For years, Kenyans have assumed that it is a mother’s job to take care of the baby at night. Many mothers end up getting overwhelmed by the demands of taking care of newborns.
To ease the burden, some families are paying for a night nanny. These night nannies not only help with the baby but also allow the parents to enjoy dinner out with friends or rest time.
Yvonne Mutua, a newborn night nurse at The Mothership Village in Nairobi, says there is an upsurge of families wanting a night nurse to care for their children.
These families, spend Sh4,700 per night, and they determine which times work best for them.
“Some even want you to be with them when they are discharged from the hospital. The duration of the nights you will be there is dependent on the family. My work is to relieve the mom’s tiredness. I bottle feed or she will breastfeed, then I burp and put the baby to sleep,” she tells Lifestyle.
A night nurse is hired for two reasons: One is to help parents transition into postpartum smoothly. Two is to take over childcare duties for the entire night, that is, feed, burp, change diapers—tend to the child the whole night.
Is there any specific certification needed for one to get a job as a night nurse?
“Not really. The background in nursing is what is built on. So, you train on how to care for a baby and to respond to an emergency,” Ms Mutua says.
Yvonne Mutua, a Newborn Night Nurse at The Mothership Village.
Photo credit: Pool
“Our job is to ensure the new mom is resting well because we know it is important, especially for her milk supply,” she adds.
In addition, the newborn nurses also train the mother on how to care for her child well.
“How to latch properly, burp, change the diaper, wash, respond to baby cues-hand in the mouth, sounds before crying…so that when I leave she will not enter into a crisis,” she says.
For a newborn, things that Ms Mutua has noticed are assumed, include how to wash a child’s face.
“You should only use warm water and wipe with a cloth or cotton wool. Limit the products you are using on the face. Skip head cleaning for two days, and then wash with soap. For the rest of the body, it’s okay to use soap.”
Each night nanny has their own way of working with families. Some even sleep-train the baby.
“We do not sleep train; we just ensure there is a routine in terms of feeding time, bathing, and all,” Ms Mutua says, adding, “but if a child has a fever, you wipe them down with warm water to allow the pores to open, reduce their clothing. For the fussy ones, you get a wrap or leso, then tie the baby to your chest, then drape a blanket on their back. For a colic baby, you massage their tummy, do small exercises, and remember to burp always after feeding to ensure the gas does not accumulate.”
Training school
The demand for night nurses and night nannies has opened opportunities for recruiting agencies and training schools.
Caroline Ondiek, a child care practitioner at The Mother Goose Kenya in Nairobi says, these night nannies are not just picked randomly. “Families ask for the nanny’s education level. Can she express herself? Can she speak the national languages; either English or Swahili? Another character they look at is someone trustworthy,” she says.
In vetting their trustworthiness, Mother Goose Kenya, which links families to night nannies, says those looking to be nannies fill in their profile details.
“They give us their previous employers’ details. Who they are and their reason for quitting. For example, if one tells us that they quit because of a low salary and we call the employer who tells us that they dismissed them because of theft issues, then we rule them out,” she says.
Ms Ondiek adds that someone responsible and passionate about children makes a perfect night nanny.
“This nanny must be someone who will monitor whether the child is fed well, and how the stool is. The temperature? If you are there, you can schedule a routine to ensure they develop holistically.”
Carolyne Auma Ondiek, the Child Care Practitioner at The Mother Goose Kenya during the interview on August 2, 2024.
Photo credit: Thomas Rajula | Nation Media Group
They must also be alert when the child is asleep.
“You have to ensure the bed covers are not moving so they do not accidentally cover the baby’s face. Even after burping, check if have a spit up, which can choke them as they sleep. Also, remember to alternate the side they sleep on every time so that they do not develop a dent. They can sleep facing up but the head is on the side.”
Another quality they look for in a good night nanny is someone who is informed.
“Do you know the child’s rights? Do you know what to do when the child has injured themselves before rushing to the hospital?” The salary?
“The minimum a nanny should be paid is Sh15,000 per month,” Ms Ondiek says.
