WHAT IS A NEWBORN CARE SPECIALIST?
A Newborn Care Specialist (NCS) is a non-medical, infant professional that has trained specifically for newborn care, and works exclusively with babies from birth through several months, depending on the needs of the family.
Newborn Care Specialists are a source of support and education for new and experienced parents along with providing newborn care expertise.
WHAT DUTIES DOES A NEWBORN CARE SPECIALIST PROVIDE?
- Following recommended newborn safety at all times
- Assistance and education for parents after the baby is born and settling in at home
- Maintaining a clean environment in baby’s nursery
- Lactation support, bottle feeding support & techniques for burping & comfort along with soothing techniques for COLIC, GERD, Acid Reflux & more.
- Nutritional support and general care such as bottle feeding, sterilizing, bath time, tummy time, swaddling, and more.
- Developing sleep routines & sleep support
- Guiding the parents to create a healthy eating, sleeping and care routine
- Documenting sleep habits, meals & diaper patterns
- Changing diapers and bathing
- Creating a stimulating environment for a baby when awake
- Staying alert during night to ensure baby’s sleep and parents get rest during the night.
IS A NEWBORN CARE SPECIALIST A ‘NIGHT NURSE’, ‘BABY NURSE’, OR ‘INFANT NURSE’?
Night Nurse. Baby Nurse. Infant Nurse. We hear it often. Eager parents contact us all the time looking for the expertise & support they provide. However, these terms are outdated and legally, an individual cannot proclaim to be a nurse unless they’ve received a R.N., L.V.N., or L.P.N. degree.
The correct term adopted by the International Nanny Association is Newborn Care Specialist or Postpartum Doula.
HOW MUCH DOES A NEWBORN CARE SPECIALIST COST?
The salary of a Newborn Care Specialist often depends on experience level however typically, they earn a minimum of $25-$30 per hour & up depending on qualifications, experience, certifications & training level. Factors to keep in mind include the amount of babies (think Twins or Triplets!), schedule & duration. Most Newborn Care Specialists work 10-12 hour night shifts, some even provide 24/7 support and typically, a Newborn Care Specialist is hired anywhere from a period of 4 weeks up to 6 months.
HOW SOON DO YOU NEED TO ‘BOOK’ YOUR NEWBORN CARE SPECIALIST?
In most cases, a Newborn Care Specialist is hired between the first and second trimester of a parent’s pregnancy. Many experienced and in high-demand Newborn Care Specialists are booked months in advance and we always recommend for families to begin their search sooner rather than later.
When booking a Newborn Care Specialist, a deposit is required to secure the NCS which can vary from a flat fee to 50% of the salary for the assignment.
HOW LONG DOES A NEWBORN CARE SPECIALIST WORK WITH A FAMILY?
Every family is different and there are many variables to consider when deciding how long your family will need the support of a Newborn Care Specialist. Most NCS work for a minimum of 4 weeks up to a 6 month duration depending on if a family requires 24/7 support or only evening support. It’s a personal decision and The Stork Agency can assist in helping you determine what type of care will work best for you.
DO I ‘NEED’ A NEWBORN CARE SPECIALIST?
Hiring a Newborn Care Specialist is a personal decision with many factors to consider. Bottom line, there’s no one size fits all when deciding the type of support you & your family needs. Contact The Stork Agency to discuss how a Newborn Care Specialist or Nanny can benefit your growing family.