What is a Newborn Care Specialist?

A Newborn Care Specialist (NCS) is a care professional with extensive experience in caring for babies in the “Fourth Trimester” (AKA newborns), through the first year. Their knowledge encompasses Age Appropriate Care, Development (maintaining meticulous records of your newborn’s feeding and sleeping schedules and monitoring development for any issues such as tongue tie, lip tie, for example), Feeding Guidance, Breastfeeding support, Emotional Support and Education for Parents, and can include Postpartum Care for Birthing Parents. An NCS will often work overnight to provide rest periods for new parents.

Are Newborn Care Specialists the same as Postpartum Doulas?

Although there are many areas in which Postpartum Doulas and NCSs overlap, in most cases there are some key differences, although these differences vary by individual caregiver and should be discussed during the contract negotiation period. In Nicole’s case, she has often taken on many duties traditionally associated with PPDs, such as birthing parent support, meal prep for parents, or light household duties, depending on family needs and contract, and is currently undergoing PPD certification. PPDs primarily support the birthing parent's recovery, while an NCS will focus on your newborn.

What accommodations are required for an NCS?

During your newborn care specialist’s stay, it is the family’s responsibility to ensure they have suitable accommodations. This includes a comfortable sleeping area, access to bathroom facilities for their personal needs, and a place to store their own food, or to access food and drink (if it is agreed upon in advance that those will be provided by the family). You have the option to decide whether your newborn care specialist sleeps in the same room as your baby or in a separate space equipped with a baby monitor. The goal is to create an arrangement that works best for your family while allowing the specialist to provide optimal care and maintain their own well-being.

What if I want to breastfeed? How will this work with an overnight NCS?

Most commonly, an NCS will bring your baby to you at their feeding time during the night, then take the baby back to their room to burp, change, and re-settle them until the next feeding so that you maximize your nighttime rest. Nicole works with your family to determine the best solution for you and your baby.

What if I am not located in Seattle?

Nicole is available to travel to you or with your family (within the US and Internationally) with prior notice.

What is the cost of NCS services?

The cost of NCS services varies by contract period, time of year, time of day (overnight or day services), expectation of duties (newborn care-only or some household support duties, is travel involved, etc.). The best way to gauge the cost to your family is to schedule a consultation where Nicole can go over your family’s needs and design an experience especially for you.

What is Sleep Training?

Although the common term is Sleep Training, Nicole prefers to use “Sleep Conditioning”. Babies, Toddlers, and Children all go through phases where a good night’s rest (for caregivers and children) might be difficult to achieve. Sleep conditioning starts earlier than sleep training (which is usually not recommended before 4 months), and involves creating a restful environment for your child, as well as creating and recognizing sleep cues. For toddlers and young children, their physical and cognitive development plays a large role in the amount of, and times of day/night that they are primed to sleep, and varies by individual child. Nicole works with your family to determine solutions to sleep regressions, and create routines that can change as your child grows.

Do you practice “Cry It Out” methods?

The short answer is no. The longer answer is that if children have been conditioned to sleep only certain ways, and those ways are not working for them or the family, then changing their routine can lead to some tears. Nicole employs a mixture of gentle sleep conditioning methods that, while some tears may be involved short term, will end with you and your child feeling supported, secure, nurtured, and well-rested.