North Shore Night Nannies Help The Sleep Deprived Parents

Melissa Crane says there is a point in many new moms and dads first days with their new baby when they just don't know what to do.

"You're overwhelmed, confused, stressed out and sleep deprived," Crane said of new parents. "You just can't be up every night, all the time."

It's from that feeling, Crane, a mom of three children under six-years-old -  two of which are twins, started her business four years ago called, "North Shore Night Nannies."

Crane became a certified post-partum doula and is certified as a newborn specialist. Crane has also completed a La Leche League Lactation Specialist workshop and is infant CPR/Safety certified.

Many of her clients are parents of multiples though she does also have single baby families as well. 

"My oldest was colicky and sick," Crane said of her own children. "A  year later, I was pregnant with twins and we decided to get a nanny because I couldn't do it alone."

Crane said her night nanny at the time, made her feel like she was  doing a good job even in a world where moms are judged and the rules are constantly changing about baby care.

"She taught me so much about my own kids," Crane said. "I just want to be there for other moms now and give it back."

Crane, along with a few trusted part time nannies, split their time between families during the week. 

Crane shows up at family homes around 9 p.m. and stays overnight, taking care of the baby, while the parents get some shut eye.

"It's an eight to 10 hour shift," Crane said. "I also teach parents about good sleep techniques, light flow, temperature."

During the course of the night, Crane, a self-professed insomniac, will fold laundry and sterilize bottles.

"The idea is that when mom wakes up, everything is organized and ready to go for the day," Crane said. "Diaper is clean, baby is fed, laundry is put away."

In addition to taking care of the baby's needs overnight, Crane teaches the parents about the baby's personality (even identical twins have different personalities as babies), scheduling, swaddling and sleep cycles. 

The growing industry of night nannying is mainly spread by word-of-mouth Crane said. 

"I'd like to expand eventually and have multiple nannies full time," she said. "There are a lot of transplanted people on the North Shore who don't have the support of family around."

Crane said also, as the age at which women choose to start families increases, the new mom's parents are older and it is harder to rely on them for support.

"I like this business because I can be home for my kids during the day," Crane said. "And I can break through all that confusion for new moms and allow them not to feel judged but instead, well rested and therefore, better parents."

Crane is also teaching a variety of classes this fall at Hip Baby Gear 

Sleep Baby Sleep! - Sleep solutions for ages zero to three. September 26, 9 to 11 a.m. $40 per couple.

Marvelous Multiples - Newborn care and parenting class specifically for parents of twins and higher order multiples. September 23, 6:30 to 8 p.m. and September 30, 6:30 to 8 p.m., $50 per class.

Bringing Home Baby - Newborn care and parenting class,  September 21, 6:30 to 8 p.m., $50 a class

You can find North Shore Night Nannies On Facebook or call 781-631-8555. E-mail Melissa at melissamcrane@aol.com