Title: Nanny Duties, Newborn Care Specialists Definitions and Duties
Headings: INA In-Home Child Care Definitions
INA In-Home Child Care Definitions
What is a babysitter?
What is a nanny?
What is a newborn care specialist?
Other Terms for Specialty Nannies in the In-Home Childcare Industry
The Family Daycare

Content: Ideally, a nanny will have special­ized child care skills, a deep under­standing of children and a genuine love of caring for children. A nanny offers the family convenient and consistent high quality child care by meeting each child’s physical, emotional, social and intellectual needs. In addition to traditional nannies who provide general child care, “specialty” nannies exist to meet the needs of families who desire a caregiver with expertise in a spe­cific area or at a specific time. What is a newborn care specialist? Highly specialized and trained in-home childcare provider who focuses on the care and well-being of the newborn: I.e., the first 12-16 weeks of life. Hired predominantly to care for newborns for either overnight shifts or around the clock care
Works independently with only minimal guidance from the parents
Familiar with the behaviors, appearance and general care of the newborn
Often has experience working with preemies and multiples
Well versed in helping establish good feeding and sleeping habits
Well versed in supporting family values
Well versed in various sleep conditioning methods and can develop a successful plan to getting the baby to sleep through the night and nap well as soon as reasonably possible in a healthy manner
Had the goal of a healthy, educated and empowered parent
Understands the value of and can support a breastfeeding mother
Has a basic understanding of Postpartum Mood Disorders, can recognize and confidently address the possibility with parents
Understands and can recognize the signs of possibly food allergies, intolerances and reflux and knows how to help
Is willing to share information with healthcare professionals in order to support optimal baby health
Keeps up on the latest information and studies in newborn care
Behaves in a professional manner and maintains family confidentiality
Understands the limits of their scope of practice and abides by them
Willing, at the appropriate time, to be both mentored and mentor others
Other Terms for Specialty Nannies in the In-Home Childcare Industry
Au Pairs
An au pair is a foreign national between the ages of 18-26 who enters the United States through the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Au Pair Exchange Program, to experience American life for up to 24 months (au pairs in good standing can apply to extend their initial 12-month visit an additional 6, 9 or 12 months). Au pairs participate in the life of the host family by providing limited child care services (maximum 10 hours per day, 45 hours per week) and are compensated for their work according to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Au pairs may not be placed in homes with infants three months of age or younger, unless a parent or responsible adult will be in the home supervising the au pair. An au pair may not be placed in the home with a child two years of age or younger unless they have 200 or more hours of documented child care experience.