A Newborn Care Specialist, or NCS for short, is a specially trained individual in all aspects of newborn care for the first 3-4 months of life. They typically start with a family the day they return home from the hospital/birthing facility or right after a home birth, although you can still hire an NCS at any point in those first 3-4 months of life. This person will come into your home, either overnight, daytime or for around the clock care, to help you care for your new baby and educate you on all things newborn. The NCS is trained to set healthy sleep habits, sometimes referred to as sleep conditioning, to help baby learn healthy ways to self soothe and sleep through the night as early as 8-12 weeks old if the family desires.
Please note that this is not what many people refer to as sleep training as that does not begin until at least 4 months old if the infant is not sleeping through the night on their own. They will help you set a daily routine to help promote good night time sleep, and provide the best possible environment for growth and development. They are also trained to identify abnormalities in your newborn so you can bring them to the attention of your pediatrician as early as possible for treatment if needed. An NCS is familiar with current safety recommendations from the American Association of Pediatrics, and they have used a wide variety of baby products so they can help make recommendations on what items may work well for your family! An NCS is also familiar with signs of postpartum mood disorders and able to advise you to seek care if your symptoms seem to be progressing beyond the typical baby blues.