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Many families are curious about professional overnight newborn care to help ease the transition to new parenthood. Professional postpartum support is an investment in your whole family’s wellbeing. But how much does overnight newborn care cost? In this blog post, we’ll discuss overnight doula cost ranges and what to expect.
What is an Overnight Doula?
Simply put, an overnight doula is a professional postpartum doula who provides in-home nighttime support to families. To learn more about what overnight newborn care can look like, read our blog that details a sample overnight.
Overnight doulas help care for newborns at night so parents can rest. Some of their roles and responsibilities include:
- Nighttime feedings [bringing baby to mom to nurse or bottle feeding]
- Diapering
- Swaddling
- Soothing
- New parent education
- Sleep conditioning
- Feeding support [breastfeeding, pumping, and/or bottle feeing education]
- Washing bottles and pump parts
- Logging nighttime feeds and diaper changes
There are several types of professional caregivers who support families of newborns overnight. Common terms are:
- Newborn Care Specialist
- Postpartum Doula
- “Night Nurse”
- “Baby Nurse”
- “Night Nanny”
Newborn Care Specialists and Postpartum Doulas are both professional designations that caregivers earn by completing a training. “Night nurse” and “baby nurse” are somewhat outdated terms that don’t refer to a specific professional credential. Caregivers who refer to themselves using these terms may or may not have formal training in their field.
To learn more about the different types of overnight newborn caregivers, read our top blog posts on the subject:
- Newborn Care Specialist vs. Newborn Care Expert
- Postpartum Doula vs. Newborn Care Specialist: What’s the Difference?
- Night Nurse vs. Night Nanny: What’s the Difference?
What Does an Overnight Doula Cost?
The cost of an overnight doula can vary depending on several factors, but generally, you can expect to pay between $30 and $60 per hour [as of April 2024]. In some areas, less experienced night nurses may charge lower rates, while highly experienced professionals in high-cost-of-living areas may command higher rates. Speciality care, such as awake care with an RN, may cost up to $100 per hour in some areas.
A typical overnight newborn care shift ranges from 8 to 12 hours, and it’s standard practice to pay your overnight doula an hourly rate rather than a flat fee. Families can choose to hire a night nurse for a single night per week for a few weeks or opt for full-time, seven-nights-a-week care for several months, or anything in between. Average bookings are somewhere around 3-5 nights a week for 6-12 weeks, depending on budget, goals, and needs.
Why Overnight Doula Cost Varies
Several factors come into play with professional overnight doula cost, such as:
- Location
- Experience Level
- Individual vs. Agency
- Number of Babies [singleton vs. multiples]
- Special Requests [i.e. high needs medical or awake care]
Overnight newborn care with an agency tends to cost more than through an individual due to an elevated customer service experience. Agencies are more likely to have back up and emergency plans as well as public reviews and feedback. Agencies may also have more experience helping parents get reimbursed for overnight newborn care through their health insurance provider, or to help them book care through a third party such as CARROT Fertility.
At Nightingales, we understand the importance of providing exceptional care for your little one. That’s why all of our team members undergo rigorous screening processes, including CPR certification, insurance verification, extensive experience checks, reference checks, and background checks. We accept only the best of the best on our team to ensure Nightingales families have an outstanding experience.
While you may find lower rates from individual providers or less reputable agencies, it’s important to consider the potential risks and compromises. With Nightingales, you can rest assured that you’re working with a team of highly trained, experienced, and thoroughly vetted professionals who prioritize your baby’s safety, wellbeing, and healthy sleep habits. We offer competitive hourly rates that reflect the exceptional quality of our team members and the professionalism of our agency.
How to Book Overnight Newborn Care
When it comes to the care of your newborn, your family deserves the best! At Nightingales, we pride ourselves on our professionalism, attention to detail, and commitment to providing exceptional service.
Inquire now and set up a discovery call to learn more about our newborn night nurse services and pricing in your area. A call with our admin team is the first step in the overnight doula hiring process. Experience the peace of mind that comes with knowing your little one is in the best possible hands, starting with our streamlined customer service experience and mindful matching process.