What Can & Can’t a Night Nanny Help With?

August 15, 2025

What Can & Can’t a Night Nanny Help With?

Bringing home a newborn is one of life’s most joyful moments — and also one of the most physically demanding. The first weeks are filled with round-the-clock feedings, diaper changes, and soothing a baby who’s still adjusting to the world.

For many families, a night nanny provides critical support during this transition. But what exactly can they help with — and what’s outside their role?

This guide breaks it down clearly, so you know what to expect and how to make the most of overnight support.

What a Night Nanny CAN Do

1. Provides Overnight Newborn Care
A night nanny typically arrives in the evening and stays through the night, caring for your baby while you rest. This usually includes:

  • Bottle feeding or bringing the baby to a breastfeeding parent
  • Burping after feeds
  • Diaper changes
  • Rocking, soothing, and settling baby back to sleep

Their primary focus is your baby’s comfort and safety — and your ability to get restorative rest.

2. Support Healthy Infant Sleep HabitsMany night nannies bring years of experience with newborn sleep. While they are not sleep trainers, they often use gentle, age-appropriate techniques such as:

  • Swaddling and calming routines
  • Creating a quiet, low-stimulation nighttime environment
  • Recognizing early sleep cues
3. These small details can make a big difference in helping babies settle more easily overnight.
Track Nighttime RoutinesNight nannies often keep logs of:
  • Feeding times
  • Diaper changes
  • Sleep patterns
These notes can be incredibly helpful for parents — especially in the fog of early postpartum weeks — and useful when sharing updates with a pediatrician.
4. Offer Newborn Care GuidanceParents frequently appreciate the calm reassurance that comes from having an experienced caregiver overnight. Night nannies can share guidance on:
  • Soothing a fussy baby
  • Safe sleep practices
  • Pumping and milk storage for breastfeeding parents
Sometimes, having someone confirm “Yes, this is normal” is just as valuable as the hands-on help.

What a Night Nanny CAN’T Do

1. General HousekeepingWhile night nannies may wash bottles or tidy the nursery, they typically do not handle household chores such as:
  • Laundry
  • Cooking
  • Cleaning outside of baby-related tasks
Their role is centered on newborn care, not household management.
2. Medical CareUnless separately licensed, a night nanny is not a medical professional. They cannot diagnose or treat medical conditions. However, they can notice changes, raise concerns, and alert parents when something may need medical attention.
3. Daytime ChildcareNight nannies focus exclusively on overnight support. Families seeking daytime help usually work with a separate caregiver or newborn care specialist.
A Real-Life Perspective: How a Night Nanny Helped Me
After about ten days of waking for every feeding, burping, changing, and rocking, I was completely exhausted.
As a breastfeeding mom, I wasn’t even sure how a night nanny would help — I assumed I’d still be up every time the baby needed to eat. What I eventually realized was that even partial help made a huge difference.
I pumped one bottle a day so that every other night I could sleep through a full feeding. On alternate nights, I handled the feeding and then handed the baby to the night nanny for burping, changing, and rocking back to sleep.
Just not having to do everything — every time — was a game changer.
Having another person there during those first six weeks felt like a lifeline. It wasn’t about luxury. It was about survival, recovery, and having the energy to enjoy my baby.
When to Consider a Night NannyOvernight support can be especially helpful:
  • During the early postpartum weeks while parents recover
  • When caring for twins or multiples
  • If a parent is returning to work soon after birth
  • During growth spurts or sleep regressions

TLC Tip: A night nanny offers rest, reassurance, and confidence during one of the most intense seasons of parenthood. Knowing what they can help with allows you to accept support where it matters most — and let go of the pressure to do everything yourself.