Is a baby nurse an RN?
No. A baby nurse
is a non-clinical newborn
specialist with extensive,
hands-on infant experience. She
comes into the home to assist
new parents with the day-to-day
care of their newborn. There is
currently no nationally
recognized certification or
training for baby nurses.
Because of this fact I have
taken the postpartum doula
training as well as a lactation
course. Additionally, I am
committed to staying current
with all the latest
evidence-based infant care
issues.
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Why should I retain the services
of a baby nurse?
Having a baby
nurse is a luxury that provides
parents with both enrichment and
convenience. The role of a baby
nurse in the postpartum period
is unmatched by any friend or
family member. I come with
knowledge and suggestions
regarding infant products,
feeding, swaddling, and
scheduling. With my expertise
you will be able to receive the
rest you need after delivery.
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The role of a baby nurse defined…
I am available to provide full
charge care for your infant as
needed, however, parental
involvement is encouraged and
should never be limited by a
baby nurse. I am available to
answer questions, teach
swaddling techniques, assist
with the first bath, and
encourage bonding between
parents and their infant when
desired. Below is a detailed
list of typical baby nurse
duties.
-
Feeding
-
Bathing
-
Cleaning, sterilizing and
preparing bottles
-
Initiating a schedule for
sleeping, meals, nap and
play-time
-
Laundering infant clothing
and linens, including
washing, drying, folding and
putting away
-
Keeping the nursery tidy
-
Changing linens
-
Maintaining all supplies
-
Restocking baby care items
-
Emptying diaper containers
-
Keeping the infant play
areas and bathroom tidy
-
Keeping age appropriate toys
safe and in good working
order
-
Keeping a daily journal of
schedules and moods
-
Running infant related
errands as directed
-
Transporting infant to
activities and appointments
as agreed upon by the parent
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What is your philosophy
regarding baby sleep schedules?
I have heard many stories of
baby nurses who claim they can
get any baby to sleep through
the night in as little as 1-6
weeks of age. The problem I have
with such claims is that these
‘methods’ always include some
variation of the ‘cry-it-out’
(CIO) method. While some crying
is normal and to be expected, I
do not believe in closing the
door and letting a newborn CIO
for more than 5 minutes, and
even that is rare.
I would be happy
to discuss my reasons behind my
methods in detail with
prospective clients. The CIO
method typically DOES work, but
I feel it is damaging to the
newborn and therefore, simply
will not do it. That being said,
CIO may be appropriate for older
babies who are ready to sleep
through the night. My basic rule
of thumb is to follow the baby’s
cues and avoid negative
associations from the start. I
discuss with my clients what I
look for to indicate ‘readiness’
for sleep training. When baby is
ready and I’ve been given the ok
by the client I then begin the
process of sleep training which
often includes a more gentle
version of the CIO method.
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Please describe a typical night
of work with a newborn.
I begin my shift
by checking in with the parents
and getting any pertinent
information regarding the day. I
review the baby’s schedule and
prepare formula for my shift. I
typically like to gather
everything I will need for a
shift to limit the amount of
movement in the home throughout
the night. If bathing the infant
is required I typically do that
early on in the evening as to
promote the association of the
evening bath and bottle with
going to sleep. Throughout the
night I keep track of feeding
cycles while keeping the
environment in the nursery
conducive to sleep. At the end
of my shift I prepare bottles
for the following day (if
needed) and make sure things are
cleaned up from the night
including diapers put away,
bottles washed and any baby
laundry washed, folded and put
away.
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Please describe how you help
mothers while breastfeeding?
Once
breastfeeding is established I
typically assist mom by bringing
the baby to her for feedings,
keeping track of when baby eats
and for how long, and helping to
tweak the feeding schedule in
order to work best for the whole
family. In the beginning, while
breastfeeding is still being
established I support mom
through observation and making
suggestions when needed. I
encourage and try to support her
through any issues of guilt,
fear or self doubt she may have
regarding her ability to nourish
her newborn. I always bring a
very easy to read breastfeeding
troubleshooting guide with me on
jobs. This allows me to be able
to quickly and easily look up
info to assist with the most
common issues. I am also
qualified to observe typical
breastfeeding problems and
assist with solutions. When
needed, I refer to a lactation
consultant for further
assistance.
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When should I reserve a baby
nurse?
It is best to
book a baby nurse several months
in advance. Once contracted, I
will be in contact with you
throughout the remainder of your
pregnancy. Although it is ideal
to book early, I am sometimes
able to accommodate last minute
requests so please do not allow
timing to prevent you from
contacting me. I am also in
contact with several other baby
nurses who may have availability
if I do not.
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Describe the hiring process.
Once you’ve
agreed to hire me a deposit is
due upon contract signing. At
this time your requested dates
are reserved. The contract and
deposit are in place to protect
both parties.
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When will you arrive?
When you contract
my services well in advance I
will not agree to any other
assignments that interfere with
your due date. I can be waiting
for you upon your return from
the hospital or I can go with
you to the hospital to bring
your infant home. Many families
have their baby nurse arrive a
few days early to get supplies
organized and get acquainted
with other family members prior
to the arrival of mom and baby.
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