The most challenging aspect of having a newborn is not getting enough sleep for many new parents, particularly those who work outside the home full-time. Sleep deprivation is a common issue for new parents because most parents quickly discover how challenging it is to get any rest when the baby sleeps.
Receiving additional support is crucial during those initial months. A viable answer would be hiring a night nanny for families where both parents work full-time, parents of multiples, or even parents of fussy infants that wake up frequently throughout night.
Night nannies are becoming more and more popular as a way to assist exhausted new parents in getting some much-needed sleep. In order to help establish sleep and feeding habits, night nannies are often hired for four to six weeks up to one year for single newborns, and frequently longer if there are multiples.
The number of evenings a week that a night nanny is utilized may vary depending on the arrangements; some parents choose flexible arrangements like every other night, some for-work nights, and others for every night of the week. The hours can change as well, although a common schedule is from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Why More People Are Using Night Nannies?
Commonly cited causes include the fact that women may find it harder to rely on their own mothers or mothers-in-law because they are also older as a result of delaying parenthood until later in life or there might not be any family members around to assist because many families today are more mobile than in previous generations.
The idea of hiring a night nanny becomes more appealing when a person has high stress jobs with long hours or commutes or having multiples makes the notion of employing a night nanny more desirable as well. Finally, there is an increase in the usage of night nannies because more people are becoming aware that this kind of service is available, particularly in major cities.
New parents who get a good night's sleep are probably going to be better, more attentive parents to their baby during the day. Additionally, night nannies can teach inexperienced parents about baby care, establishing stability and a manageable routine at home.
How Much a Night Nanny Costs?
It depends. if you are seeking night nannies just to wake and feed your baby if needed and there aren't any major sleeping issues, then night nannies for newborns costs can range between $35 - $55 per hour and Twin babies between $45 - $65 per hour on average in the Denver area. Parents who choose to hire a person through word-of-mouth rather than through an agency might pay less.
What to Look for in a Night Nanny for New Parents?
Consider the following while evaluating an applicant during an interview:
EXPERIENCE: Has the applicant previously held a post of this nature? Ask a lot of questions about the person's experience, the normal amount of time spent with each family, the appeal of the position, and whether they remain in contact with their relatives.
REFERENCES: Verify all references thoroughly. After all, you are confiding in someone to watch over your priceless child while you are asleep at home.
CONFIDENCE LEVEL: Do you feel at ease hiring a night nanny? If not, you're defeating the purpose of hiring one because you'll probably have trouble sleeping anyway.
AFFORDABILITY: Are you able to afford a night nanny? Hiring someone to care for your newborn at night becomes easier knowing that the arrangement is usually temporary, but do the math beforehand to make sure it fits within your household budget.