Zaneta always says, “if you can rock spit up on your shoulder and a messy bun, you’re perfect for the Indy Night Nanny team.” That resonated with me. I had done all of that and more during my time as a stay-at-home mom with my four children, but in 2021 I decided that I was ready for more. Come with me as I share insight into my nights with Indy Night Nanny:
I enjoy being able to spend time with my family after my kids get home from school. We are able to keep our regular evening routine and wind down, but when it’s time for my family to go to bed I head out the door. My alarm rings 15 minutes before I need to be in my car– I’m so paranoid I am going to forget to leave! I always keep my bag of goodies in my car for the night that includes anything I might need like chargers, throat lozenges, INN pad, pens, gum, etc.
After washing my hands, I always ask to immediately hold baby on the first night so the parents can watch me cuddle and love on their baby. My hope is this makes them more comfortable so that they are able to imagine how I will care for their baby at night. We talk about delivery, how everyone is adjusting, how they are feeling, and their expectations. I also ask several questions to gauge their vibe, and I will also offer up what I have found to be best practices to help everyone with the adjustment of adding to their family.
When our quick chat ends, it’s time for mom and dad to get some rest! For brand new babies I prefer for them to be in a bassinet in the room with me. They are so tiny and I like to be able to observe and learn their noises and sleep habits. After a few weeks of getting to know each other, we often transition baby into their own room because light and sound start really affecting them, and around four weeks we even start introducing a daytime sleep schedule. (Don’t worry, we can help with that, too!)
Throughout the night, when baby wakes and needs a feed or soothed back to sleep…I’m there! Although, I have to admit…I feel guilty if a baby is breastfeeding during cluster feeds or a growth spurt. I feel like I’m waking mom up so often. If I think they will be receptive to it, I do encourage pumping just enough during the day so that we can do bottles at night. Afterall, I’m there for mom and dad to get the most rest possible.
In the morning, I try to make sure that a baby is set and ready to sleep past whatever my departure time is, so the parents don’t have to wake up and parent the second I leave. I encourage parents to let me sneak out of the house without waking them, and set their alarms for 5:58am. Then, they can flip on a monitor but not have to fully wake up. (Of course there are occasional times the baby isn’t going with it, and I will bring baby in to parents before I go.)
Joining INN has been such a rewarding experience. I get to watch babies as newborns grow and learn to sleep, and see new parents’ confidence grow. I look forward to seeing the whole family each night, chatting as they finish the last feed, and talking about everyone’s day. As the weeks pass, I get attached to the entire family. We text during the day, I respond to questions, and they send me sweet photos or tell me about doctor appointments. I am so proud watching new parents grow and become confident and trust themselves and their babies.
I am just one of 19 nannies on our current Indy Night Nanny team. If you’d like to join us you can apply here, or send us a message on social media. Our team would be happy to talk to you about how we bring rest and peace of mind to growing families each day.
Follow along with us @indynightnanny.