps are being used they will make sure things are properly made, washed, and stored. Baby can be fed by the overnight newborn specialist. You are assured that all the bottles & pump supplies will be ready to go for the next day!
Who uses overnight newborn care services?
Many families, for a variety of reasons:
High sleep drive
Twin families
Those without much family support
Caregivers who are prone to depression/anxiety or a history of postpartum mood disorders
Parents with older children that need parents their freshest for days
Families with medical issues that require a good night’s rest
Birthing parent recovering from a cesarean birth
Those wanting to make sure their baby is starting out right with a healthy sleep environment
Parents who want mentoring and education
Families that simply want us
How much time do clients usually book for overnight newborn services?
That all depends on the family! On average, most clients take one of two options:
Option #1
They do what we like to call the "Step Down Program". They will start with 4-5 a week of overnight newborn care the first couple weeks and then taper down to 3 nights. They will do 3 nights for a couple of weeks or so and then, finally, 2 nights a week. After that, we have worked our way out of a job! Most will do 6-8 weeks of care in total.
Option #2
Clients opt for 3 nights a week for 6-8 weeks. Generally, these are the work week and break down to Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday night. Of course, you can talk to your overnight care specialist about what nights will work best.
While these tend to be the most common, we customize our contracts to meet the individual needs of our families. We have had contracts as little as one night to fill in a gap before family comes into contracts 16+ weeks long!
What do you recommend for booking overnight newborn services?
In our experience, using us for at least 2 nights a week will allow you to get the benefits of having overnight support. The Step Down Program or three nights seems to work the best for most families. We recommend care for 7- 8 weeks. The peak of newborn fussiness is at 6 weeks. Having us come for 7-8 weeks allows for you to get past the peak of fussiness and seems to be the time that most families feel they have found their groove.
Will I have the same overnight specialist for the entire contract?
That all depends on the contract! If the contract is for more than 3 nights a week, generally, we will have two overnight newborn care specialist work the contract together. This team will work together to make sure there is continuity of care between them as well as open communication with your family. It takes a village!
Do you have packages or minimums?
Our overnight newborn services do not have standard packages. We do not make you purchase a certain amount of nights. Your contract is based on your needs. We do have a nightly hour minimum and that is 8 hours. We generally work 9p-6a or 10p-6a, but, again, will work to customize a plan for your family.
How far in advance should I reserve overnight services?
We recommend scheduling sooner rather than later. Despite having a large team of newborn care specialists and postpartum doulas, we book up quickly. We tend to be booked out for at least 3 months.
Are your Cleveland overnight newborn care specialists vaccinated for COVID?
YES! In addition, we will be wearing masks in the home. Not only is COVID running rampant, but RSV. Your family's health is very important to us. In addition, we will be monitoring our temperature, putting on fresh clothes before our shift, keeping our hair back and washing our hands frequently.
What areas do you serve with your Cleveland overnight newborn services?
We mostly serve the greater Cleveland area but do have limited availability for the Akron area.
For more information on our Cleveland overnight newborn services, please click here.