How to Find the Right Overnight Nanny Near Me: Your Step-By-Step Guide
In general, a new parent will lose an astonishing 109 minutes of sleep every single night after bringing their newborn home.
We think that’s insane and absolutely not necessary! Losing this much sleep significantly impacts your health and can negatively affect how you care for yourself and your newborn.
Do yourself a huge favor, and learn how to find the right overnight nanny near me with our step-by-step guide.
What Is an Overnight Nanny?
An overnight nanny is exactly what you think they are. They take care of your infant's needs overnight so that you can rest better.
Overnight nannies are there to help you adjust to motherhood and handle your new baby’s overnight needs, whatever those might be.
Step 1: Think About Your Needs
The first step in looking for an overnight nanny is thinking about what you’re going to need. Newborns need to eat every one to three hours, which can really mess up your sleep schedule. They also require mid-night diaper changes, soothing, and sometimes even bathing.
That’s a lot for any mama, even when dad handles everything but breastfeeding! Learn everything an overnight care specialist can assist you with. You may be surprised by just how much they can do for you!
Step 2: Ask Your Network
Now that you know what you want your overnight nanny to do, you can start looking around for the right agency or person to help you.
Start by reaching out to friends, family, and co-workers who recently had children. They’re a great place to start when trying to find the right overnight care for you.
Step 3: Look Online
If your personal network didn’t give you too many options, turn to the internet to help. A simple Google search with overnight nanny near me should show you the closest options to where you live. Directly online, you’ll be able to see reviews from real moms who’ve used those services to get a list of potential overnight nannies.
You may also want to consider joining online communities for mothers and ask for their recommendations. This way, you can ask someone who’s been in your shoes how it was to work with their nanny.
Once you have a list of potential night care nannies, it’s time for in-depth research!
Step 4: Research Your Night Care Options
Take each of the potential night care nanny options you’ve been recommended, or found, and go to their website. Go to multiple pages and read about their approach to newborn care and if it aligns with what you’re looking for.
Then, be sure to go on Google and read both positive and negative reviews (if they have them). This will help you understand the experience you can expect and set you up for the right relationship.
Step 5: Schedule Consultations
At this point, your list should be narrowed down to just a few night nannies, so it’s time for you to schedule a consultation with them. This is one of the most critical parts of the process, and you definitely can’t skip it.
A consultation is going to give you an opportunity to meet and speak with the person who is going to care for your baby. Make sure you’re comfortable with them, and be sure to ask as many questions as you have. Here are a few examples of questions to ask and what kind of response you should look for.
What’s Your Experience and Qualifications?
When it comes to letting someone care for your child, you need to know what their experience and qualifications are. Anyone caring for your child should have relevant qualifications and credentials, so you can sleep easy.
Are You up to Date on Your Vaccines?
Especially with what we’ve been dealing with over the past few years, it’s essential to know your baby is safer from preventable diseases. A nanny who comes into your home to care for your child should be vaccinated to keep your baby safe and healthy.
Do You Have a Day Job?
This one can be tough, but it’s essential to know. An overnight nanny should be awake the entire time they care for your child. If they have another job during the day, that can compromise their sleep schedule, causing them to fall asleep on the job.
Make sure your care specialist is dedicated to caring for your child and has the energy to do so.
Why Did You Choose to Become an Overnight Care Nanny?
Understanding why someone got into their profession can help you understand their underlying motivators. Ideally, you want to hear that they’re passionate about assisting new mothers to adjust to motherhood, or they’re passionate about working with children.
If they’re not excited about their career, they might not be as dedicated as someone who lives, and breaths overnight care.
For more questions we think you should ask, check out our frequently asked questions!
Step 6: Ask For Referrals
Before you end your consultation, be sure to ask for referrals from your overnight care nanny and reach out to them. There’s nothing like being able to talk directly to someone who has worked with your potential nanny.
Some questions you should ask the referral they give you are:
How long did your overnight nanny work for you?
What services or duties did they provide?
How old was the child they cared for?
Did you feel like they adequately informed you of everything they were doing?
What was your favorite part about working with them?
If you had another child, would you hire them again? Why, or why not?
Step 7: Hire an Overnight Nanny Near Me
Now that you know how to find the right overnight nanny near me, it’s time for you to get started with them! Remember, it’s never too early to start researching an overnight nanny.
If you’re in Rhode Island looking for an overnight nanny, look no further! Baby Bloom Newborn Care is here to help you and your baby get the rest you need. Schedule your free 15-minute consultation, and learn why our Newborn Specialists are right for you!