Of all the tasks that accompany having a newborn, waking up with them in the middle of the night — multiple times for an extended period of time — is one of the hardest. Because of this, some new parents decide to hire a night nanny, which, as its name suggests, is different from a traditional nanny role.
“Night nannies can be an invaluable resource to new parents, providing relief and rest to them when they’re exhausted,” says Dr. Monte Swarup, an OB-GYN in Chandler, Arizona, and founder of HPD Rx. “Typically, a night nanny starts when new parents come home from the hospital and lasts anywhere from two to three months.”
Wondering how to become a night nanny? Here’s what you need to know.
“Night nannies can be an invaluable resource to new parents, providing relief and rest to them when they’re exhausted.”
— Dr. Monte Swarup, OB-GYN
What does a night nanny do?
Simply put, the role of a night nanny is to provide overnight care for a newborn baby (or babies) in the family’s home.
“Night nannies work under direct instruction from the parents,” explains Tonya Sakowicz, a master newborn care specialist and owner and director of education for Newborn Care Solutions. “For instance, they may be told things like: feed the baby at 11 p.m., change their diaper before feeding, unswaddle them before feeding and swaddle again after. While they provide care, it is under the direct supervision and with clear instruction from the parents.”
It is important to note that a night nanny and a newborn care specialist (NCS), while similar in role, have a couple key distinctions. “An NCS, while working for a parent, primarily works independently when working overnight and should have both training and a deep knowledge of newborn behavior and care, therefore, the parent rarely needs to provide much direction,” Sakowicz explains. “A night nanny, on the other hand, may or may not have any prior training, experience or knowledge of babies in this age range.”
Here’s everything you need to know about becoming a newborn care specialist.
To that point, while some families will colloquially refer to night nannies as baby nurses, “the the term is illegal to use unless you are also a registered nurse (RN),” Sakowicz says.
Important note: There are families with babies who have medical needs that require consistent monitoring and “awake care” at night. Sakowicz notes that, in these cases, only qualified medical support in the form of an actual RN should be providing care — “not a night nanny.”
How to become a night nanny
A nanny who is interested in providing night nanny care can get into it at any point by simply offering these services, explains Sakowicz. “Generally, if they have prior nanny experience with newborns or very young infants, families are willing to consider them,” she says. “In addition, if they are working for a family who is having a baby, they can offer this to the family in order to gain some experience and learn the role.
Technically, anyone who wants to work with babies overnight can become a night nanny, but it’s a good idea to have “some basic newborn training or experience” in the following areas, Sakowicz notes:
- Sleep safety.
- Diaper changing.
- Making formula bottles.
- Handling breast milk safely (including safe storage and proper heating).
- Techniques for soothing a fussy baby.
- Newborn care. “A 3-day-old baby is very different from a 3-month-old,” Sakowicz says. “Knowing those differences is important.”
“Night nannies need to have very well-developed interpersonal skills to deal with parents during what can be a very stressful time,” Swarup adds. “They should be excellent at listening and be able to communicate with various types of parents and living situations.”
What are typical night nanny duties?
According to both Sakowicz and Swarup, night nannies may take on the follow tasks:
- Changing diapers.
- Feeding baby or bringing baby to parent to nurse. If doing the former, bottles need to be prepared as directed by the parents, according to Sakowicz.
- Soothing baby to sleep after eating.
- Providing general care overnight under the direct supervision and guidance of the parents. This may include swaddling, helping with sleep training or helping to create a feeding schedule.
- Following specific instructions from the parents on how to handle night wakings. An NCS generally “does not need instructions from parents.” According to Sakowicz: “They handle night wakings completely on their own.”
What night nannies should not do, according to Sakowicz:
- Offer medical advice or guidance.
- Administer medication.
How many hours does a night nanny work?
Sakowicz notes that night nanny hours can vary, but in general, overnight nannies “work 8 to 12 hours overnight, with 10 to 12 hours a night being the most common.”
She adds: “A night nanny generally starts their shift somewhere between 7 and 10 p.m. and is responsible for the care of a newborn baby (or babies) overnight to allow parents to rest and recover during the postpartum period.”
“A night nanny generally starts their shift somewhere between 7 and 10 p.m.”
— Tonya Sakowicz, master newborn care specialist
Does a night nanny sleep?
Ultimately, it depends on the baby. “As a rule of thumb, a night nanny will sleep if and when the baby sleeps at night,” notes Sakowicz. “But overnight nannies should never expect that they are going to sleep. Sometimes babies sleep and sometimes they don’t — the job of a night nanny is to provide comfort and care for the baby. If the baby is awake, then the night nanny needs to be up caring for the baby.”
“Overnight nannies should never expect that they are going to sleep. Sometimes babies sleep and sometimes they don’t — the job of a night nanny is to provide comfort and care for the baby.”
— Tonya Sakowicz, master newborn care specialist
How to find night nanny jobs
Find night nanny jobs
In addition to online platforms, night nanny jobs can be found through agencies, local parenting groups and good old fashioned word-of-mouth.
“Some nanny placement agencies may offer night nanny positions,” Sakowicz says. “But, generally, when a family is working through an agency, they are looking for a highly trained and skilled newborn care specialist.”
That being said, “local parenting groups, referrals from other parents and spreading the word to a network of colleagues is a great way to get night nanny work,” according to Sakowicz.
How much can you make as a night nanny?
Depending on the area, a night nanny “can expect to make $22-$30 per hour, with a few select markets paying higher,” Sakowicz notes.
“As a rule of thumb, the rate is similar to what a moderately experienced day nanny will make in that area and usually less than what a highly skilled nanny or an NCS would make,” Sakowicz explains.
Current nanny pay rates for top cities*
| City, State | Hourly nanny rate* |
|---|---|
| San Francisco, California | $26.78/hr |
| Seattle, Washington | $25.18/hr |
| Los Angeles, California | $26.45/hr |
| Brooklyn, New York | $23.31/hr |
| Denver, Colorado | $21.65/hr |
| San Diego, California | $22.52/hr |
| Austin, Texas | $21.74/hr |
| Portland, Oregon | $21.29/hr |
| Atlanta, Georgia | $20.79/hr |
| Chicago, Illinois | $20.84/hr |
| Phoenix, Arizona | $19.59/hr |
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | $20.68/hr |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | $19.74/hr |
| Orlando, Florida | $18.32/hr |
| San Antonio, Texas | $17.48/hr |
The bottom line
Special certifications aren’t necessary to become a night nanny, but having a strong skill set in certain areas is a good idea for anyone looking to get into field. “Anyone interested in becoming a night nanny should learn at least some basics about newborns, Sakowicz says. “Taking a class or doing some solid reading about newborn development, even with a lot of prior nanny experience, is a wise idea.”
