Looking for a night nurse

[Anonymous]

I am pregnant with my first and we are hoping to hire a night nanny three or four nights a week. All of the people I’ve seen are upwards of $42 an hour. We are looking for something less expensive (in the $20-$25/hr range)with less experience/specialization — just someone vaccinated and CPR certified. We’d be happy to have the person sleep when the baby sleeps— is there someone out there who provides this service for a lower price? I looked at Care.com, but didn’t see anyone

[Anonymous]

The lowest I’ve ever seen is $30/hour. That’s for someone with no qualifications and who sleeps when the baby sleeps.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure you're going to find it much cheaper. But you could drop to two nights a week to fit it into your budget?

[Anonymous]

OP here— $30 isn’t bad! Would you mind sharing where you saw this person? I know that budget is probably not going to cut it in DC— but we’d like to stay under $40 if we can

[Anonymous]

Night nurses are for rich people. Don't try to do rich people things cheaply. It never works out. The person will be unreliable, or show up with their two kids, or smoke in your baby's room, or put a video in front of them when they wake in the middle of the night, or sleep through them crying, etc.

Either pay for a real professional or don't do it.

[Anonymous]

A real night nurse is worth her weight in gold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Night nurses are for rich people. Don't try to do rich people things cheaply. It never works out. The person will be unreliable, or show up with their two kids, or smoke in your baby's room, or put a video in front of them when they wake in the middle of the night, or sleep through them crying, etc.

Either pay for a real professional or don't do it.

This. You get what yoy pay for.

Look into postpartum doula if you will need help with more household support instead of a nurse. Will still cost $$ but many offer packages of visits.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, OP should be ashamed of herself for trying to find someone who is willing to take half of the going rate. If you can’t afford the service, you can’t afford it. Teenage babysitters make $20 to $25 or more. These are real people who need real liveable. You’re middle class and live in America. Wake up with your own baby at night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, OP should be ashamed of herself for trying to find someone who is willing to take half of the going rate. If you can’t afford the service, you can’t afford it. Teenage babysitters make $20 to $25 or more. These are real people who need real liveable. You’re middle class and live in America. Wake up with your own baby at night.

Ashamed? No. She’s offering 20-25% above legal minimum wage, and as long as she limits the hours under the taxable number she has nothing to be “ashamed” of.


She’s just not being realistic. A good night nurse is someone with a high degree of experience and professionalism and while you may think you only want someone vaccinated who could give CPR, the reality is you want someone who can genuinely support your recover and your baby’s adjustment to the household, and that doesn’t come inexpensively .

[Anonymous]

There are night nurses who have an hourly rate closer to $30. Hush Little Baby has some night nurses you could interview. https://hushhushlittlebaby.com/overnight-newborn-care/

You also don’t need a night nurse every night. We did 2 nights a week and it was very helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are night nurses who have an hourly rate closer to $30. Hush Little Baby has some night nurses you could interview. https://hushhushlittlebaby.com/overnight-newborn-care/

You also don’t need a night nurse every night. We did 2 nights a week and it was very helpful.

OT but when did you use the night nurse? As soon as the baby was born or a few weeks after?

[Anonymous]

I don’t think anyone is going to do it for what you’re hoping to pay. But seriously I think you and the baby’s other parent can handle this, assuming you are all healthy and there are no extenuating circumstances. You got this!

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t skimp on this.

[Anonymous]

I pay $40 per hr. That’s just what it costs.

[Anonymous]

You people aren't talking about actual nurses, you want a glorified baby sitter. I'm an RN and wouldn't do it for less than $70