She is a trained professional, with extensive newborn experience, who will arrive at 9 pm and leave at 7 am (although these hours are negotiable). She will help you with the night time feeds, bedtime routine, breastfeeding and any sleep issues.
Depending on your preference, your Night Nanny can rest in the same room as your baby, or you will sleep with your baby and the Night Nanny will offer support and guidance when needed. When your baby wakes for a feed, the Night Nanny will make sure good feeding practices are being instilled; she will ensure your baby stays awake to have a good feed, and she will then wind and settle your baby. She should be allowed to nap in between the baby’s needs so bedding is required for her.
Often mothers drift off while feeding and may not have the energy to spend time on winding of settling their baby if they are tired. This can result in the baby waking again within a short period requiring further winding and possibly another feed. An exhausted mother may not recognise this in the small hours of the night.
A Night Nanny will make sure everything stays on track whilst you get the best sleep you can.
The same Night Nanny will come to your house each week for as long as you need. You can reduce nights or stop at any time. They do not stay awake all night, they nap when the baby sleeps (they require a bed/sofa bed or mattress).
For you to get the greatest benefit from the service our Night Nannies will share a room with the baby, but at all times they will follow your preference.
If you are breastfeeding your Night Nanny will bring your baby to you for feeds; you don’t have to leave your bed, meaning you can stay totally relaxed and after your baby has fed you can immediately go back to sleep. Your Night Nanny will take the baby back to the nursery and take care of soothing, changing, winding and getting them back to sleep.
Just like a Night Nanny, a Maternity Nurse is in charge of all aspects of the baby care. She will also provide support and guidance to you as a mother ensuring that you are well nourished and rested.
A Maternity Nurse booked through Night Nannies will have the same sleep skills as our Night Nannies, so they will ensure your baby’s sleep is developing in line with his age.
Please be aware that your Maternity Nurse will need sleep and a break too. Normally this is for 3-4 hours when it’s convenient during the day. She will have her own contract so do discuss this with her directly.
Maternity Nurses get booked up very early, especially when returning to look after a second or third baby. We suggest you call us when you are around 12-20 weeks pregnant in order to be able to choose your preferred Maternity Nurse. Maternity Nurses have their own individual contracts. Please look at this carefully for cancellation procedures and deposits.
All Night Nannies and Maternity Nurses are self-employed and are paid directly by the client. They are responsible for their own tax and national insurance.
Our Maternity Nurses and Night Nannies are available to travel outside the UK and, in this case, will usually add a 20% surcharge to their weekly rate.
Discuss how mealtimes will work – you will be expected to provide food for your Maternity Nurse, but not for a Night Nanny and it’s fine to tell the Maternity Nurse that you and your partner would like to eat alone.
Our Nannies do not charge their time for attending interviews, but it is appreciated if you offer to reimburse any travelling costs on presentation of a receipt.
This is particularly important when booking a Maternity Nurse as, if she is booked, and your baby hasn’t arrived, she will usually require 50% of her full fee for each week she has to wait. Do look at her contract. This is expensive for you, but also awkward for the Maternity Nurse and can lead to difficult situations when your baby does finally arrive. This does not apply to Night Nannies.
Generally speaking, the Maternity Nurse won’t be booked up with her previous client right until the start date of her job with you, so there is a degree of flexibility should your baby arrive early. This is the advantage of using an agency, just call your region and they will usually be able to parachute someone else in if required.
We have also found that the first week or two without professional help gives you and your family time to bond and start getting to know your baby. Knowing that a Night Nanny or Maternity Nurse is coming within a week means you don’t worry too much about anything and can just enjoy those precious days.
If you are really struggling and your chosen Nanny is unavailable to start work before her contracted start date, we can generally find you suitable temporary cover.