Do You Need a Night Nurse—Or Is There Something Better? How to Sleep More With a Newborn
As your due date approaches, you might be wondering how you’ll manage sleep in those first few weeks. Some babies adjust easily to life outside the womb, while others need constant bouncing, rocking, or holding to settle. Since there’s no way to predict what kind of sleeper your baby will be, many parents consider hiring a night nurse (also called a night nanny, or postpartum doula) to get extra help overnight.
But is a night nurse the right choice for your family? And even there you have options! In this ultimate guide we’re breaking it all down - should you hire someone in-home, invest in a smart bassinet, or try a virtual night nanny like Harbor? Let’s go!
What Does a Night Nurse Do?
A night nurse (or night nanny) is a trained professional who helps care for your baby overnight so you can get more rest. Their role can include:
- Soothing and comforting the baby when they wake up.
- Handling diaper changes and feedings (or bringing the baby to you if you’re breastfeeding).
- Helping establish healthy sleep habits from the start.
- Providing guidance on newborn care like swaddling, feeding cues, and wake windows.
- Being there to check the safety and security of your baby.
Some night nurses do even more, like washing bottles, prepping breakfast, or folding baby laundry—but every provider is different, so it’s important to ask what’s included.
When Do Night Nurses Usually Start? And for How Long Do They Work With One Family?
It depends on your family’s needs and your baby’s temperament. Some parents realize within the first few nights that they need extra hands right away, while others seek help after a few weeks.
Common times parents bring in a night nurse include:
- 10–14 days after birth
- When one or both parents return to work.
- During sleep regressions or growth spurts, when baby is up more often.
Some families use night nurses for just a few weeks, while others keep them for several months until baby sleeps longer stretches.
But Here’s What You Might Not Know:
- Most night nurses work only 2–3 nights per week. Some have set schedules (like Sundays and Tuesdays), while others are more flexible.
- Some work in teams, in case you want more nights covered.
- They usually require a contract. Many night nurses require a minimum number of nights over a set duration. If you love your nurse, it might be hard to extend care later since their schedule fills up quickly.
- You might realize you don’t need as much help as you thought. But if you’ve signed a contract, you may be locked in.
That’s why some parents wait and see before committing—or opt for a more flexible option like Harbor’s Remote Night Nanny (more on that in a sec!)
What to Consider Before Hiring a Night Nurse
We all make plans when we are pregnant, and we know we’ve gotta be flexible, but here are some big things to consider as you plan out this extra help.
Are You Breastfeeding?
Even if you hire a night nurse, you’ll still need to get up to feed or pump if you want to keep that breastmilk supply flowing. However, a night nurse can:
- Bring the baby to you so you only need to focus on feeding.
- Handle diaper changes and soothing so you can go right back to sleep.
- Bottle-feed pumped milk if you want longer stretches of rest.
Since not every wake-up requires a feeding, a night nurse can help determine when baby truly needs to eat and when they just need soothing.
Are You Nervous About Baby’s Safety?
Many parents have trouble sleeping not because the baby is waking up, but because they’re worried. If you’re constantly checking if your baby is breathing, a night nurse can provide extra peace of mind.
Biometric baby monitors (like pulse oximeters and heart rate trackers) are often marketed as sleep safety tools, but the AAP does not recommend them due to false alarms and lack of evidence that they prevent SIDS. A trained night nurse—whether in-home or remote—offers a more reliable and stress-free way to feel reassured.
Do You Have Family or Friends Who Can Help?
A common saying is “If you want good help, you have to pay for it.” But if you’re lucky enough to have dependable, helpful people nearby, you might be able to get a few nights of extra support without hiring a professional.
If you have a deep bench of support, consider asking someone to take a shift so you can get a few extra hours of sleep when you really need it.
Isn’t This What a Snoo, Cradlewise, or Smart Bassinet Does?
If you’re considering a Snoo, Cradlewise, or another smart bassinet, you might wonder if that’s enough—or if you can use both.
- A smart bassinet can help soothe your baby, but it won’t replace human touch. If your baby needs constant cuddling, feeding, or motion, a night nurse can provide hands-on support.
- You can absolutely use both. Some parents use a Snoo or bassinet alongside a night nurse to maximize sleep.
- But! Some night nurses don’t want you to use these devices, so if you plan on having both a smart bassinet and a night nurse bring it up in your interviews.
- Night nannies monitor more than just crying. A bassinet responds to movement and noise, but a trained night nurse can help identify feeding cues, adjust wake windows, and support newborn sleep development.
A More Flexible, Affordable Option: Harbor’s Remote Night Nanny
Harbor’s Remote Night Nanny offers the same overnight monitoring and expert support, but with more flexibility and a lower price (only 5% the cost of a traditional night nurse).
Instead of having someone in your home, Harbor’s trained pediatric nurses watch your baby remotely while you sleep. They monitor your baby’s sleep patterns through a secure connection and only wake you when you’re needed.
Note! This is only a service offered if you have a Harbor baby monitor. But it’s worth it. AND! They are giving away a free trial! Here’s our take on that.
How It Works
- Book a Remote Night Nanny (RNN) session through the Harbor Mobile App.
- Complete an onboarding call to discuss your baby’s sleep habits and your goals.
- Your RNN monitors your baby overnight and alerts you only when necessary.
- Failsafe notifications ensure you never miss an alert. If you don’t wake up, escalating alerts will continue until you do.
- In the morning, your session ends, and you regain full access to your monitor.
This is a great option if
- You want to take a “wait and see” approach after meeting your baby.
- You want ultimate flexibility with no contract commitments.
- You don’t mind waking up for the baby—you just want someone to tell you when to do it.
- You want extra peace of mind knowing someone is watching over your baby.
- You don’t want to spend big bucks on overnight care.
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Who Can Benefit from a Night Nurse—Traditional or Virtual?
A night nurse—whether in-home or virtual—can be a game-changer for:
- First-time parents who want expert guidance.
- Parents with insurance or workplace benefits that cover postpartum care.
- Parents of multiples who need an extra set of eyes.
- Families with a deployed military parent who need overnight help. (Harbor even offers free services to spouses of deployed military personnel.)
- Parents struggling with sleep deprivation. (So… everyone?)
Is a Night Nurse Right for You?
Newborn sleep is unpredictable, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. But you can get help! Whether you choose an in-home night nurse, a smart bassinet, or a virtual night nanny like Harbor, the goal is the same—to help your family rest, recover, and thrive.
If you want expert overnight support without a long-term contract or high cost, Harbor’s Remote Night Nanny is an option worth trying out!
Ready for better sleep without breaking the bank?
Harbor’s Remote Night Nanny gives you expert overnight monitoring, for a fraction of the cost of a night nurse—and you can try it for free.
✅ No contracts. No commitments. Just better sleep.
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