What Does a Night Nanny Do All Night?

To put it lightly, night nannies are lifesavers for new parents. There’s no question about it—they swoop in at the right moment when parents need extra help and give back those precious ZZZs that (if we’re being honest) are lacking at the moment. Because the reality is, losing sleep when you’re freshly postpartum can wreak havoc on our bodies. “We get so focused on how our babies are sleeping that we forget about our own sleep needs. Your sleep is important too,” says Kristin Revere, certified postpartum and infant care doula, the founder of Gold Coast Doulas, and co-author of the award-winning birth book Supported: Your Guide to Birth and Baby. That’s where night nannies come in.

However, you shouldn’t confuse night nannies with the other similar professions, such as newborn care specialists and overnight postpartum doulas. These three titles serve different purposes and have varying roles. For example, newborn care specialists and night nannies will typically hyper-focus on your baby, and only the baby. Light housework and family support are generally not included in their services. On the other hand, overnight postpartum doulas have a bigger picture in mind, supporting the entire family. This means they can assist with feeding techniques, support mom’s recovery, help set up systems, and provide overall support during this newborn phase at home.

In this article, we’re talking about night nannies specifically. Now you know that their main job is to take care of your baby. But, what exactly do they do all night? Well, here’s what a typical night nanny shift would look like if you hired one.

1. Arrival & Check-In

Your night nanny will usually arrive later in the day, typically between 9 and 10 pm, or at a set time if you’ve specified it. They’ll start by quickly chatting with you to gather any baby updates, such as what happened during the day, what the feeding schedule has been like, and if there are any noteworthy concerns. If this is their very first shift with you, they might arrive even earlier to get a good overview of your baby’s routine, their sleeping area, how you prep their bottle, and anything else that helps them get up to speed.

2. Baby Care Through the Night

It’s time to give your baby goodnight kisses and head to bed—this is where your nanny will take over! General night duties will include feeding, burping, diaper changes, and soothing them back to sleep if they wake. Zooming in on feeding logistics, your night time nanny will feed baby however you instruct them to do. Whether that’s breastmilk in a bottle, formula, or bringing your baby to you during the night to nurse.

Here’s an important note: your night nanny should always practice safe sleep practices throughout the night, as outlined by the AAP guidelines. These include placing baby on their back for sleep, keeping them in their own safe sleep space, and ensuring there are no loose items in their sleep area. (P.S. This is something you should go over when first scouting out a night nanny agency!)

3. Monitoring and Tracking

Throughout the night, your nanny can keep track of some key items for you. They’ll make note of wake times, feedings, diaper changes, and sleep quality. They’ll also note down any concerns, such as reflux or discomfort, that they notice in baby. If something more concerning pops up, they’ll wake you for help.

4. Light Tidying

As we mentioned earlier, night nannies typically don’t do more extensive household chores or help with laundry, as postpartum doulas can. But what your night nanny will take care of is washing baby’s bottles and any parts associated with their feedings, as well as tidying up the nursery and baby station before they leave—nope, there’s no waking up to a mess from the night before!

5. Morning Wrap-Up

To help with a super smooth transition and a supportive end to their shift, your night nanny will try to handle any last feedings and diaper changes before you wake up. If you’re already awake when they’re leaving, your night nanny will let you know what happened overnight in a brief catch-up. If you’re still asleep or resting, they’ll leave written or texted notes for you and try to leave quietly so you can rest for as long as possible.

Which Is Right for You? Night Nannies, Newborn Care Specialists, or Overnight Postpartum Doulas

The bottom line? All of these professionals will support your baby. Night nannies often come with general experience from other families they have worked for, while newborn care specialists are more professionally trained for the job. Overnight postpartum doulas are seen as a step up for families craving even more support, as they can assist with feeding techniques, set up systems, support mom’s postpartum recovery, and serve as an overall guide during this early phase with baby.

Kristin says that sleep is critical to your mental wellness as a new parent. “Remind yourself that sleep is one of the most important elements of your wellbeing and your baby’s development. It’s free, there are no negative side effects, and it’s proven to do wonders. Make it a priority!” she adds.

Our team at Gold Coast Doulas in West Michigan understands how valuable overnight support is during your postpartum recovery. Because honestly speaking, most of us have been there ourselves! That’s why we have over a dozen certified and trained postpartum doulas on the team ready to help whenever you need some extra support.

Kristin Revere, MM, CED, NCS, is a certified birth and postpartum doula and the founder of Gold Coast Doulas in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is also the co-host of Ask the Doulas Podcast and co-author of Supported: Your Guide to Birth and Baby.