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Goodbye Baby Nurse, Hello Newborn Care Specialist

  NEWBORN CARE SPECIALISTS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Written by Newborn Care Specialists: Alyssa Michael, Amanda King, and Lindsay Johnson What is a Newborn Care Specialist? A Newborn Care Specialist, also known as an NCS, is a professional postpartum care provider that generally supports families for the first 0-16 weeks after baby’s arrival, with some continuing to provide support for the first year of baby’s life. An NCS has taken in-depth training and education courses pertaining to newborns and infants, and has a specialized skill set to provide optimal care for their clients. To meet each family’s individual needs, an NCS may provide care during the day, overnight, 24/7, and travel support. Newborn Care Specialists educate and work alongside primary caregivers, stay up to date on evidence-based care techniques, and practice effective communication with other members of the household.  Newborn Care Specialists will stay current on practices and recommendations from professional healt
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HOW TO BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE AS A NEW PARENT

Congratulations on the upcoming arrival of your newborn! Bringing home a new baby can be both exciting and overwhelming, so it’s important to make sure that you’re as prepared as possible for the big day. Here are 10 tips for getting ready for bringing home a newborn: Stock up on supplies: Make sure that you have all the basics, like diapers, wipes, and formula (if needed). You’ll also need clothing, blankets, bottles, and a car seat for taking your baby home from the hospital.  Prepare your home: Build a few "nests", consider baby-proofing your house, switch to using "green" products, make a list of household chores to help visitors be most useful, and store easy-to-cook meals for the first few weeks (meal trains are great too!)! Build your knowledge and skills: Read books, attend classes, and talk to other parents. Knowing what to expect can help you become more confident in your abilities as a parent.  Build a supportive network: Having a group of people who you
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ROUTINES ARE IMPORTANT

The importance of establishing a routine for a newborn cannot be overstated. Routines help babies learn to understand expectations, become familiar with their environment, and provide a sense of security and comfort. By providing a consistent routine, parents can help their baby learn more quickly and foster an environment of support and love. A routine helps a baby learn to understand expectations, as they become accustomed to certain activities occurring within a specific timeframe. A baby is likely to pick up on the consistency of the routine and will be more likely to show signs of anticipation when they know what is coming. This understanding of expectations will help them to grow and develop, as they will understand when it is time to eat, sleep, and play. Familiarity is also important for a newborn, as routines can provide a sense of comfort and stability. If a baby knows what to expect in their environment, they can become more comfortable and secure. This can help reduce stres
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PREPPING AND SHIFTS

“Having children is like joining a cult- everyone tells you it’s going to be amazing- the best thing you’ll ever do, until you have a child then the narrative changes to ‘Oh yeah, this sucks, Welcome to Hell’.” - quote from a client. As a Newborn Care Specialist, New Parent Educator, and Professional Nanny with 15 years of childcare experience, one of my favorite things to do is help parents find their groove after baby comes home. Here are a couple tips for life with a newborn that I’ve learned and implemented throughout my years working and serving families across the United States.  Prep ahead of time! Have “nests” around the house somewhere close to where parents/caregivers and baby will be spending time with everything needed for feeding and changing. Examples include: access to a fridge or mini-fridge, pump parts, clean bottles, formula, water, burp cloths, whatever feeding looks like for your family, diapers, wipes, creams, extra change of clothes (for baby and parents), anythin
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