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How to find the right support for you and your newborn baby
If you are a new parent or about to become one, you might be wondering what types of support are available for both you and your baby at a time where you'll likely be feeling a little overwhelmed and most certainly tired. Luckily, there is a range of support options available for you and your little one that can benefit you emotionally and practically as you adjust to this new chapter in your life.
NHS Health Visitor
In the UK, a health visitor is a registered NHS nurse or midwife who has additional training in child and family health who usually visits you and your baby at home about ten days after birth and will continue to support your family until your child turns five.
What do health visitors do?
A health visitor will weigh and measure your baby and make sure they are progressing and developing as expected. They are also there to answer any questions you may have including those about feeding, sleeping, crying and postnatal depression.
How much do health visitors cost?
There is no cost for a health visitor, and one will automatically be assigned to you following the birth of your child. Whilst they will initially visit you at home, you can also see them at a child health clinic, GP surgery or health centre depending on where they are based.
Newborn Care Specialist (NCS)
A Newborn Care Specialist is specially trained and skilled in newborn care. Not only do they provide care for the baby, but they offer education and support to parents too.
What do Newborn Care Specialists do?
The main role of an NCS is to provide support after a baby is brought home from the hospital. They will often assist in establishing a routine for feeding and sleeping, including breastfeeding support.
Generally speaking, they will work shifts to manage the baby’s care so that you can get a restful night’s sleep and during the day, they strive to create a nurturing, stimulating environment for your newborn.
In addition, they document the baby’s patterns and keep a log of sleeping, feeding and changing times to help transition the baby into a routine.
How much does a Newborn Care Specialist cost?
The cost of a Newborn Care Specialist will depend on the number of hours and days that they are employed for, but they are one of the most expensive forms of newborn support costing on average, between £17 and £45 per hour.
How do I find the best NCS?
You’ll want to make sure that anyone you employ to help look after your newborn is professional and experienced. You can find a wealth of information online for such support including directories and reviews. You can also speak to family, friends and acquaintances as they may have recommendations for Newborn Care Specialists they have used previously.
How do I employ a Newborn Care Specialist?
To employ a Newborn Care Specialist you will need to put together a contract, organise payroll and ensure all the legalities with regards to tax, national insurance, etc. are covered. Alternatively, you can obtain the services of an NCS through an agency that will handle all the admin side of things for you.
Maternity Nurse
A maternity nurse is someone who is experienced in supporting and caring for newborns and mothers as well as teaching parents skills and techniques for caring for their baby.
What does a maternity nurse do?
A maternity nurse usually lives in and is available 24 hours a day, six days a week to support new parents and provide respite when you need a break.
In addition to newborn and mother support, a maternity nurse will perform ‘nursery duties’ in the initial weeks following the birth of your baby and this includes sterilising bottles, restocking baby supplies such as nappies and wipes, and generally keeping the nursery clean and tidy.
How much does a maternity nurse cost?
The cost for a maternity nurse will vary depending on their level of experience and the number of children in their care, but you can expect to pay around £240 – £300 for 24 hours for one child and up to £350 for twins.
How do I find the best maternity nurse?
Utilise online search engines and childcare directories to start your search and also reach out to other parents you know to see if they have any personal recommendations. In addition, you can seek help in your search from childcare specialists such as MyTamarin, who will listen closely to your requirements and find suitable candidates for you.
How do I employ a maternity nurse?
As a maternity nurse is paid a gross salary, you will need to be responsible for organising all their tax and national insurance as well as ensuring they are paid on time as part of their employment. If you’d rather not have to deal with these tasks on top of adjusting to life with a newborn, then specialists like MyTamarin can deal with all of this on your behalf.
Night Nanny
As the name suggests, night nannies are there to support you are your baby throughout the night, giving you peace of mind that you can enjoy a restful night’s sleep knowing that your little one is being taken care of.
What does a night nanny do?
A night nanny will usually work with you for the first eight to twelve weeks after you come from the hospital. Whilst they can live in if this is something you want, they normally arrive in the evening and work through until the early morning.
As well as tending to your newborn during the evening and throughout the night to bathe them, change them, feed them, etc. many night nannies will also offer parental education and training for such things as swaddling and sleep training too.
How much does a night nanny cost?
The cost of a night nanny will depend on how many hours they cover each night and the area they live in, but you can expect to pay between £170 and £200 a night for a single child.
How do I find the best night nanny?
As with finding other forms of newborn support, conducting a web search is always a good starting point. If you are struggling to wade through all the information out there, however, you can use the services of a childcare specialist. MyTamarin, for instance, will work with you to find the perfect night nanny for your family based on your specific needs.
How do I employ a night nanny?
You can employ a night nanny yourself, providing you are happy to organise their contract and payment of their tax and national insurance. If you'd like to keep things much simpler for yourself, then using a childcare specialist like MyTamarin can make the process hassle-free. We will work with you to find the perfect night nanny and once you've made your choice, we will take care of all the admin and payments as well.
Postpartum Doula
Doulas are often associated with supporting the mother during the birth of their child but you can also employ a postpartum doula to support the entire family in the three months following the birth of a new child.
What does a postpartum doula do?
A postpartum doula provides education and practical and emotional support to mum, baby, and the wider family to help with the integration period and finding balance within this new chapter. They provide valuable emotional support to the mother during this time, allowing them to talk about their experience of the birth and help them navigate their mental health.
How much does a postpartum doula cost?
A certified postpartum doula will typically charge between £18-25 an hour, depending on their level of experience. It is important to bear in mind that postpartum doulas may require a minimum number of hours per day when booked and a retainer fee for their services too.
How do I find the right postpartum doula?
As postpartum doulas offer in-depth emotional support as well as practical support, you’ll want to find someone that you not only trust to tend to your baby’s needs but that you also feel comfortable talking to honestly and openly. Have conversations with any prospective doulas to get a feel for their personality and how they work to see if you feel they will be suited to you and your family.
How do I employ a postpartum doula?
Employing a postpartum doula will depend on their employment status. Whilst you might need to offer formal employment, many postpartum doulas operate on a self-employed basis, and you can book their services for a specific number of hours or days.
Friends and Family
Family and friends are often willing and ready to help out when a new addition to the family comes along so don’t overlook them if you need some extra support in the first few months of your baby’s life.
How can I ask friends and family for support with my baby?
If you could do with a helping hand, just reach out to trusted family and friends to see if they can support you. This might just be for a little bit of adult company during the day or to look after your newborn for a few hours while you do the food shopping or attend an appointment. Just be honest about what you need.
Who should I ask for newborn support?
Who you ask for help within your network will depend on the relationships you have. You want to be able to trust whoever you ask for support, especially if this involves looking after your child unattended and you may want them to be a parent or have childcare experience.
Online Support
As well as physical, in-person support, you may also find virtual support helpful too. This can come in the form of online communities and new mum forums but there is also a whole host of newborn specialists online that you can engage with during the first few months.
Where can I find online newborn support?
At MyTamarin, we have a range of virtual 1-to-1 support available to new parents including Maternity Nurses, Sleep Consultants and Lactation Specialists. They are available on a one-to-one basis, at a time that is convenient for you, and as the support is given via video conversation, you can do it all from the comfort of your own home.
How much does virtual newborn support cost?
Our virtual newborn support starts from just £49 and there is no sign-up fee to pay. If you’d like to find out more about MyTamarin, our newborn specialists or our services, then you can register with us or give us a call on +44 (0)20 343 202 34.
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