Working as a newborn care specialist means working alongside new parents as they navigate their roles as parents, supporting them in their new journey.

Whether the parents have recently adopted a child or have just given birth to a new baby, it can be a beautiful and exciting time for the family. It can also be overwhelming to learn how to balance the needs of the newborn, manage their own mental and physical wellbeing, and understand the expectations of family and friends who want to meet the baby.

Part of your role as a newborn care specialist can be to assist families in setting helpful boundaries that can help them better settle into their new routines as parents. Here are some tips that you can provide new families as they transition into this new phase of life.

Health and Safety Concerns

A newborn’s immune system is fragile. Talk to new parents about having friends and family washing their hands before they hold the baby and encourage people to keep their face away from the child. Discuss who they are comfortable with holding the baby and remind them that if people are sick or recovering from an illness, they should consider delaying their visit until they are healthy.

Best Times for Visiting

While it’s very exciting to have everyone you love come and meet this wonderful new member of the family, it can be stressful and exhausting to have people ‘dropping by’ unannounced – especially if the mother is recovering from giving birth. Not to mention, the baby’s sleep schedule can be all over the place during those first few weeks and months.

Encourage families to schedule visits ahead of time, so you know who’s coming when. Some families find it beneficial to limit the number of visitors they have each day. For family members that may be coming out of town to visit the new baby, be sure the family you’re working with has boundaries in place on where those people will stay – at home or at a hotel.

Many new parents will find that having a house guest will cause added stress as they settle into their new roles with the baby, while others may welcome the extra help.

Additional Support

While your work as a newborn care specialist is invaluable, having additional help available could also be helpful to the new parents.

For individuals or families that are especially close to the family who want to help, encourage new parents to ask them to step in. Perhaps they could run some errands and drop off some groceries on the doorstep, or making a home-cooked meal would be helpful.

Maybe having a close friend or family member come clean the house would alleviate some pressure. As the old saying goes – ‘it takes a village’ – so, emphasize the importance for accepting help that people offer.

Remind Them About the Power of ‘No’

No matter how well you plan, there will be rough days that come. The parents might be feeling exhausted from having interrupted sleep, the baby might be fussy, or they simply need to just have some downtime together to recuperate and bond. This is where it’s important to encourage the parents to say that it’s okay to say no – whether that be to visitors, shutting down unsolicited advice, or something else.

Flexibility and a willingness to adapt to whatever comes your way is part of parenthood and it’s okay to adjust plans as needed. Encourage the family that there is no guilt in that and saying ‘no’ can be a healthy part of setting new parental boundaries.

What to Share

Every family is different when it comes to privacy and what they want to share with others – especially when it comes to social media and photos. Discuss how much information they want to share online and be sure they share their rules with others regarding if they are comfortable posting photos or information on social media of the baby.

Becoming a new parent is a huge learning curve and your expertise as a newborn care specialist will help guide them along. Helping the family set these boundaries can truly help in creating a calm and supportive environment as they navigate the new waters of parenting.

Ready to find your role as a newborn care specialist? Let us help! We place newborn care specialists in homes around the country and can help find the right job that aligns with your experience. Call us today to get started!