frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a Newborn Care Specialist and Baby Nurse/Night Nurse?

A Newborn Care Specialist is a professional caregiver who is trained in all aspects of newborn care. Their role is to support families in the first weeks and months postpartum. A Baby Nurse or Night Nurse is an antiquated term and a misnomer, used to refer to an individual who takes care of a newborn.

Read my blog: The Truth About Night Nurses

What are the benefits of hiring a Newborn Care Specialist/Certified Postpartum Doula?

NCSs are professional, educated newborn experts. We are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things newborn, and like to stay up-to-date on the latest evidence-based research, safe sleep recommendations, and products. We also offer parents peace of mind, rest, listening ear, and referrals to trusted providers when appropriate.

Each NCS has their own strong suit. My expertise is in “sleep shaping,” which is essentially establishing healthy and independent sleep habits from the very beginning, and building on it each week until baby is sleeping through the night.

Read my blog: Reasons to Hire a Newborn Care Specialist

Is Hiring a Newborn Care Specialist/Overnight Postpartum Doula Worth It if I’m Exclusively Breastfeeding?

Absolutely! Even if your baby isn’t bottle-fed at all overnight, I can still provide my support and expertise. I can give you company while you nurse (some people prefer this so they don’t fall asleep and/or they want to connect during what can be an isolating time), provide lactation advice, and let you rest while I take care of everything else (diapering, burping, settling, washing breast pump parts, etc).

Hiring me as your NCS means you get to pick my brain, and have peace of mind! Also, no matter how baby is fed, I am still able to offer my sleep shaping expertise and gently and gradually get baby sleeping longer and longer stretches at night.

Why Do You Charge More Than All the Other Night Nurses?

That’s because I am not a night nurse.

I charge what I do for my newborn care services because I bring extensive experience, up-to-date research in evidence-based practices, expertise in sleep shaping, and a strong commitment to safe sleep guidelines. Families trust me with their most precious little ones, and that trust is built on years of professionalism, knowledge, and compassionate care.

Overnight work, while deeply rewarding, is physically and mentally demanding, and it requires me to be away from my own family (or having a social life in the evenings). Charging appropriately allows me to provide the highest quality care while also maintaining a sustainable, livable wage.

Do You Sleep During an Overnight Shift?

Yes! As many parents know, taking care of a newborn when you are sleep deprived can be dangerous. Once I’ve ensured that all of baby’s needs have been met, I will try and get some rest.

When Do You Typically Start Doing Overnights with a Family?

I love to be there on your first night home with the new baby. Depending on your situation, this is usually when baby is 2-4 days old.

However, depending on my availability, that is not possible. Some clients are comfortable waiting 1-2 weeks for me to become available.

Will You Be Available if I Give Birth Before My Due Date?

I am very strategic and thoughtful about how I book out my clients. I ensure that there is ample time between the anticipated end date of one client, to the next client’s due date. For clients who sign a contract that is 8 weeks or longer, I will guarantee availability starting 14 days prior to the due date.

That way, you don’t have to worry about whether I will be available to support you on your first night home from the hospital with your new baby.

Can Your Newborn Care Services be Covered by CARROT Fertility Benefits?

Yes! As a Certified Postpartum Doula, my services qualify for CARROT (or similar) reimbursement. Check your employer’s family-building benefits to learn how much coverage you’re allotted towards your postpartum journey.

What is the Process of Retaining Your Newborn Care Services?

  1. Hop on to my calendar and book a free discovery call. Tell me about you, your family, what you are looking for, and let’s see if we vibe! If I’m available for the weeks and months you need support, I can walk you through what it would look like for us to work together. If I’m not available, I’d be more than happy to refer you to my colleagues.

  2. If both parties are feeling good about the initial call, I will come visit you in your home and meet your spouse if you have one (and other children if they’re around) so we can get to know each other further.

  3. I’ll have you sign a contract, and send in the retainer (about 25-50% of the overall contract amount) to reserve my services. Once I receive everything, I will then sign the contract myself and return it back to you.

  4. We celebrate and I look forward to supporting you and your family!

What Areas Do You Provide Newborn Care Services?

Here are some areas I have provided my newborn care services.

California: La Jolla, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco

New York City: Boerum Hill, SoHo, Upper East Side

Westchester County, NY: Armonk, Bedford, Larchmont, New Rochelle, Pelham, Rye, Scarsdale, Sleepy Hollow, Valhalla, White Plains

Putnam County, NY: Mahopac

Fairfield County, CT: Cos Cob, Greenwich, Old Greenwich, Riverside, Stamford

Don’t see your town listed? Book a free discovery call with me!