One of the most essential factors to ponder when looking for a great nanny agency is whether or not they personally screen all of their nannies before they allow them to do any workWhen an agency takes the time to personally screen each and every one of the nannies that they bring on board, the agency gets a chance to meet every nanny and see what kind of background they have and what kinds of skills and certifications they bring to the table.
Since the word “nanny” is such a broad term, there can be a little confusion when it comes to what the nanny does and what they are expected to do as a caretaker of childrenBy understanding what kinds of training the nanny has gone through, the agency can place nannies exactly where they need to be.
Are a nanny and a newborn care specialist the same? That depends on what they are qualified to doA newborn care specialist (NCS) is a type of nanny, but that does not mean that all nannies are qualified to handle newbornsLet’s look a little closer at this.
What is a Nanny?
A nanny is a professional person that is hired to take care of childrenUsually, when a family hires a nanny it is so the parents can work, go through school, run a business, or fulfill any number of responsibilities that would be impossible to do while taking care of kids.
In most cases, a nanny is committed to being part of the family for years to come so that they are a part of the children’s lives as they grow and mature into adulthoodA nanny can play a huge role in the development of children as they go through their childhood learning, playing, and experiencing life.
Since a nanny can have a wide variety of responsibilities within a household, there will usually be a nanny-family agreement in place that includes the scope of the nanny’s job and the depth of the responsibilities.
Some of the responsibilities of a nanny can be:
- Getting the children ready for school
- Preparing meals for the children
- Making sure playing areas are cleaned up
- Driving children to appointments and commitments
- Washing children’s clothes
- Picking kids up from school
- Helping with homework
This list can go on and on depending on the structure of the household and the unique details of the family’s needs.
The one duty that will be present in all nanny positions is that they will be there for the kids when the parents can not.
What is a Newborn Care Specialist?
A newborn care specialist is a professional that comes into the home and assists the parents with the beginning stages of life for newbornsSome specialists can be hired to live in the home while others show up during specified times, usually nights.
What separates an NCS from a “normal” nanny is that they are hired specifically to care for the infant while they are going through their infancyAs soon as the baby gets through the infancy stage, which is usually when they begin to sleep through the night without the need for help, the newborn care specialist will move on to the next newborn that needs help.
Some of the duties of a newborn care specialist, also known as a baby nurse, could vary from home to home, but they are essentially only there to provide newborn assistanceAs a rule, their duties will consist of:
- Caring for the infant while the parents rest or sleep
- Sleep training
- Changing diapers
- Giving baths
- Sterilizing bottles and equipment
- Feeding
- Baby laundry
- Engaging the baby
Obviously, there is a pretty big difference between caring for a newborn baby and caring for children that are old enough to hold their own bottles and sleep through the night.
Nannies and Baby Nurses
While both are professionals a typical nanny and a baby nurse will play very different roles from each otherWhile a nanny will help to raise the children and help them care for themselves, a newborn specialist will be there for the infant when they are at a stage in life where they can not do anything for themselves.
When a baby comes home from the hospital with the parents, living in the home becomes chaotic and unbalancedSince the baby will be restless and in need of food & attention throughout the night, it is a big relief for parents to have a trustworthy person care for the baby as they get some much-needed sleep.
Both nannies and newborn care specialists play important roles in the lives of the people they work forWhile the baby nurse cares for the baby at a time when the child is literally learning how to live outside of the womb, the nanny will guide the children through the trials and successes of childhood.
Requirements for Newborn Care Specialists
The best way to get a great, trustworthy baby nurse is to find one through a trusted nanny agencyAs we mentioned above, a respectable agency will gather all of the professional information from the nanny and take the time to meet with them and get a clear view of what they are qualified to do, and whether or not they have the experience it takes in order to be a great baby nurse.
- NCS certification from a reputable source
- At least 3 years of professional experience
- A list of great references
- Registered with some sort of trust agency
- Infant CPR and first aid certification
- Been fully vetted and background checked
- Is up to date on all vaccinations
- No criminal record
- A clean driving record
It is very important for a person that is going to be caring for an infant to have experience and be educated about how to properly take care of a newbornThe first few months of a baby’s life are extremely fragile and there are a plethora of issues that can happen that could result in permanent damage or even death.
- SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
- Choking
- Blankets or toys wrapped around the neck
- Allergies
- Illness
- Fever
The difference between a baby surviving any of the hazards that they can face at any given moment is if there is somebody around them that knows what to look for and what to do in a situation where there is an emergency.
In addition to being able to respond correctly to a threat, the baby nurse should have the experience and skills it takes to calm a baby when they are completely freaked out or relentlessly fussy.
Requirements for a Nanny
The requirements for a nanny are generally the same as those of a newborn care specialist, however, they do not need to have experience with newborns…unless they will be working with newborns.
The truth is that you can find a so-called “nanny” just about anywhere on the internet, but if you want to find one that has a proven background as a nanny it is best – once again – if you hire one through a well-known and respected nanny agency.
After all, a nanny will be watching over your children in your home with access to your personal belongingsIt is much better to have somebody there that you don’t have to worry about than to have to feel like you need to watch your back all of the time.
Nannies from a respected agency will:
- Have reputable references
- Have ample amount of proven experience both professional and private
- Have an impeccable reputation as a nanny in the industry
- Have letters of recommendation and other documentation that states they are qualified
- Be willing to stick around for at least a year
- Are legal citizens of the United States
- Have a clean criminal and driving record
- Be CPR certified
- Have a valid driver’s license
It is very important to know exactly who you are bringing into your home and allowing to be around your children without supervisionBoth for the safety of your children and for the sake of your own peace of mind.
What it Takes to Care for Newborns
Yes, there is the aspect of experience and qualifications that are necessary in order to ensure quality care for an infant, however, it takes more than merely stats and papers to be able to properly care for a newborn child.
If you think about it, millions of babies are born to parents that do not have any experience in caring for newborns at allParental instinct kicks in for the parents and they do the best they can to raise the baby with what they have to offer.
When a baby nurse comes into the picture, they do not have the same kind of maternal instincts that the parents do towards the babyWhile the parents are deeply connected to the baby on a personal level, a baby nurse is a third party that is hired to do a job.
One of the greatest gifts that an authentic nanny can give is their genuine compassion and careIt takes a true, caring heart to be a great nannyIn addition to the experience and qualifications that a newborn care specialist has to have, make sure that your baby nurse has patience and compassion as well.
Conclusion
As for a nanny and a newborn care specialist being the same, the answer is noHowever, it takes the same amount of patience and compassion for a nanny to care for growing children as it does for a baby nurse to help care for an infantWhile a nanny can be a newborn care specialist, and a newborn care specialist can be a nanny, it’s probably best that in a situation where there is a newborn, and other children in the home the family hires a separate caregiver for the infant, and allows a nanny to care for the other kids.