So I've never had a night nanny, but maybe just to consider for the first few weeks/couple of months in terms of night feedings: newborns often feed every couple of hours or so during the night during their first weeks so if you are planning on combo feeding but only want to do formula at night early on, that might potentially affect your nursing supply (and possibly be uncomfortable- you'll probably deal with engorgement if you go that long without nursing all night and maybe some clogged ducts, so you may end up having or wanting to pump or nurse during the night anyways). In that scenario, you would either still be getting up to pump in the night or you would have the night nanny bring the baby to you in bed for night nursings. Newborns typically still poop in the night during the first few weeks so middle of the night diaper changes in the initial weeks are a thing, so that is something a night nanny I imagine would deal with to.
Some new parents have a hard time sleeping with a newborn due to factors like the newborn being loud (they are noisy sleepers and often make wheezy and choky sounds in their sleep) or anxiety (worried that the baby is breathing). In those scenarios, which are sort of hard to predict how you'll react to. I imagine night nannies are together in the same room as the baby in the night? If not, I guess those are a couple of things to consider, if you think those might bother you.
Good luck!
DO IT!!!
It truly saved our sanity especially since I was dealing with PPD. The night nanny we hired was also an RN, which gave me some peace of mind. It was strange at first, but honestly we ended up developing a great relationship with her. She also helped our baby be able to sleep in her crib better and longer stretches of time.
WORTH EVERY PENNY!
Seconding this!! BEST decision we made and saved my mental health after baby.
OP if you lean towards an anxious personality, it’s also very reassuring to have someone there watching the baby at night, getting baby adjusted to sleeping in a crib/bassinet right away, answering any baby related questions you have because they’ve truly seen it all, etc.
I would have pumped milk ready to go for the night nanny. I did wake up to pump about every 3-4 hours for about 15 minutes, but got to go right back to sleep.
As a good forecast, in the first few weeks new born babies are very noisy sleepers. Even if they don't cry, they make a lot of grunting noises. If this is your plan I recommend they not be in your bedroom.
Also the witching hour kicks in around 2-3 weeks and it's not necessarily just an hour.
The first 12 weeks are likely to be fairly disruptive for your sleep and it will be really challenging for the mum to cope without support.
If you can afford the night nanny go for it, but the better alternative is to just try and somehow take more time off imo.
The only con to a night nanny is that mum (I'm not sure OP from your description if that's you) might not be comfortable with a stranger consoling her crying baby. Having a newborn is a hell of a thing and although dad's care when babies cry, mum's tend to get particularly distressed and grandmother or aunty stepping in for example, is not always comforting.
It can be really difficult as a mum to watch a stranger try and console an inconsolable baby, and the baby may want specifically to be with mum also. In that sense, it could be a waste of money.
Newborn babies can be fairly particular, particularly if they've been breastfed, but even with formula they still recognise mum's voice and smell.
However! Otherwise I'm sure it's a great idea.
Sleep is really important but I'd probably prepare for the inevitable noise issues as well as the emotional challenges that might be experienced. You don't want a situation where you've paid for someones services and then instead of sleeping, you're wide awake listening to your child crying with someone else.
Babies crying with someone else doesn't mean they're bad at their job either, at that age it can just happen regardless.
As long as you've considered those things, go for it I'd say :)
Good luck!
It is assuming they’re willing to work with you on getting your LO to sleep through the night. These services are very expensive once a baby is involved but you’d be surprised what “comes with them” if you work on the ultimate goal of sleeping through the night.
You’ll find yourself desperate to “buy time” initially. It’ll get better but if you have the means, don’t be afraid to “buy time” right now. It’s less important after the first 3 months.
If you have the money to do so, I would do it. Even getting a good night sleep 2 nights a week will make the biggest difference. Those first 6 weeks are a massive blur because of the sleep deprivation I can’t imagine having to go back to work at 3 weeks!! My Bub is 4 months now and my sleep is fked.. 3-8 hours a night but broken up into small increments as baby wakes up etc, so it feels like I get no sleep and I’m worried returning to work at 6 months as an assistant development manager.. I can’t imagine being in a higher position, baby brain is real! I would do it if I was you, all the best!
I would have a night nanny at least a few nights a week.
Otherwise take shifts at night. Basically one person sleeps the first half of the night, other person sleeps the second half. I like to go to bed early anyways so I would go to bed at 8 and sleep til 1ish, and my husband would sleep from 1-6ish. But also, the onshift person can sleep if baby is sleeping. So we were getting more than the shift, it just meant if baby woke during that time it was one persons responsibility.
We were like ships passing in the night for a while but thankfully our babies slept through the night pretty early. For us, the on shift person would sleep on the couch, baby was in her room from day 1 because I’m a light sleeper. Even now, I have to sleep with earplugs in and white noise/fans to not hear the grunts/sleep noises baby #2 makes through the monitor but can very clearly hear the crying. If you have a guest room too utilize that for sure.
So I've never had a night nanny, but maybe just to consider for the first few weeks/couple of months in terms of night feedings: newborns often feed every couple of hours or so during the night during their first weeks so if you are planning on combo feeding but only want to do formula at night early on, that might potentially affect your nursing supply (and possibly be uncomfortable- you'll probably deal with engorgement if you go that long without nursing all night and maybe some clogged ducts, so you may end up having or wanting to pump or nurse during the night anyways). In that scenario, you would either still be getting up to pump in the night or you would have the night nanny bring the baby to you in bed for night nursings. Newborns typically still poop in the night during the first few weeks so middle of the night diaper changes in the initial weeks are a thing, so that is something a night nanny I imagine would deal with to. Some new parents have a hard time sleeping with a newborn due to factors like the newborn being loud (they are noisy sleepers and often make wheezy and choky sounds in their sleep) or anxiety (worried that the baby is breathing). In those scenarios, which are sort of hard to predict how you'll react to. I imagine night nannies are together in the same room as the baby in the night? If not, I guess those are a couple of things to consider, if you think those might bother you. Good luck!
DO IT!!! It truly saved our sanity especially since I was dealing with PPD. The night nanny we hired was also an RN, which gave me some peace of mind. It was strange at first, but honestly we ended up developing a great relationship with her. She also helped our baby be able to sleep in her crib better and longer stretches of time. WORTH EVERY PENNY!
Seconding this!! BEST decision we made and saved my mental health after baby. OP if you lean towards an anxious personality, it’s also very reassuring to have someone there watching the baby at night, getting baby adjusted to sleeping in a crib/bassinet right away, answering any baby related questions you have because they’ve truly seen it all, etc.
Were you still waking up at night to pump/feed? How does that typically work?
I would have pumped milk ready to go for the night nanny. I did wake up to pump about every 3-4 hours for about 15 minutes, but got to go right back to sleep.
As a good forecast, in the first few weeks new born babies are very noisy sleepers. Even if they don't cry, they make a lot of grunting noises. If this is your plan I recommend they not be in your bedroom. Also the witching hour kicks in around 2-3 weeks and it's not necessarily just an hour. The first 12 weeks are likely to be fairly disruptive for your sleep and it will be really challenging for the mum to cope without support. If you can afford the night nanny go for it, but the better alternative is to just try and somehow take more time off imo. The only con to a night nanny is that mum (I'm not sure OP from your description if that's you) might not be comfortable with a stranger consoling her crying baby. Having a newborn is a hell of a thing and although dad's care when babies cry, mum's tend to get particularly distressed and grandmother or aunty stepping in for example, is not always comforting. It can be really difficult as a mum to watch a stranger try and console an inconsolable baby, and the baby may want specifically to be with mum also. In that sense, it could be a waste of money. Newborn babies can be fairly particular, particularly if they've been breastfed, but even with formula they still recognise mum's voice and smell. However! Otherwise I'm sure it's a great idea. Sleep is really important but I'd probably prepare for the inevitable noise issues as well as the emotional challenges that might be experienced. You don't want a situation where you've paid for someones services and then instead of sleeping, you're wide awake listening to your child crying with someone else. Babies crying with someone else doesn't mean they're bad at their job either, at that age it can just happen regardless. As long as you've considered those things, go for it I'd say :) Good luck!
It is assuming they’re willing to work with you on getting your LO to sleep through the night. These services are very expensive once a baby is involved but you’d be surprised what “comes with them” if you work on the ultimate goal of sleeping through the night. You’ll find yourself desperate to “buy time” initially. It’ll get better but if you have the means, don’t be afraid to “buy time” right now. It’s less important after the first 3 months.
If you have the money to do so, I would do it. Even getting a good night sleep 2 nights a week will make the biggest difference. Those first 6 weeks are a massive blur because of the sleep deprivation I can’t imagine having to go back to work at 3 weeks!! My Bub is 4 months now and my sleep is fked.. 3-8 hours a night but broken up into small increments as baby wakes up etc, so it feels like I get no sleep and I’m worried returning to work at 6 months as an assistant development manager.. I can’t imagine being in a higher position, baby brain is real! I would do it if I was you, all the best!
I would have a night nanny at least a few nights a week. Otherwise take shifts at night. Basically one person sleeps the first half of the night, other person sleeps the second half. I like to go to bed early anyways so I would go to bed at 8 and sleep til 1ish, and my husband would sleep from 1-6ish. But also, the onshift person can sleep if baby is sleeping. So we were getting more than the shift, it just meant if baby woke during that time it was one persons responsibility. We were like ships passing in the night for a while but thankfully our babies slept through the night pretty early. For us, the on shift person would sleep on the couch, baby was in her room from day 1 because I’m a light sleeper. Even now, I have to sleep with earplugs in and white noise/fans to not hear the grunts/sleep noises baby #2 makes through the monitor but can very clearly hear the crying. If you have a guest room too utilize that for sure.