After the birth of my first son, I started interviewing in-home daycare providers. I’ll never forget the awful feeling I had after we finally decided on a place for my son–only to find out she had booked the spot a few hours earlier. I was crushed! We ended up sharing a nanny with my best friend’s newborn daughter and it was a wonderful experience for our families. We loved our nanny!
Many of our families ask about finding a nanny as they go back to work after their maternity/paternity leave. I recently met with Jenny Scott from Heartland Nanny Agency to talk about the next steps as parents return to work. We also talked about the differences between postpartum doula support and nanny support. Here’s what I learned!
What is the difference between a Postpartum Doula and a Nanny?
One of the main differences between postpartum doula support and hiring a nanny is that a nanny typically works with a family over a longer period of time, whereas a postpartum doula is often hired for a shorter period of time, typically in the first few weeks to a few months after birth. A postpartum doula looks after the entire family whereas a nanny typically focuses on the children and household chores.
Postpartum Doulas follow this hierarchy of support: Mother –> Baby –> Non-Birth Parent/Siblings/Other family/Pets –> Light Household Organization (Snack prep/baby laundry/etc.)
Nannies follow this hierarchy of support: Children –> Household Chores
Postpartum doulas also have extensive professional training in areas like the mother’s emotional and physical recovery from birth, lactation & infant feeding, babywearing, newborn sleep, and much more. There is no training required for nannies.
How to Find a Nanny
If you’re in the Des Moines area, contact Heartland Nanny Agency! I really enjoyed talking with Jenny and know you’ll be in good hands with her nannies. She was a career nanny before starting her agency, so she has lots of first-hand experience working with families.
First, it is important to start by asking the nanny about their experience and qualifications. Find out about their previous nanny experience, including the ages of the children they have cared for and the specific duties they performed. I would highly recommend hiring a nanny with newborn experience. Also, ask about their educational background and any relevant certifications or training they have received. Nannies can offer great support, even without additional training.
Second, it is important to ask the nanny about their approach to childcare. Find out about their discipline style, their approach to learning and play, and their general philosophy on raising children. This will help you determine if the nanny’s approach aligns with your own parenting style and values.
Third, it is important to ask the nanny about their availability and flexibility. Find out about their schedule and whether they are willing to work weekends or evenings if needed. Also, ask about their transportation options and whether they are comfortable driving your children to activities or appointments.
Last, we recommend that you contact the nanny’s previous employers and ask about their experience working with the nanny. Additionally, conduct a criminal background check and check their driving record, if driving is part of the job. Jenny at Heartland Nanny Agency does a background check on all of the nannies on her team.
Postpartum Doulas, Night Nannies, and Overnight Support
A postpartum doula is a professional caregiver who may also provide overnight care for newborns and their families. Their responsibilities may include feeding the baby, changing diapers, soothing the baby back to sleep, and providing support and guidance to new parents. Some doulas may also perform light housekeeping duties, such as sanitizing bottles and pump parts.
Night nannies do very similar things, but their responsibilities are related only to baby & sibling care. Postpartum doulas will be checking in on hormones/emotions, nutrition needs, sleeping schedules, birth recovery, and more information related to their professional training.
The goal of both roles is to provide parents with much-needed rest during the night, allowing them to be more alert and attentive during the day.
I hope you have a wonderful experience with your doulas and nannies! We are here to help if you have any questions.
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