Five things you should know before you hire a Newborn Care Specialist
1. Research
Please take the time to find the right newborn care specialist. You research the best brunch or shopping in town, take the time to do proper research on your NCS. This person will be staying in your home with your family. Make a checklist of all the questions you should ask. Believe us, there are no bad questions, cover everything so that there are no surprises. From dietary restrictions to sleeping arrangements, make sure you and your NCS are on the same page.
2. Sign a contract:
There are several reasons to hire a NCS that use contracts:
A contract provides protection to all parties involved; it describes responsibilities, expectations, timeframes, fees and should cover all your questions and concerns.
A contract guarantees your timeframe with your NCS. Newborn Care Specialists work with multiple families and can get booked up very fast; signing a contract protects your dates. This also allows the NCS to seek employment around your contract dates.
After signing the contract you can now relax and focus on your growing family. Your newborn care specialist is booked and ready to go once your little one arrives.
3. Allow plenty of time
You can book an NCS in advance, as early as conception. Once you sign the contact and pay the deposit, your time is reserved. A NCS’s schedule can get pretty hectic, clients book for months at a time. Allow yourself enough time to research and secure the NCS that feels right to you. You are inviting someone into your home, make sure they are right. Give yourself and partner enough time to talk and feel out all prospects. Waiting last min can be stressful and believe us you’ll have enough going on.
4. NCS do not do housework or take care of other siblings
While it is nice to have an extra set of hands around the house, those hands are reserved for your newborn. NCS do not do household chores such as cooking, cleaning, taking out the trash or walking the dog. And yes, your older child will love having someone else in the house but they are not the NCS’s responsibility. A newborn care specialist’s sole purpose is to take care of your newborn.
5. Not cheap but priceless
Hiring a newborn care specialist is a luxury but getting sleep and having a piece of mind is a necessity. A NCS’s sole purpose is to help with your infant’s care; they are there to assist you with all your baby’s needs. If live in help is out of the question, most companies offer over night care. Some even offer consultation services where you can have a specialist visit your home and guide you with all of your newborn’s needs.