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Caring for a baby is a 24-hour job, especially during the early months. That’s why so many parents look for support — and why night nannies are in such high demand.
But, if you’ve never used one before, how do you find a night nanny for a newborn? The good news is that there are many easy ways to do this, from hiring a nanny through an agency, relying on word-of-mouth or even seeking a referral from your doctor.
However you go about it, you want to make sure that you thoroughly vet the nanny and that the nanny is someone you feel comfortable and at ease with. Here, we’ll go over everything you need to know about finding a night nanny for newborns — from where and when to start looking to what a night nanny will cost you.
Key takeaways
- A night nanny is someone who provides overnight care or support for newborns. When it comes to finding a night nanny, you have several options, including using an agency, getting a personal referral and consulting your online parenting groups.
- You’ll want to find a nanny who is experienced, comes highly recommended and who you feel comfortable with. Having night-specific certifications — such as a newborn care specialist (NCS) certification and/or certifications in baby sleep and baby care — is also highly beneficial.
- The ideal timeframe to begin your search for overnight care is during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Night nannies are helpful for busy families who need extra support at night and also want guidance about baby care, sleep and feeding.
What does a night nanny do?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of finding a night nanny, it can be helpful to understand what night nannies do and how to know if you might need one. A night nanny is someone who provides overnight care or support for newborns, usually aged 0-3 months.
“They will support the child during overnight care and cover everything from bedtime routines to mid-night feedings to sleep training,” says Elena Pascullo, director of marketing at Westside Nannies.
Night nannies are employees of the family, just like day nannies are, adds Erin Carroll-Manning, a master newborn care specialist (NCS) and founder at Gentle Giraffes Newborn Care & Family Services. “Their duties include all that a daytime nanny does, such as laundry, tidying the house and ensuring the children’s safety during sleep,” she says.
Who needs a night nanny?
Any parent can benefit from a night nanny, whether you’re a first-time parent or a more seasoned one, but they’re especially helpful for parents who have busy schedules or who could benefit from a professional lending their expertise in baby care.
“Night nannies are a great choice for first-time parents who could use some guidance and support overnights, parents with careers or older children who require them to be alert and present during the day, or anyone looking for an extra set of hands overnight,” Pascullo says.
Isabella Rossi, a mom and the Chief Product Officer (CPO) at Fruzo, says that as a new mom with a busy job, hiring a night nanny was one of the best things she ever did. “It was a necessity to stay sane and be able to get through the day,” she says, explaining that her night nanny took care of middle-of-the-night feedings, diaper changes and calming her baby when she was fussy, as well as anything else her daughter needed at night.
“Our night nanny was a lifesaver. She was a calm expert who helped us during those stressful first weeks.”
— Isabella Rossi, entrepreneur and parent
How do you find a night nanny for newborns?
There are several effective ways to find a night nanny — and you have ample choices as to how to search for one. Here are some of the most-recommended options.
Use an agency
If you want an experienced night nanny who is fully vetted from the get-go, a nanny agency might be the best choice. “Agencies have high standards for their candidates and expect the best from them,” says Carroll-Manning. “They also have strict vetting policies and go above and beyond to ensure the nanny candidate and family are a good fit.”
The con of using an agency is that you have to pay extra for their services. In return, the agency will provide many quality nanny options for you, but you will have the final word on which nanny to hire.
Word-of-mouth
There’s often nothing as reassuring as getting a referral for a night nanny from someone you know and trust. Plus, it increases the likelihood that this nanny will be a good match for your family.
“In my experience, word of mouth is best,” says Emily G. Thomas, a birth injury and medical malpractice attorney and new mom. “You really want someone who is vetted since they will be in your home caring for your child. We had a neighbor who used a specific person at an agency, and we found that person recommended to us by our neighbor to be most helpful to us.”
Ask your doctor for a referral
Often, getting a referral from your pediatrician or OB-GYN for a night nanny (or a nanny agency) can be very helpful. Not all medical professionals will have referrals to give, but when they do, you can be assured that these are likely professionals that members of your community have liked and who have a record of providing good care for babies.
“The ideal timeframe to begin your search for overnight care is during the second or third trimester [of pregnancy]. This gives parents proper time to find, vet and select a candidate that feels like a great fit.”
— Elena Pascullo, marketing director and nanny expert
Ask your online parenting groups
Online parenting groups can be a treasure trove for referrals to child care professionals, especially if you connect to someone in your community who has used the nanny being recommended.
That said, there can also be a lot of unvetted professionals in the mix, so it’s essential to properly vet any child care professional you run across in one of these groups. This includes:
- Checking references.
- Running a background check.
- Carefully interviewing each candidate.
Once you have a few prospective nannies whose references you’ve checked and who have been properly vetted, you’ll want to interview each of them separately, preferably in person. Having them come into your home for an interview or even a trial day can help you to assess how they might fit into your family.
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What to look for in a good night nanny
More than anything else, Rossi’s night nanny offered much-needed reassurance to the first-time mom. “Our night nanny was a lifesaver,” she says. “She was a calm expert who helped us during those stressful first weeks.”
While having a reassuring demeanor is certainly vital, it’s not the only quality to look for in a night nanny. Besides a calming presence, Pascullo says that having night-specific certifications — such as a newborn care specialist (NCS) certification and/or certifications in baby sleep and baby care — are also highly beneficial.
According to Carroll-Manning some, other qualities to consider in a potential newborn night nanny include:
- Strong communication skills.
- Ability to be responsible and reliable.
- A deep understanding of the emotional health of babies and children.
- Awareness of many different parenting styles and philosophies.
- Up-to-date knowledge of safety guidelines for infants.
Additionally, your night nanny should have a good understanding of the boundaries of their role. In other words, the nanny understands that they are performing a job and that families are ultimately the main decision-makers for their babies.
When should you start looking for a night nanny?
When it comes to finding a night nanny, starting your search sooner rather than later is your best bet. “The ideal timeframe to begin your search for overnight care is during the second or third trimester [of pregnancy],” Pascullo says. “This gives parents proper time to find, vet and select a candidate that feels like a great fit.”
That being said, sometimes families don’t realize they need a night nanny until after the baby arrives and they see how completely exhausting nighttime baby care is. Luckily, all hope isn’t lost in this scenario. “Though difficult, it’s not impossible to find care after the baby arrives, depending on your local job market,” Pascullo shares.
Putting out feelers to all of the resources mentioned above should help you find the right nanny in no time.
How much do night nannies cost?
Night nanny cost varies considerably based on several different factors. According to Carroll-Manning, on the low end of the spectrum, a night nanny might charge $20-$35+ an hour. But a nanny who also has a certification like a newborn care specialist (NCS) might charge $35-$45 per hour or up to $40-$65 an hour for a highly qualified, professional nanny.
Pascullo says the following factors all impact how much a night nanny will cost:
- Experience.
- Education.
- Professional certifications.
- Location.
Keep in mind that the cost of a night nanny will also depend on whether you use a nanny agency or other nanny service, as these can raise the price.
A final tip about hiring the right night nanny
When it’s time to make a final decision about hiring your night nanny, it often comes down to a personality match. Ultimately, you should choose the nanny who you feel most comfortable with.
Don’t be afraid to follow your gut here, the experts say, and pick a nanny who simply feels right to you.
“It is important to trust your feelings,” Rossi advises. “You are letting this person into your home during very private moments, so they should be kind and confident.”
