Frequently Asked Questions from Parents

Want to start the day fresh and rested in the morning? A night nanny takes over all nighttime care for your child. This way you can refuel during a well-deserved night's sleep. The night nanny is responsible at night for everything related to your baby; rocking, comforting, feeding and changing.

Our night service typically starts at 10 pm and ends the next morning around 7 am. Within this time frame we can take over the last feed of the evening and the first feed the next day. You will already have had an initial intake with Nannies at Night. On the first night the nanny will arrive half an hour early so there is time for her to settle in and for you to explain things. Then you either go to bed or leave the house, and the nanny takes over the care of your child. This includes feeding, changing nappies, comforting, cradling, rocking, putting your child to bed and settling her if she wakes up again. If you prefer, the nanny can always start earlier or end later. Regardless of your preferred start and end time, the shift will always be a minimum of nine hours. The next morning the nanny will transfer the care of your baby or child back to you and update you on how the night went.

Amsterdam and surroundings (oa. Haarlem, Amstelveen, 't Gooi, Bloemendaal, Overveen), The Hague and surroundings, Rotterdam and surroundings, Utrecht and surroundings. Any doubts about your location, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We totally understand – your child is your most precious possession! Our nannies take their work very seriously, act with the utmost care and pay dedicated attention to your child’s specific needs. We stay in close touch with both the parents and our nannies. We also have high standards when it comes to recruiting our nannies and take extreme care before admitting someone to our ranks. We’ve learned from experience that a personal meet-and-greet with the family is not only a pleasant experience but also removes any lingering doubts. Some parents tell us the first night was a bit tricky to get through. But after that, their concerns go out the window and they feel 100% comfortable with Nannies at Night.

During the intake, we explore the best place for your baby/child and nanny for the night. If the baby still needs multiple feeds per night, it is practical to have everything ready in advance and close to the baby’s room. The nanny needs a place to sleep, preferably as close to the baby/child as possible so she can be there quickly and make the least noise for the parents. This may be in the baby’s room, in a spare bedroom or in the living room.

We get this question a lot. From experience, we can say that once parents have decided to put their trust into us and the nanny, they may briefly wake up from the sound of crying during the night … only to roll over and go back to sleep, safe in the knowledge that someone is giving their child the care and attention she deserves. The initial night may not be as easy as subsequent ones and we understand this all too well – which is why we and the nanny invest the extra time to help parents feel at ease.

It’s natural and healthy to feel a little tense on the first night. That’s why the nanny will take the time to help you feel at ease. She will arrive half an hour earlier to learn how the household runs and discuss the care your child needs. And in the morning, she will take the time to tell you how the night went. It’s quite special to be entrusted by a family in their own home with their most precious possession – their baby!

Our nannies sleep when the baby or child sleeps. This is why she needs a place to sleep. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy; a simple bed, couch or air mattress will do. As long as she can be as close to the baby/child as possible, or with a baby phone.

We personally screen our nannies through an extensive interview process. This allows us to get to know the candidate, thoroughly assess their experience and motivation and ensure that they meet our minimum requirements. Our nannies:

• Are at least 21 years old
• Have a practical, can-do attitude
• Are affectionate, trustworthy and caring
• Have liability insurance
• Are personally screened by Nannies at Night and hold a government-certified certificate of conduct (VOG)
• Comply with the standards and values of Nannies at Night
• Have proven experience with babies, demonstrated by at least two references
• Are able to commit to a family for a minimum of three months
• Hold a Baby First Aid certificate from Het EHBO Bureau
• Are usually students of a childcare- or healthcare-related degree programme.

Yes, of course! It is certainly possible for the family to meet the nanny in advance. The most important thing is that you feel at ease with the nanny and confident about putting your trust in her. We can arrange an initial meeting to help you see whether you have a rapport with her.

We completely understand the fear of handing your baby over to someone else for the night. During the first night, the parents are usually still getting used to the idea. The second night is generally easier: they are able to let go and trust that the nanny will take good care of their baby.
 
As one of our clients wrote: “I was very happy when I eventually called Nannies at Night. I felt trusting of their service immediately. When our nanny first entered the room, I felt as though she was a niece or cousin of mine. I was able to let go from the very first night and get a good night’s sleep.”

You can employ Nannies at Night with the aim of getting your sleep at home or elsewhere (e.g. at a hotel, your parents’ or your parents’-in-law). You can even go out! Say you have a wedding to go to: the nanny will come to your house earlier, during the day, or she may even come with you to the wedding. She takes care of your baby throughout the evening and night, so that you can relax and enjoy the party. A full weekend is also one of the possibilities.

Yes, certainly. We are frequently hired by breastfeeding mothers. The nanny will bring the baby to the mother to be fed, after which the mother can continue to get her night’s rest. The mother will usually express milk into a bottle at the beginning of the evening.

Few organisations in the Netherlands offer professional night nannies, especially for parents whose child might need extra care. As one of our parents said, “I think that many parents, like me, would initially be too scared to surrender the care of their baby into the hands of another person for the night. Our child was so tiny and vulnerable. You really want to be assured that your nanny has a track record of the right kind of experience.”
 
As Nannies at Night, we carefully screen and select our nannies. Every night nanny must have relevant experience as demonstrated by two references, be in possession of a certificate of good conduct as well as a first aid certificate for babies and children, and have studied (or be studying) in a relevant area, such as obstetrics, midwifery or medicine.

Nannies at Night offers nannies, senior and pro nannies. The differences are the amount of years in experience, different families and final year/diploma in a care related study.

Sure! There are no age limits. Anything is possible. We are happy to discuss your options with you!

Good news! Although our nannies are experienced in taking care of babies of all ages, they specialise in looking after the youngest of babies. This includes babies born prematurely, who no longer need medical care but may need extra attention. Our nannies are typically students of medicine, obstetrics, midwifery and other relevant subjects, and have completed childcare-related work placements. They have proven experience in looking after babies, as demonstrated by at least two professional references.