Why Professional With Newborn Care Specialist Training Could Be Right For You

By Laura Fisher


Most new parents read all the help manuals they can find and follow the mommy blogs, but nothing can really prepare them for the reality of a newborn in the nursery. Couples who bring home twins, triplets, or more are often immediately overwhelmed. Friends and family may help out some parents, but others turn to a professional with newborn care specialist training to get them through the first critical days, weeks, and months.

These specialists are not necessarily nannies. Most do not stay with one family for an extended period of time. They are there for the first few weeks, or as much as three months, to help parents establish a schedule for feeding and sleeping. Caregivers are trained to assist mothers who have trouble breastfeeding initially. Many parents hire them to work during the night so they can get more than one or two hours sleep for themselves.

It takes some infants longer than others to adjust to the outside world. Some have digestive issues like colic and reflux that are painful and keep the little ones from sleeping soundly. They may cry for hours without stopping. Without an experienced professional on hand, parents might panic and head for the emergency room. Those parents with multiple babies also benefit from the services of the specialists.

Although these caregivers can be invaluable for new parents, it is important to know exactly who you are hiring to help with your baby. The agencies who send the specialists into homes have websites that give information about the services they provide. They should clearly define what certifications and experience their caregivers have, such as CPR. No parent should leave a young child alone with a caregiver without this certification.

As new parents, you need to decide whether your want a caregiver to live in and be available twenty-four hours a day. Many couples hire specialists to work during the night while they are sleeping. Others decide to use a caregiver only certain days of the week. The cost of a baby caregiver will depend on the amount of time you require and the experience the caregiver has.

Some professional caregivers specialize in multiple areas of infant supervision, but there can be big differences between baby nurses, nannies, infant caregivers, and doulas. Baby nurses are almost always registered nurses who are hired to take care of infants with special needs. Some of their clients have premature babies or infants with birth defects. Nannies are normally hired for long term assignments.

Postpartum doulas focus on the new mothers. It is not unusual for mothers to experience depression after they bring a newborn home. Doulas work with them to get them through this difficult time. Doulas often temporarily take over housekeeping and shopping duties for the family. Some doulas are also infant care specialists.

Infants are a transformational change in any household. Even parents with plenty of prior practice can get overwhelmed by the new responsibility. Temporary professional help can make a big difference in the lives of parents and newborns.




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