Doulas, Night Nannies and Nurses
Postpartum Support and Home Care
What is a Postpartum Doula, Night Nanny and Nurse?
A postpartum doula, night nanny, or registered nurse is a trained professional who provides in-home postpartum support, including newborn care, parent education, hands-on assistance, and emotional reassurance for families during the postnatal period. This support may be provided by a Perinatal Support Worker (PNSW), an experienced Doula, or a Registered Nurse (RN or RPN), depending on your family’s needs and level of care required.
While night nanny services do not always require formal training, all Babeez Night Nannies must be trained in one of these modalities before offering any care. This ensures families receive knowledgeable, safe, and consistent support from trusted professionals. Our team is patient, compassionate, and highly knowledgeable, offering non-judgmental guidance to help families confidently navigate the challenges of the postpartum and postnatal period.
Every family’s needs are unique and continue to evolve after birth. Our postpartum doulas, night nannies, and nurses work closely with families to create personalized care plans based on individual goals, preferences, and routines. We encourage parents to identify their priorities and discuss them with their support professional, ensuring they receive tailored care that best supports recovery, rest, and newborn well-being.
- Do you want to learn how to feed, burp, change, and care for your baby?
- Do you need help relieving gas, soothing teething discomfort, and improving sleep?
- Would it be helpful to have someone care for your baby while you eat, shower, or rest?
What Are the Benefits of Having a Postpartum Doula, Night Nanny, or Nurse?
Postpartum support provides essential care and reassurance during the transition to parenthood. Research has shown that having professional support during the postpartum period can:
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- Increase parental confidence in newborn care skills
- Improve breastfeeding success rates
- Strengthen the parent-infant bond
- Reduce the risk of postpartum mood disorders and depression
- Foster a greater sense of emotional support for both parents
- Enhance baby soothing techniques, leading to longer sleep stretches
- Help parents develop effective coping strategies for the challenges of early parenthood
- Ensure that partners and siblings feel included in the new family dynamic
What Does a Postpartum Doula, Night Nanny, or Nurse do?
Our team offers daytime and overnight support.
Here are examples of daytime and/or overnight duties:
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- Hands-on education on infant care, feeding, and postpartum recovery
- A calm and nurturing environment where parents can eat, shower, or rest
- Assistance with grocery shopping and meal preparation
- Newborn care, allowing parents to bond with older children or spend quality time together
- Parenting guidance, helping parents develop skills to manage their new responsibilities
- Screening for breastfeeding challenges or postpartum mood disorders
- Referrals to local resources or additional support services
- Help with organizing the nursery and household tasks
- Laundry and light housekeeping related to the baby’s care
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- A supportive and non-judgmental presence, allowing parents to share concerns and receive guidance
- Assistance in establishing healthy routines for both baby and family
- Assist with breastfeeding by ensuring proper positioning and latching
- Handle diapering, burping, and soothing, so the parent can remain comfortable in bed
- Prepare snacks and beverages for the parent while feeding at night
- Organize pump supplies or bottles for the next feeding
- Care for the baby after night feedings, allowing parents to get more uninterrupted sleep
- For bottle-fed babies, take over nighttime feedings so parents can rest
When should I hire a postpartum doula or night nanny?
Some families book support before the baby is born, while others reach out once they are home and feeling overwhelmed. Support can start in the first few days after birth or weeks later. There is no wrong time to ask for help. We do suggest starting the process of hiring a doula or night nanny as soon as possible so that you have time to interview them, ask questions, and feel prepared for when the baby does arrive. This also ensures that you have help when you need it and don’t run into availability issues.
How many days/nights and hours do families usually book?
This varies by family. Some book a few days/nights a week for a few weeks, while others book seven (7) days/nights for several months. Daytime doula support can range from four (4) hours per shift to ten (10) hours per shift, while overnight doula or night nanny support can range from either (8) to twelve (12) hours per shift. For families interested in hiring someone for longer than twelve (12) hour shifts, we often encourage hiring more than one team member to ensure the best care for families. The best determination of this is what fits your family’s needs and budget. If you are unsure, we are happy to discuss this with you in more detail and create an individual schedule.
Will an overnight doula or night nanny help my baby sleep through the night?
The focus for overnight support is on supporting parents and babies. In some cases this may include education on newborn care, supporting breastfeeding, diaper changes, and soothing and supporting the baby back to sleep. In another case, this may include the overnight support professional handling all overnight care so parents can rest. If parents want the doula or night nanny to hold the baby and rock them back to sleep overnight, the team will honour that. For parents who would like their little one to be supported with safe, developmentally appropriate sleep, the team will honour that as well. Many newborns wake often, and that is completely normal as their tummies are small, they need frequent feeds to regulate blood sugar, and they are born with an immature nervous system. Our team is knowledgeable on providing sleep nurturing to facilitate better sleep as a baby grows while being mindful of development and safety.
Can an overnight doula or night nanny help with feeding?
Yes! A postpartum doula or night nanny can support breastfeeding, bottle feeding, combo feeding, and pumping routines. This includes overnight feeding support and helping parents feel more confident with their feeding choices.
Is doula or night nanny only for first-time parents?
Not at all! Many experienced parents hire support for their second and third babies, especially when balancing recovery, sleep deprivation, and older children.
Do you provide overnight care in my home?
Yes, night support takes place in your home so parents rest in their own space while their baby is cared for nearby. The team supporting you does not need access to a bed or anything fancy. Often they will sit on the couch with the baby nearby or with access to a monitor, or in some cases they will stay in the nursery with the baby. This also allows them to support families in other ways like washing and sterilizing feeding equipment, preparing formula, washing and folding baby laundry, and tidying up.
How do I get started?
You can contact us to discuss your family’s needs, expected start date, and the type of support you’re looking for. We’ll help you decide what level of care makes sense for you and your family. Just click the button below to email us, and we will be in touch shortly and walk you through the entire process!
Registered Nursing Care for Families
For families needing additional medical support, our Registered Nurses (RNs) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) provide specialized in-home care. All nurses offering care services are registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and are qualified to assist with both maternal and newborn medical needs.
In addition to general postpartum support, our nurses may provide:
- Incision care and dressing changes for parents and newborns
- Medication administration for postnatal recovery or newborn medical conditions
- Monitoring of fluid intake and output for both mother and baby
- Growth and development monitoring for preterm or underweight babies
- Vital sign assessments to ensure both mother and baby are stable
- NG tube care for newborns requiring additional feeding support
- Reflux care and monitoring for babies experiencing digestive discomfort
- Other medical assistance as required
Book your Doula, Night Nanny, or Nurse
Support Today
The early postpartum/postnatal period can be both rewarding and challenging. Our care services provide personalized, hands-on support to help families transition into life with a newborn with confidence and reassurance.
Contact us today to discuss your needs and arrange for postpartum support tailored to your family.