The number one question I get when interviewing with clients is “what does everyone else typically do?”.
When it comes to schedules, there is no “normal” or one size fits all. When selecting newborn care services, it is entirely up to you and what you feel like will best fit your family’s needs. There are not necessarily any minimum or maximum number of nights or weeks, you must contract for. Rather, goal-oriented schedules that line up per Baby’s milestones.
Before laying out an ideal schedule, consider your end goals and what you feel will benefit you, your baby, and your recovery the most.
When coming up with your ideal overnight care schedule, here are a few things to consider:
Hours – for overnight care, I do require an 8 hour minimum. Most clients end up choosing a 9 to 12 hour shift, as it fits both their ideal sleep schedule and one of which they want their baby on.
Do you want hands on help with a bedtime routine? Maybe an earlier 8pm schedule is for you.
Do you normally go to bed around 10pm? Maybe starting care at 10pm, is for you. This will allow you to get to sleep as soon as your specialist arrives and takes over. Or a 9pm schedule so that you and your partner can spend relaxing time together before you head to bed.
Does your partner get home from work late and want some extra snuggle time with Baby before bed? Maybe an 11pm schedule is for you. This allows your partner to spend time with Baby, and put Baby to bed a bit later before your specialist takes over.
Do you prefer to sleep in a bit later in the morning? Maybe ending care closer to 8am is a better fit for you, so that you do not have to take over until baby wakes after 8am.
Older Children– If your older child(ren) have specific bedtime schedules you’d like to stick to, without interruption, then an earlier start time may be for you. – If your child(ren) have a certain time to be to daycare or out the door to school, do you want someone to care for baby while you attend morning drop off, or do you want to take over, full swing, in the morning?
You and your partner’s work schedules – If your partner (or yourself, for longer contracts), are headed out the door at 5am for work, do you want to stagger your extra set of hands or have both your partner and the specialist leave at the same time? Sometimes it maybe easier to have your specialist stay later in the mornings, so that you don’t go from all the help, to a quick transition of no help. This especially applies if you also have older children and need the extra set of hands after your partner leaves.
Goals (sleep training & sleeping through the night vs. recovery) – if your goals are to implement safe and healthy sleep habits and focus on recovery, then a standard 6-8 weeks should work well! However, if you are looking to have baby nearly sleeping through the night by the time your specialist leaves, then a 12-16 week schedule would suite your needs better.
8 week goals – At 8 weeks, we can usually have baby sleeping about 6-8 hour stretches. If you had a vaginal delivery, you are now in the second phase of recovery, and starting to get into the swing of your new normal. You’re now confident in your bottle or breast feeding journey and baby is on a more predictable daytime schedule.
12 week goals – At 12 weeks, baby has begun going to bed at an earlier and more consistent time, and has predictable daytime and nighttime schedules. Baby is now sleeping 10-13 hour stretches through the night, with the assistance of proper sleep coaching & training. Baby has finally gotten out of their “fussy” phase too! (..for now!) If you underwent a c-section, you are in the second phase of your recovery at this point, often cleared by doctors to resume your normal life and you are feeling like you are getting settled into your new normal.
Typical bedtime of a newborn – Newborns naturally do not fall into a deeper “night time” sleep cycle, until 11 pm. Prior to this, they are consistently up as if they would be during the day (every 2-3 hours). Once Baby hits about 6 weeks, they begin falling into an earlier sleep pattern, with longer stretches. So depending on your own desired bedtime, you may want your specialist there for the forewent early evening wake ups (between 8-11) or afterwards, starting around 11 (especially if you yourself do not go to bed early either).
Finances – So yes… at the end of the day, you are paying for a specialist to be in your home for X amount of hours, X amount of days per week, for X amount of weeks. This can sometimes get pricey. Some families are gifted the financial support of parents or loved ones, as a means of helping them to the fullest capacity during their recovery. Other families know they only thrive off of sleep themselves and need to focus on their recovery first and foremost. Whatever length of time you contract for is the minimum you will be charged (unless you specifically add dates), so planning out your schedule by the hourly or nightly rate, is a good start for someone who needs a “cut-off” number!
Care Extensions- If you are nearing the end of your contract, and your specialist is available to do so, please know that you can always lengthen your original contract and add as much as you feel necessary at the time. NOTE: if you intend to do this, please let your specialist know at the earliest you decide you’re interested in extending, as we often set contracts up back to back.
Tapering Schedules – Many clients feel the first few weeks of education and recovery are the most important for them. Clients will often schedule 7 nights a week for the first X amount of weeks, then taper down to 5 nights for a few weeks, and again down to 3 nights for a few weeks, before ending care completely. This allows you to transition into caring for your newborn at night, with a detailed plan and regular check-ins with your specialist. This is ideal if you are not planning to have your baby sleeping through the night, before the end of the contract.
Remember, adapt Baby to your schedule, rather than adapting your schedule to your baby’s. If Baby is on your similar sleep schedule, you will better maximize your sleep and recovery.
No schedule is one size fits all! If you’d like to speak to a specialist about your specific goals and needs, before setting up your ideal schedule, please contact Newborn Nites, today!
