It can be helpful to manage the excitement of having a new baby with a balanced and practical approach to finding a good night-time routine, to ensure ‘sleeping through the night’ comes sooner rather than later!

So, how can Eden help?

There are a number of options available to parents. First time parents may find they would prefer the help of a more experienced maternity nurse, who will be happy to give advice and support in all areas, such as breastfeeding/bottle-feeds, night time routines and so on. Those parents who are already familiar with the care of newborns, may prefer an ‘extra pair of hands’ approach for the nights, leaving them to catch up with sleep and maybe even a lie in!

Detailed below are two options which have proved the most popular and successful:

A Night Nanny

Typically a night nanny would be younger and less experienced than a night maternity nurse. As mentioned above, they would be that vital extra pair of hands during the night when it comes to nappy changing, bottle feeding and re-settling the child. This type of nanny would be a good choice for confident parents, who need less direction and advice.

We usually recommend that a night nanny is booked somewhere between 8 to 12 hours per night. The start and end time is of course flexible and completely up to the parents, we would suggest perhaps 7pm to 7am or 9pm to 7am. The 7pm start can be a welcome option when a couple feel they would like to go out for a short while and the night nanny can be there to babysit.

The night nanny will deal with all aspects of care for the baby and help adhere to any preferences the client has with regards to sleeping and feeding. Also included in their duties would be:

• Changing nappies
• Settling the baby
• Night feeds
• Preparing and sterilising bottles
• Dressing and preparing the baby in the morning

A night nanny is not usually responsible for any cleaning or laundry.

A night nanny can be booked for just 1 night or 6 nights (they will then have a 24 hour break and of course can be re-booked after that).

Fees for a Night Nanny

£90 to £130 per night gross depending on the experience and the length of the night.

A Night Maternity Nurse

This option would be the most suitable for first time parents and those parents who would prefer a more experienced maternity nurse with specialist knowledge. It is also the preferred choice when a baby is perhaps unwell or has a specific issue (such as reflux) that needs detailed knowledge of the care required.

The duties for the maternity nurse are the same as for the night nanny, but will also include:

• Advice on how to establish a sustainable sleep routine for the baby
• Advice and support on breastfeeding and related issues
• Advice on how to cope with post-natal depression
• Advice on other related topics such as colic, reflux, and so on

Fees for a Night Maternity Nurse

£120 to 150 per night gross depending on experience and length of the night.

We hope our night nannies and night maternity nurses can make a significant difference to your family.

Please contact Vanessa or Sarah on 0845 128 4279 for more information and advice on these positions.