If you’re transitioning from a Newborn Care Specialist (NCS) or Postpartum Doula (PPD) to a nanny, you might be wondering—why does this feel so different? And which option, NCS or nanny, is best for your family? Let’s break down the crucial differences so you can reset expectations and set your little one and caregiver up for success.

1) What Does an NCS or PPD Do?

A Newborn Care Specialist (NCS) and a Postpartum Doula (PPD) are both trained professionals who support families during the early weeks of a baby’s life. But their roles are distinct and not necessarily interchangeable. An NCS focuses primarily on the newborn, offering expert guidance on sleep conditioning, feeding, and routines, and often provides overnight care. In contrast, a PPD supports the entire family unit, including the birthing parent’s emotional and physical recovery, light household tasks, and newborn care. Both roles are short-term and intensive, frequently involving 24/7 availability, but their focus and training differ in meaningful ways.

These professionals are short-term care providers meant to guide families and newborns through the early months of the fourth trimester. They are not long-term care providers, and their contracts rarely extend beyond three months. In fact, many NCSs and PPDs take breaks between clients to give themselves time to rest and recharge after the demanding requirements of providing newborn support. This level of care, while incredibly valuable, is not sustainable and is not meant to replace a long-term caregiver like a nanny.

2) What Does a Nanny Do (and Not Do)?

A nanny provides consistent, long-term care for your child or children. They work with children of all ages, from newborns through teens, and they often have one-year (or longer) contracts with families as opposed to the short-term contracts NCSs and PPDs have in place. While a nanny may provide newborn care, including providing bottles, assisting with naptime, and implementing/following routines, it’s critical to understand that they are not a substitute for an NCS or PPD. They shouldn’t be expected to obtain the same amount of knowledge and expertise as an NCS/PPD, nor should they be expected to provide similar hands-on care.

Nannies work set hours, have defined responsibilities, and typically focus on child development, age-appropriate activities, and overall care during their working hours. Unlike an NCS or PPD, a nanny is not expected to be available 24/7, and they don’t usually provide overnight care unless that’s explicitly negotiated—and compensated accordingly.

3) Why You Shouldn’t Expect Nanny-Level Support to Mirror an NCS

First-time parents who’ve experienced the around-the-clock attentiveness of an NCS or PPD often face an adjustment period when hiring a nanny. While having a nanny can make a huge difference and provide tons of support, they provide a different type of care, one that’s often less all-encompassing than an NCS or PPD. It’s understandable that this transition can take time to settle into, but it’s important to manage expectations.

Your NCS may have anticipated your baby’s every need and tidied up the nursery while you rested. A PPD may have prepared specific snacks to help with lactation and supported your breastfeeding journey. But a nanny is hired to provide consistent, high-quality childcare. To put it simply, their focus is on caring for your child. As long-term contracted professionals, they also need time off, structure, and boundaries to thrive in their roles. Holding a nanny to the same standards as an NCS sets everyone up for burnout or disappointment.

4) How to Successfully Transition from NCS/PPD to a Nanny

To ease the transition, here are a few steps to follow:

• Communicate clearly: Outline job duties and expectations in writing before your nanny’s first day.
• Adjust your mindset: Do some research (or reach out to a local agency!) to help educate yourself and your family. Understand that both an NCS or nanny support your family in different ways—and both are valuable.
• Give your nanny autonomy: Just as your NCS had their system, your nanny will have their own approach to building rapport with your child.
• Schedule an overlap: When you hire a nanny, ensure that there’s a crossover between your nanny and your NCS/PPD. That way, your nanny can train on everything from routines to familiar preferences with the caregiver you’ve become confident in, helping to ease the transition.
• Provide a fair schedule and compensation: Nannies thrive with consistency and are professionals who deserve to be treated as such! Define work hours, time off, and pay structure from the start to ensure a professional tone.

5) Final Thoughts on Choosing an NCS or Nanny

While hiring an NCS or nanny could both be great choices to work with your newborn and your family, they provide vastly different types of care. Nannies aren’t meant to replicate the round-the-clock support of a newborn care specialist—and that’s a good thing. With the right expectations, your nanny can become a trusted, long-term part of your parenting team.