As new parents, adjusting to life with a newborn can be a challenging and exhausting experience. Between round-the-clock feedings, diaper changes, and their near-constant need for attention, it can be difficult to find time to rest and recharge. In fact, sleep deprivation is a common problem for new parents, and it can have significant consequences for their physical and mental health. Sleep deprivation can lead to a range of issues, such as weight gain, a weakened immune system, mood swings, and even reduced cognitive function. When new mothers are already facing a range of physical and emotional challenges, this can prove incredibly harmful.
Fortunately, there are care providers like newborn care experts that can offer much-needed assistance and allow new parents to get the sleep they need to thrive as a new family. These nannies are trained professionals that will work closely with new parents to ensure that their baby’s needs are met while giving them time to adjust in their new roles.
What Are Newborn Care Experts?
Simply put, a newborn care expert is a trained and experienced professional who provides specialized care for newborns and their families. They have extensive training in handling all aspects of newborn care, such as feeding, diapering, soothing, and establishing healthy sleep habits. By hiring a newborn care expert, new parents can relax knowing their baby is in capable hands, allowing them to get some much-needed sleep!
How Can They Help?
Newborn care experts offer a range of services to support new parents, and can be hired for overnight care, daytime support, and even round-the-clock services. Overnight care is typically the most desired service, as it allows parents to get a full night’s sleep while the nanny takes over the needs of the newborn. A few of the services a newborn care expert might provide are:
Establishing a Sleep Routine
Every new parent knows that getting their newborn to sleep is 90% of the battle! Despite needing a lot of sleep at this stage in life, infants tend to struggle with falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night. This is where your newborn care expert comes in. With extensive training in safe and healthy sleep, a newborn care expert will be able to work with you and your needs to determine and establish a sleep routine that works for the entire family!
They will accomplish this by understanding your household’s needs, tracking your baby’s sleep patterns and behavior, and then creating a sleep schedule accordingly. So not only will your baby get the sleep they need, but you will, too!
Sleep Conditioning
In addition to creating an effective sleep routine for your baby, a newborn care expert will also be able to assist in the preparation for effective sleep training! As they grow, infants need to learn how to fall asleep on their own and self-soothe when they wake up in the middle of the night.
Sleep conditioning is when the baby is taught healthy sleep habits from early on, such as not relying on being rocked to sleep. This is a gradual process, so having a care provider who can offer guidance and support can offer a lot of relief and reassurance.
Nighttime Feedings
Newborns require frequent feedings at the beginning of their life, often every two to three hours – this schedule can prove extremely stressful for new parents looking to catch some shut-eye! When hiring a newborn care expert, you will be able to have someone on hand to wake up in the middle of the night to make sure your hungry baby is fed.
Breastfeeding? Not a problem! If you don’t have breast milk stored or on hand, a newborn care nanny can still wake up with your newborn, bring them directly to you to breastfeed, and then take them right back to bed, so your sleep is barely interrupted.
Emotional Support
Adjusting to the new role of parent is hard on everyone, and can bring up a lot of hard emotions. An advanced newborn care expert has additional training to provide emotional support to a new parent, helping them navigate this new chapter and cope with the challenges that come with it. They can offer advice and reassurance, and even help provide additional resources if needed.
While a newborn care expert might not fit the budget or needs of every family, they can be a true lifesaver for parents who are really struggling from sleep deprivation and the adjustment that comes from caring for a newborn. Our newborn care experts pride themselves on their exceptional care and ability to help new parents get that much-needed sleep they’re after! Schedule a call with our Newborn Care Director today to learn more about how we can support your family!
