A maternity nurse can be the difference between an experience which allows you to enjoy your newborn’s early years, or an experience which causes you extreme sleep deprivation and distress.
Not every baby is a dream in terms of how they behave, and when you’re not sure how to get them into a routine, or you’re struggling due to other issues, e.g. having more than one child or having a busy life yourself, then it can be difficult to cope and juggle everything.
A maternity nurse is an ideal option for these situations. Not only will you rest easy, safe in the knowledge that your baby is in the best hands when you’re not around, but you can also benefit from their years of experience in terms of how to establish a quality sleeping routine, and any other issues that you’re a little unsure of yourself.
Of course, finding the perfect maternity nurse for your home isn’t always an easy process. You need to trust this person beyond all measures, and you need to be able to find someone who can fit into your family without any issues. There is a budget to think about, and there are also the other children in your home too. Everyone needs to get along, and your maternity nurse needs to blend in with ease.
Thankfully, here at London Governess, we’ve come up with five tips on how to find the best maternity nurse for your needs. Remember, we can help pair you up with your ideal maternity nurse, taking away the hard work, but for now, bear these five tips in mind.
Check Their Qualifications Carefully
Every maternity nurse is required to have childcare qualifications, and these should be at level 3 as a minimum, and in early years and newborn care. If you’re not sure of qualifications, you can contact your local college for advice, or you can head online and do some research.
Having up to date qualifications means that your maternity nurse has the most relevant and real-time skills and knowledge regarding newborn care, and that gives you greater peace of mind.
Also Check Their Experience (And References) Carefully
How many years have they been working as a maternity nurse? Can they provide you with references from the previous families they’ve worked with? Check these references carefully and ask any questions you see fit. Remember, this person is going to be looking after your precious newborn baby, so you are free to ask questions and clarify anything you need extra information on.
Whilst it’s not inadvisable to opt for a maternity nurse fresh out of college, it is going to give you greater peace of mind to go for a professional who has years of experience behind them. The more experience they have, the better equipped they are to deal with any situations that might arise. Remember, when it comes to looking after a newborn, that are many different situations which can come up during the day and night, and you need to be 100% sure the maternity nurse you choose has it all covered, with confidence and calmness.
Ask How Flexible They Are
If you are a family who travel a lot, or your work requires you to attend meetings which can arise at the last minute, you need to know that your maternity nurse will be able to be there and cover for you. Whilst your maternity nurse will have set working hours, and that will be part time or full time, live in or live out, you can ask whether they are happy to work overtime, or at the last minute.
Their flexibility gives you more flexibility.
Have They Passed a Rigorous Vetting Process?
All of our maternity nurses have passed a very in-depth and rigorous vetting process, and that is the bare minimum for anyone you let work with your child. You need to know that they have passed enhanced police and background checks, and that their qualifications have been verified, as well as their past experience. This background check isn’t just a paperwork exercise, it is vital for the safety and wellbeing of your child, and for your overall peace of mind too.
Go With Your Gut – How do You Feel About Them?
A lot of the time, the best advice comes from your gut. When you meet them, how do you feel about them? Is there anything about them which seems ‘off’? Anything you don’t like or don’t trust? In that case, this isn’t the maternity nurse for you.
If on the other hand you meet them and you feel quite reassured, calm, and happy with them, that’s a great pointer in their direction. You need to be able to build up a bond of trust with this person, because at the end of the day they are going to be an extended part of your family, and you need to know without any doubt that your baby is safe and well in their care. If you have any doubts, any doubts at all, it’s best to keep looking.
These are just five basic tips to help you find the best maternity nurse for your family. This is a huge decision, and as such, take your time and be sure of your final decision. There is no sense in rushing your final choice, and you should certainly give yourself the time to feel happy with your choice.
The perfect maternity nurse for your family will have an enormously positive effect, not only on your child’s welfare and safety, but also on the overall feel in the household, and how at ease you feel when you are away from your child.
