How hard can it be? Everyone does it. That was our faulty mentality before I had my first baby. After five weeks of sleepless nights and endless tears—both mine and my baby’s—my husband and I hired a certified Newborn Care Specialist (NCS), more commonly known as a night nurse. She was our savior, giving us back our nights, allowing us to sleep. Knowing we would one day want a second child, I vowed not to do it again without a night nurse by our side at the start. I opened a small savings account since night nurses aren’t cheap. Additionally, I added a night nurse to our Babylist registry so friends and family can contribute to it as a group gift.
Sleep exhaustion is no joke, and while many first-time parents chalk it up to the experience, they are not acknowledging the toll it takes on them, both physically and mentally. Sleep deprivation puts you at higher risk for depression, anxiety, and irritability. Here’s how hiring someone to help with overnight newborn care changed my postpartum experience the second time around.
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Hiring a newborn care specialist
I hired Lupe Hernandez, a certified Newborn Care Specialist and co-owner of L&S Newborn Care and Beyond, to stay with us for the first four weeks after my daughter was born. Having a night nurse made all the difference during my second postpartum period. After the exhaustion of labor and delivery, I was able to recuperate with a proper night’s sleep. Beyond sleep, Hernandez gave me the basic tools and refresher information needed about newborn care. She provided invaluable tips and tricks, plus peace of mind that I wouldn’t be lost on how to care for my daughter. As I had said many times during my pregnancy, I had forgotten everything about the newborn phase!
Lupe Hernandez, Newborn Care Specialist and L&S Newborn Care Co-Founder
With over 15 years of professional childcare experience, Lupe Hernandez is a trusted leader, mentor, and caregiver in the field of infant support. Whether she’s walking new parents through the early stages of parenthood or equipping caregivers with the tools to succeed, Lupe offers unmatched dedication, knowledge, and warmth every step of the way.
What is a newborn care specialist?
Before I share how Hernandez helped us, I want to be clear on what a Newborn Care Specialist is and what expectant parents can look for when deciding if a night nurse is right for them. A Newborn Care Specialist (NCS), more commonly known as a night nurse, is a trained professional who provides care to infants in their first few weeks or months of life. Their focus is on the postpartum care of newborns and parents. While the term “night nurse” is often used, most of these professionals are not traditional nurses (RN). Typically, they provide overnight care, allowing parents to rest.
“A Newborn Care Specialist (NCS), more commonly known as a night nurse, is a trained professional who provides care to infants in their first few weeks or months of life.”
Additionally, they help with infant care, feedings, sleep routines, and establishing healthy habits. Many are CPR-certified, and some are also certified as postpartum doulas. There is no national NCS license in the United States; however, there are various certification programs. Hernandez recommends Newborn Care Solutions and Gentle Ventures.
How an NCS helped me postpartum
Getting my baby to sleep through the night
What I love about Hernandez is that she is just as invested as we are about getting our daughter to sleep through the night. I am happy to share that my daughter has already slept 10 hours straight, at only 9 weeks old.
“Sometimes, parents don’t know how to identify specific baby behavior throughout the night. New parents often hear noises like grunts or small cries and immediately pick up the baby to feed them,” shared Hernandez, “this is a mistake which can often lead to overfeeding.” We’ve learned that often, doing nothing at all is the best course of action.
Additionally, Hernandez taught us how the daytime very much affects the night. At about six weeks, she created a daytime schedule for us to follow for our baby. It allows for flexibility in timing, but essentially, it showed me how to break up the day. Eat, play, sleep, repeat. “The ideal start to the day is around 6:30-7 am, ending with bedtime around 7-7:30 pm.”
Becoming my baby product guru
In the first round of parenting, we struggled with swaddles that left us cursing as our son broke out of them over and over again. This time, I asked Hernandez which swaddles she recommended, and she said her favorite one was the Happiest Baby Sleepea 5-Second Baby Swaddle. This is now the only swaddle we use (we have four of them); it truly is so easy!
Beyond swaddles, Hernandez became my go-to for all things baby products. It was so reassuring knowing that whatever questions I had, she would have the answers. My favorite recommendation of hers this time around? The Momcozy KleanPal Pro. This is a baby bottle washer, sterilizer, and dryer all-in-one. Not only did she bring it to my attention, but she also helped me set it up, and showed me how to fit more than four bottles (as the company advertises) in there.
Additionally, she guided us through our daughter’s first bath, and warned against doing it prior to her umbilical cord falling off and healing completely. She also shared that a bath is a helpful part of her routine to encourage good sleep, but to only use soap one to two times at most per week. She brought with her the Mustela Baby Skincare Starter Kit, and I’m now obsessed with this French baby line.
Helping with our feedings
We are exclusively bottle-feeding my daughter, and even after doing it with my first, my initial instincts for feeding my daughter weren’t exactly right. Hernandez corrected me by showing me how to sit my daughter upright, not flat. Using preemie nipples on the bottles—even though she was born full term—aided in her digestion. Hernandez showed us how to pace the bottle-feeding by letting my baby pull at the nipple, then pausing after about 30 seconds.
Hernandez—and many other NCSs—is also a lactation specialist, which comes in handy for breastfeeding mothers.
Why I’d hire a night nurse again
Hiring an NCS is an investment, but I can confidently say it paid off. Physically, being well-rested has helped with my postpartum recovery. Life is chaotic: I’ve had moments where I’m feeding the baby, my son is yelling for me to wipe him on the potty, and the dog is scratching at the front door. But I can handle them without tears. Being well rested, because I had Hernandez here, allowed me to better manage my emotions.
Furthermore, as a second-time mom, you can’t “sleep when the baby sleeps” when you have a toddler demanding your attention as well. If I had been up all night with the baby, I know my patience and focus would have been diminished, and my toddler would have suffered the consequences.
My relationship with my husband has also been better this time around. When we had those sleepless nights at the start with my son, exhaustion got the best of us, and we would be less kind to each other. This time, we had an NCS taking care of night duty, which allowed us to give even a small dose of care to our relationship. We even got out for date night just a few weeks after my daughter was born.
My family is happier all around, and that very much is due to the foundation Hernandez set for my daughter, the guidance she provided, and the hours of sleep we all very much needed.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a certified Newborn Care Specialist near me?
I found my NCS through word-of-mouth, and I’d highly recommend asking for recommendations if you don’t know someone else who has hired them. While it is not necessary, going through an agency, like L&S Newborn Care & Beyond, also ensures you are working with someone who is vetted and trained.
What is the typical night nurse shift?
An NCS typically works an 8- to 10-hour overnight shift. We would have Hernandez arrive at 9 p.m. and stay until 6 a.m. the following morning.
What is the cost of a night nurse?
Sticker shock is expected when you first do the math on an NCS! Hernandez shared that the average cost in Los Angeles, where we live, is $45 – $65 per hour. This varies based on location and experience. Additionally, if you use an agency, expect the costs to be on the higher end, as they usually have additional fees.
Can you register for a night nurse?
Yes, and you should! On Babylist, you can register your baby nurse as a cash fund. You can also ask whether your CNS offers any gift packages that you can link to your registry. L&S Newborn Care and Beyond offers a variety of packages, starting at $3,300 for their First Day Recovery Package, which provides 3 nights per week, 10 hours each, for the first two weeks of the baby’s life.
Dyana Lederman, Contributing Writer
Dyana is a lifestyle and travel journalist, creative writer, editor, and producer with 15+ years of experience. A mother of two, Dyana lives in Redondo Beach and loves to share stories and insights into parenting. In the past, she worked in television and podcasting, and her first children’s book, Chester Gets a Baby, debuted in 2025.
