Are night nurses supposed to sleep on the job?

[Anonymous]

I went through the training to become a night nurse, and we were instructed that lightly sleeping is fine. Her job is to be awake when the baby needs her. If she is doing this effectively, where's the issue? If she isn't, then speak up about the sleeping. She should wake easily at the noise of you walking into the room.

[Anonymous]

Ours was not supposed to sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess I thought she would be watching the baby? One of the reasons I hired one was because I have trouble sleeping between feedings - nervous about the baby being ok. I thought having someone else watching would help me sleep. I don't think I want to pay 25/hour for someone to be sleeping.

You need Xanax, not a night nurse.

[Anonymous]

Yep - you need some therapy, not somebody staring at your baby 24/7. I disagree about the angelcare monitor - will just exacerbate the symptoms.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't really be happy about paying someone to sleep. I would think a night-nurse could be doing some light baby-related chores like folding the baby's laundry, preparing bottles for the next day, etc. Or even just reading...

[Anonymous]

I don't think she should be asleep. That's her shift and your not allowed to sleep on the job during your shift. She can read, do puzzles, iPad, etc. But not sleeping on the job. She can sleep when her shift is over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never had a night nurse but if I did...I'm sort of with the Op on this one. I wouldn't expect to walk into the room and find her sleeping on the clock - it would be odd to have to wake her up to ask a question or give instructions. In fact, I can't think of any other job where sleeping on the job is allowed. Bring a book to read, maybe some needlework, even a laptop. But totally zonked out? That would surprise me.

No. The baby should not have lights on in the room at night, even on low. That's how you sometimes help crete sleep problems. I've been helping babies and children sleep for decades. I did once have a mom who didn't believe me. She called the pediatrician in the morning and then apologized to me for her error.

You pay a professional to accomplish a goal that she agrees to do. You do not dictate how she accomplishes the work. If you don't like her methods, you don't hire her. Simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never had a night nurse but if I did...I'm sort of with the Op on this one. I wouldn't expect to walk into the room and find her sleeping on the clock - it would be odd to have to wake her up to ask a question or give instructions. In fact, I can't think of any other job where sleeping on the job is allowed. Bring a book to read, maybe some needlework, even a laptop. But totally zonked out? That would surprise me.

No. The baby should not have lights on in the room at night, even on low. That's how you sometimes help crete sleep problems. I've been helping babies and children sleep for decades. I did once have a mom who didn't believe me. She called the pediatrician in the morning and then apologized to me for her error.

You pay a professional to accomplish a goal that she agrees to do. You do not dictate how she accomplishes the work. If you don't like her methods, you don't hire her
. Simple.

*create

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went through the training to become a night nurse, and we were instructed that lightly sleeping is fine. Her job is to be awake when the baby needs her. If she is doing this effectively, where's the issue? If she isn't, then speak up about the sleeping. She should wake easily at the noise of you walking into the room.

+1 if she doesn't wake easily when you walk in, there's a problem. But light sleeping is fine, otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yep - you need some therapy, not somebody staring at your baby 24/7. I disagree about the angelcare monitor - will just exacerbate the symptoms.

Disagree with you. It helped me relax and sleep knowing that the monitor was on.

[Anonymous]

If you want her to sit next to your baby all night, she's going to be sitting in the dark. So, she can't read, she can't fold laundry, she can't knit. So you're asking her to sit in the dark all night staring at your baby, which is, frankly, silly. If she doesn't wake up when you walk in the room or when the baby wakes up, that's a problem. But otherwise, I don't see the issue.

I agree with others that a monitor and therapy to address your anxiety might help.

[Anonymous]

for those giving the op a hard time, come on, how many of us as new mothers didnt have some low level of anxiety - once the baby was finally sleeping,thinking why arent they making any noise now etc.?
I think its weird that she is sleeping on her shift. and how can any human determine whether they plan to sleep lightly or deeply? that seems odd to me. her job is to be there and to be awake when you are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:for those giving the op a hard time, come on, how many of us as new mothers didnt have some low level of anxiety - once the baby was finally sleeping,thinking why arent they making any noise now etc.?
I think its weird that she is sleeping on her shift. and how can any human determine whether they plan to sleep lightly or deeply? that seems odd to me. her job is to be there and to be awake when you are not.

You know nothing about the job of a night nurse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:for those giving the op a hard time, come on, how many of us as new mothers didnt have some low level of anxiety - once the baby was finally sleeping,thinking why arent they making any noise now etc.?
I think its weird that she is sleeping on her shift. and how can any human determine whether they plan to sleep lightly or deeply? that seems odd to me. her job is to be there and to be awake when you are not.

You know nothing about the job of a night nurse.

We have had night nurses for our children, and none have slept. They all read or watched tv outside of the baby's room while the baby was sleeping. I would not have been pleased that my $300/night nurse was sleeping on the job. This is different from my friends in NY who get round-the-clock nurses ( who obviously need to sleep at some point).

[Anonymous]

You pay someone to sit there and watch a healthy infant sleep?? Good grief.

Could she not be in another area of the house with a monitor so she can read or something? Friends of ours have webcams set up in each of their kids' rooms, the tv is in the living room so they can see what's up. Maybe that would work?