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Bringing home a new baby is quite possibly life’s sweetest challenge. Between around the clock feedings and diaper changes, learning to soothe your baby, and adjusting to your little one’s arrival, you know you’re going to want some help. But how much help do you need with a new baby? Will you need part-time, full-time, or 24/7 newborn care? What’s the difference between live-out and live-in newborn care?
Even if this isn’t your first baby, it can be challenging to know how much professional newborn care will feel best for your family. While overnight newborn care is a wonderful service to help your whole family sleep better, daytime newborn care is a wonderful way to receive interactive, customized education and support.
If both of those options sound good to you, you may want to consider 24/7 newborn care, where a postpartum professional lives in with your family to provide both daytime and overnight newborn care and parental guidance. 24/7 newborn care offers unparalleled continuity of care and the maximum range of services offered for growing families. If you’re considering whether live-out or 24/7 live-in newborn care is a better fit for you, this blog post will clarify the particular benefits of 24/7 newborn care.
24/7 Newborn Care Services
What does 24/7 newborn care look like? Throughout your time together, your 24/7 night nurse can help with:
- Direct newborn care [i.e. bottle feedings, diapering, bathing]
- Breastfeeding, pumping, and/or bottle feeding guidance
- Parent education [i.e. swaddling demonstration, soothing techniques]
- Getting babies into daytime and nighttime routines
- Sleep conditioning [building positive associations with sleep and helping your baby gently learn to sleep independently for longer stretches]
- Nursery organization
- Washing and sanitizing bottles and pump parts
- Baby laundry
- Restocking diapers and wipes
- Accompanying you to appointments [i.e. pediatrician, lactation consultant]
- Emotional support: being a listening ear and offering non-judgemental guidance
24/7 newborn care offers the most robust level of support during the postpartum period. A live-in caregiver can ensure you’re well-supported as you transition into a new season of life with your baby.
Robust Support
A live-in caregiver [sometimes referred to as a 24/7 baby nurse or 24/7 night nurse] can provide your family with the ultimate level of support during the early weeks or months of life with your new baby. 24/7 newborn care means that you don’t have to hold your breath waiting for help to arrive – you get to have your own personal newborn expert by your side every step of the way.
24/7 newborn care means that you get the benefits of both overnight newborn care and daytime newborn care – without having to make compromises on which service is more important for your family. You can be well-rested AND take your time absorbing newborn care tips and tricks as your baby grows and reaches developmental milestones.
Continuity of Care
When you work with a 24/7 Newborn Care Specialist or 24/7 Postpartum Doula, you get the utmost continuity of care. Your caregiver gets to know you and your family on a deep, intimate level. Being with you day in and day out means that she will quickly pick up on your newborn’s quirks and cues, helping you to best understand and bond with your new baby.
Unlike live-out newborn care, there will be no need to fill your caregiver in on updates or changes in your routine in between shifts. She will be with you every step of the way, helping you discover and settle into routines that work well for the whole family.
With 24/7 newborn care, you also don’t have to worry about interruptions in care, like your caregiver getting a flat tire on their way to you.
Experienced Caregivers
Working with a 24/7 Newborn Care Specialist or Postpartum Doula means that you have access to the industry’s most experienced and qualified candidates. You aren’t limited to the professionals who live within driving distance of your home. Many live-in professionals travel nationwide, meaning you can consider caregivers from anywhere around the country.
Furthermore, 24/7 live-in care is a unique service that is reserved for highly experienced newborn experts. It is not a service that newer caregivers jump into. Working with a 24/7 night nurse means your family is in excellent, seasoned hands.
Flexibility
Typical live-in newborn care shifts are 16-20 hours per 24 hour period. While your caregiver will need a break or two throughout the day to catch up on rest, those breaks can be flexible and mutually agreed upon to meet your needs and lifestyle. For example if you’re a morning person, you may be ready for your caregiver to take their break after completing an overnight shift. If midday naps keep you feeling good and energized, you can protect that time by having your caregiver plan to be with the baby while you rest.
24/7 newborn care contracts typically average around 12 weeks in length. This is because most babies can be gently sleep conditioned to sleep through the night around that age. However, some parents only want a couple weeks of live-in care, while other want the assurance of several months of 24/7 care. No matter what duration of care you book, the services your Newborn Care Specialist or Postpartum Doula provides will be tailored to meet your family’s needs as your routines take shape and evolve over time.
When to Book 24/7 Newborn Care
Live-in care providers do tend to book out several months in advance. It’s recommended to start the interview process in the first half of your second trimester if possible. However, if you’re into your third trimester – or even if your baby is already here! – you may still be able to secure a live-in caregiver.
Reach out to us to learn more about our team and what live-in newborn care can look like for your family.