Are you a family in London looking for extra support for the arrival of your new baby? Have you considered hiring either a maternity nanny or a night nanny to help during the first few months of your baby's life but are unsure as to what type of support you'll need? Here at Homebodies, an award-winning, London-based, bespoke nanny agency, we offer a Maternity Nanny Package (or Night Nanny Package) to cater to your needs and preferences.
Would you like to know how our services can improve your parenting journey?
What's the difference between a maternity nurse and a night nurse?
First, a question we get asked a lot is the difference between a maternity nurse (or maternity nanny) and a night nurse (or night nanny). While the roles are similar in many ways, there's one key difference.
What is a maternity nanny or maternity nurse?
A maternity nurse usually comes to your home and stays with you and your family 24 hours a day, up to six days a week. She'll typically have one day off, and while this can be agreed between you and the nanny, this might be on a Sunday. The nanny being off on Sundays can be great for the parents too, as it allows you to have a full day with your new baby.
A maternity nurse will be booked for as many weeks as required and typically employed for a minimum of two weeks to a maximum of 6 months. She usually helps the parents get into a 24-hour routine when it comes to feeding their baby and helping them settle. If and when you're ready, your maternity nurse will also help with your baby's sleeping patterns.
What are the main duties of a maternity nurse?
The nanny you employ will work within your parameters and preferences. For example, not all parents want their maternity nurse to get the baby into a routine or sleeping pattern from the start. Some may look for a gentler approach, while others prefer to be entirely guided by the maternity nurse.
While a maternity nurse will primarily care for your baby and their needs, she also makes sure that the parents are well looked after. She will help the mum recover after the birth by allowing her (and actively encouraging her) to sleep, eat, and drink properly, for example. But a maternity nanny can also support with other aspects of caring for the baby, such as:
Laundry and folding the baby’s clothes.
Maintaining the nursery by keeping it clean and tidy.
Advising the parents on what items to buy for the baby.
Bottle feeding (including preparing, washing, and sterilising bottles).
Supporting the mum with breastfeeding techniques (including advice to improve the baby's latch).
Generally speaking, a maternity nanny offers information and support wherever the parents ask for guidance. If the baby has feeding issues, such as reflux or tongue tie, or the parents have any concerns, the maternity nanny can advise what practitioner the family might want to consult. A maternity nurse can also provide a little support with other children in the family so the parents can enjoy some precious time with their newborn baby. However, this will need to be discussed and agreed upon in advance.
For more information, head to the blog post What is a maternity nurse?
What is a night nanny or night nurse?
A night nanny, on the other hand, will work just for the evening. This could be from 7 pm or 9 pm until the early hours of the morning (for example, 7 am). Exact timings will need to be agreed upon with the nanny in advance, typically working a 10-hour shift.
Similarly to a maternity nurse, the night nurse will care for the baby to allow the parents to have some sleep and also guide the baby into a routine or give the parents advice on how to do so, if they so wish. She'll take care of night feeds, change your baby's nappies through the night, and settle them. Much like a maternity nurse, a night nurse will also help with tasks such as:
Swaddling and dressing the baby.
Bathing the baby.
Preparing, washing, and sterilising bottles.
Again, if the mum is breastfeeding, the night nurse will help with advice and practical support. For example, she'll bring the baby to the mum for feeding, and then take the baby back to their room to settle them to sleep. This is why the night nanny will typically share a room with the baby during the night.
If you want to find out more, head to the blog post Night Nannies: Support for a Peaceful Night’s Sleep.
Do maternity nannies and night nannies have specific qualifications?
Maternity nannies and night nannies have a strong understanding of infant development milestones and health and safety protocols and can adapt to different parenting styles. With compassion, patience, and a genuine love for newborns, a qualified maternity or night nurse can provide invaluable support during this special but often challenging time for new families.
Some of their specific qualifications may include:
MNT/OCN – Maternity Nanny Training Certificate.
BabyEm Levels 1 to 4.
BabyEm Level 5 Diploma.
NEST Postnatal Carer Certificate (PNC) / non-medical maternity nursing.
NAMCW – National Association of Maternal and Child Welfare.
City and Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Maternity and Paediatric Support.
City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Maternity Nursing and Paediatric Support.
Midwifery and Nursing Degrees/Diplomas.
Additional professional development online courses.
They may have also taken affiliated courses, such as Postnatal Depression, Multiple Births, and Paediatric First Aid. These may be necessary to keep up with current practice.
A skilled maternity or night nanny will have a wealth of experience and expertise in newborn care, breastfeeding support, sleep training, and postpartum recovery. She will be well-versed in soothing techniques, changing nappies, and creating a nurturing environment for both the baby and the parents.
Can I hire a standard nanny from birth?
While you can hire a professional nanny from birth, maternity and night nurses differ from standard nannies as they are particularly skilled with newborn babies - from birth to around 6-12 months.
Professional nannies, on the other hand, may or may not provide newborn support. Also, unlike a maternity or night nanny, they won't typically work during the night or 24/7. So if that's the type of support you're looking for, we recommend you hire a maternity nurse or a night nurse. If you need cover 24/5/6/7, we can discuss finding a nanny who offers this kind of support or a Rota nanny who works one week on/off.
Do I need a maternity nurse or a night nurse?
Whether you should hire a maternity nanny or a night nanny depends on whether you want support during the daytime (maternity nanny) or you're looking for some relief during the nighttime only (night nanny), as this is the key difference between the two roles.
You might also want to decide based on what you can afford and your circumstances. Thanks to our flexible, bespoke approach, Homebodies places both maternity nurses and night nurses, and we can help you understand what might be better suited for your family by thoroughly exploring your needs and requirements.
What should I do if I want to hire a maternity or night nanny?
If you'd like to hire a maternity nanny or a night nanny, we can help find the perfect candidate for your family. From the initial discovery call to discuss your requirements to making the final hiring decision, we are by your side. With our flexible and bespoke approach, we prioritise your family's unique requirements and offer personalised support every step of the way. This could be through Zoom consultations or face-to-face meetings and various methods of communication to accommodate your preferences.
We set ourselves apart from other nanny agencies by diligently screening and selecting highly qualified maternity nannies and night nannies. We ensure that all candidates possess the necessary qualifications, documentation, and excellent references before being presented to the family. This thorough behind-the-scenes work reflects our commitment to matching the right candidate to each family's specific profile.
For more information on how we work, head to the blog post Everything You Need to Know About Hiring a Nanny in London with Homebodies.
What are the Homebodies Maternity Nanny Package and Night Nanny Package?
Our Homebodies Maternity Nanny Package or Night Nanny Package was designed to provide specific support to families during the challenging newborn period. We offer two options:
A maternity nanny or maternity nurse, who will support you 24 hours a day (typically for 5-6 days a week).
A night nanny or night nurse, who will be with you 4 to 6 nights per week. However, the number of nights can be arranged depending on your needs.
During our initial consultation, we'll help you establish what kind of support you need and talk through all options. We might ask questions such as:
How long will you need the maternity or night nanny?
What would be better for you (i.e. a maternity nanny or a night nanny) in terms of your set-up and lifestyle?
What type of support can the nanny offer and what might you need?
Also, what are the market rates for maternity and night nannies, and what is your budget?
When is the best time to start the maternity or night nanny?
Choosing your nanny
Following the consultation, we hand-select up to three excellent candidates for you to interview and then meet. We will give you support in interviewing the nanny and even suggest what kinds of questions to ask.
Related content: Homebodies' tips for interviewing a nanny.
All candidates are thoroughly vetted and personally interviewed by us. We also complete full reference checks and ensure the prospective nanny has all the relevant experience and qualifications. For example, if you have twins, we will find a maternity nanny with previous twins experience. If your baby has already been born and has reflux, we will find a nanny who can help.
As part of our package, once you have selected the candidate you'd like to offer the job to, we help you to secure them with a deposit and to draw up a contract of employment. In other words, we hold your hand throughout the whole process to give you the peace of mind that the newborn expert you picked will be available when you need them.
Hiring the perfect night nanny - a case study
A family we recently worked with was referred to us after they faced the uncomfortable situation of hiring an experienced night nanny from another service who soon turned out to be not well suited to the family. The mum reached out to us feeling anxious and uncertain. She didn't like the nanny's approach and was dreading the arrival of the nanny every evening. But the thought of going through the process of finding another nanny felt overwhelming - she didn't know where to start!
At first, we provided a listening ear and actionable advice, encouraging her to take her time while assuring her we could find a suitable replacement if she decided that's what she wanted. True to our commitment, a subsequent consultation led to a swift and successful match. With a new, fitting night nanny from Homebodies, the mum went from feeling uneasy and stressed to experiencing joy and tranquility in her role as a new parent.
This family's experience exemplifies our dedication to custom-tailored care and the importance of the right support during the transformative journey of parenthood. At Homebodies, we personally understand that the newborn period can be a daunting time for parents, so we always strive to find the right person for you. It's why we take the time to fully understand what kind of nanny will fit well within your family. With over 14 years of experience, we have the skills and understanding to match the right candidate to each family.
A testimonial from a family hiring a night nanny with Homebodies
A few weeks later, we received a lovely testimonial from the mum:
"Thank you for all your help and for being so caring and understanding to me and the situation. Our new night nanny is great! She is so calm, warm, and very loving towards our baby. She has lots of knowledge and expertise, which has been very reassuring, and she has taught us as new parents so much too! I highly recommend Homebodies as Simone genuinely cares about finding the right person for you and takes her time to ensure it is a good match."
Give "The Gift Of Sleep"
We know how important it is for all new parents to sleep once their baby is born. This is why we offer gift vouchers that family members or friends can purchase for new parents. You can purchase "Gift of Sleep" vouchers per week to cover the cost of the weekly agency fee. Please note that the family will still be requested to pay for the costs of the maternity or night nanny.
For more information and to purchase a voucher, feel free to get in touch.
Would you like some help with finding a maternity nanny or night nanny for your newborn?
Navigating the early stages of parenthood can feel overwhelming. But you don't have to do it alone! The specialised support we offer at Homebodies through our Maternity Nanny and Night Nanny services ensures that your transition into life with a newborn is smooth and joyful. Whether you need round-the-clock assistance or someone to help you catch up on precious sleep at night, we take pride in tailoring our services to meet your family's unique needs and preferences.
Our experienced and qualified nannies become your partners in this incredible journey. They will offer not just expertise but also reassurance and a compassionate hand to hold. If you want to take a step towards a more supported and serene parenthood, contact us now for an informal chat about how we can help you.