My husband and I faced the first few months after giving birth to our daughter, three and a quarter years ago, like all new parents: with little sleep and confusion. We also had a lot love. Many families hire a baby nurse to help them adjust to the changes that come with welcoming a new baby. What is a Baby Nurse?
A baby nurse can be compared to a nanny who has specialized training or experience in caring for newborns. This is not the same as a medical nurse. The fee is high for round-the-clock care, particularly during the night. After realizing that I would not be able to sneak extra sleep in like I did when I had my first baby, I hired a nurse.
As a mom who stayed at home, I was concerned that someone else would be living in my apartment to care for my baby. I was used to making the daily decisions for my daughter. I hired a baby-nurse despite my reservations.
In retrospect, I think I wasn’t direct or diligent enough in my interview questions. I ended up hiring someone that was not a good fit. A typical baby nurse will live and work for you seven days a week. Therefore, a good personality match is essential to a successful working relationship. Let’s say that ours was not a good match. I was a second time mom and needed someone to follow my lead when it came to the baby. In some ways, I felt like I was tiptoeing in my home and was nervous to give feedback to someone caring for my child (and who wasn’t always receptive).
The nighttime assistance was extremely helpful. The baby was placed in a crib next to the nurse, and brought to me every time I needed a feed. The nurse was taking care of the baby while I went back to sleep. I still woke up several times during the night. She was very helpful during the day, when I had to take my daughter to and from preschool.
Finding the right baby nurse is crucial to the success of your family during the newborn phase. Here are five tips to help you find the best baby nurse for you and your family.
Assess the needs of your family. Determine your priorities before you meet the candidates. Decide how your baby will be cared for, whether that is the way (and when) it is dressed, fed or bathed.
Declare your desires clearly during the interview. Miscommunication is the cause of many failed relationships between parents and baby nurse (or any other caregiver for that matter). Let the interviewees understand what you expect of them as a nurse.
You can ask them about their philosophy and techniques for raising babies. Make sure the person you hire to help raise your child is not only compatible with your family but also well-versed in infant care. What methods of sleep training do they employ? Are they certified in any way that would be beneficial to you and your baby (such as being a lactation consultant) Has the candidate been trained in a specific area of infant care, such as breastfeeding or caring for preemies or multiples? These questions can help you understand how candidates operate.
Check their qualifications. Before meeting them, you should run a background search. Local, state, and federal agencies can perform this task. Ask for a résumé and assess their certifications. (These can range from infant care specialist to LVN, RN and infant CPR). Check references to confirm the information given during the interview and to gain a better understanding of the experience of the family.
Trust your gut. One candidate said that I would have to pump at night and she would give the baby a bottle. I didn’t want to do that, and knew that she wasn’t the right match. You can choose to hire a baby nurse 24/7 or not. You should feel comfortable with anyone you plan to hire. If you “click” it is a good sign.