How to become a newborn care specialist (NCS)
(and why we don’t call it a baby nurse)
If you are a nanny who loves babies, you may have thought about becoming a newborn care specialist. As a unique and special working relationship, this profession allows you to guide a family into their first months with a new baby and helps make the transition into their regular lives as smooth as possible.
But working as a newborn care specialist (previously called a “baby nurse”) is quite different from working as a nanny with a baby.
What is a newborn care specialist?
A newborn care specialist joins the family almost as soon as the baby is born, typically within the first few days. The length of the position varies but it is typically at least 8 weeks, and usually more like 3-4 months.
Newborn care specialists live in the home and typically work either an overnight 12-hour shift or full days, 24/7. A round-the-clock schedule typically includes a longer chunk of time off during the day and the ability to sleep or rest at night, with the requirement to be available any time the baby wakes up.
Occasionally, an NCS may move into more of a nanny role after a few months, or the person may stay on a while longer to help families adjust while welcoming a full-time nanny into the home.
Common newborn care specialist responsibilities include:
Overnight care so parents can rest
Bringing baby to mom at night for breastfeeding
All general care of baby during the first months
Also including organizing clothes, laundry, keeping baby’s room clean, keeping track of doctor’s appointments, etc.
But an NCS is much more than just another adult in the room. Typically they are the link to ease new parents into parenthood, offering support such as:
Sleep training
Establishing routines (feeding, sleeping, etc)
Diaper changes and baths
Troubleshooting reflux, colic, and other issues
Why we don’t call them a baby nurse
Historically, especially in places like New York, the person who helps care for newborn babies around the clock has been called a baby nurse. However, in an effort to emphasize the professional nature of the role and to elevate the status of this important and demanding career, professional agencies and career-minded caregivers are using the term newborn care specialist.
This title signifies the substantial experience of the caregiver and that they are not simply helping the mother by bringing the baby in to nurse at night, but that they are in charge of creating a supportive, nurturing, and organized environment right from the start, at a time when a family is going through one of the most overwhelming experiences of their lives. Beyond their experience, many newborn care specialists also have trainings and certifications.
What is required to become an NCS?
While newborn care specialist is not a protected title like doctor or physical therapist, there are trainings and certifications one can take to ensure one has the skills and knowledge needed for the job, as well as to give the family peace of mind.
A newborn care specialist will often have:
Years of experience working with newborns and infants
Training and potentially certification as an NCS by an NCSA approved training provider
First aid and CPR training and current certification
Additional newborn care specialist trainings and certifications include:
Lactation consulting
Sleep training methods
Attachment training
Perinatal mental health training
Essentially, any support parents need early in their journey to feel confident and connect with their child is something an NCS can provide. Often, part of the specialist’s role will also be to set the family up for a solid routine when the parents return to work. For instance, many newborn care specialists do not consider their work done until the child sleeps through the night.
Since their focus is the new baby, newborn care specialists do not nanny or take care of any other children in the family. While they often become close with and have the experience of taking care of older children, their focus is exclusively on the newborn.
Did you know? Unlike nannies, who are domestic workers and must be paid as a W-2 employee, newborn care specialists can function as independent contractors and invoice as 1099 contractors.
Where to start to become an NCS
If you want to be a newborn care specialist, begin by familiarizing yourself with the role. Check out the Newborn Care Specialist Association or other resources detailing the duties, responsibilities and expectations of the role.
Work with infants and families to get experience and help you transition into the more intense position of working overnight or full-day shifts with a family for a short period of time.
It may be easier to transition into NCS work by starting as an overnight caregiver before taking on a 24/7 role. As you are working with families, take a few courses to solidify your knowledge and skills, and consider getting certified.
Talk with our nanny placement team
If you’re looking for a job where your love for working with infants really can shine, apply to be a part of Smart Sitting. At our nanny agency, we’ve spent over a decade connecting families with their favorite caregivers and seen countless babies turn into wonderful, excited, empowered children with the help of their nanny.
We only work with the best caregivers. If that’s you—let’s talk!
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