What is a Baby Nurse?

As an expecting or new mom you’ve probably heard the term “baby nurse.”

What is a baby nurse?  Is a baby nurse an actual RN?

Baby nurses are non medical newborn care specialists.  They have years of experience caring for newborns.  Baby nurses may have training and have attended classes on newborn care but are not registered nurses.  In 2006 it was clarified that the term baby nurse could only be used for medically trained nurses.  Nanny agencies now use the term Newborn Care Specialists.

Bringing a baby home can be overwhelming for any parent.  A Newborn Specialist will come into your home during your babies first weeks to help and support you.  She can help with bathing, changing, feeding, burping, swaddling and establishing sleep patterns for your newborn.  She can also help with simple household chores like loading the dishwasher, throwing in a load of laundry, or going to the grocery store.   Remember baby nurses have been working with newborns for years and are happy to help you take care of your little one!

Often times Newborn Specialists work overnight.  These specialists used to be  called night nurses, and take care of the baby through the night so mom and dad can get some much needed rest.  If you choose to breastfeed, the Newborn Specialist will bring you the baby to nurse and tend to the baby until it’s time to nurse again.

TLC For Kids has been providing Newborn Specialists in St. Louis for 15 years. Each of our baby nurses or newborn specialists has been screened by our office.  We also provide an in-house newborn training given by a neonatal nurse.  To reserve a TLC Newborn Specialist visit our website or call Angela at 314-725-5660.