What kind of arrangements or set-ups do I need in my home for a Mommy Reliever at night?
Is there anything I need to provide for the Mommy Reliever?
- The Mommy Reliever will arrive at your home and use your phone to clock in to our timesheet system. Your Mommy Reliever will use your phone again when she leaves, to clock out.
- The Mommy Reliever may bring a snack or other food and may ask to put it in your fridge if it needs to be kept cold.
- You will need to provide a light for the Mommy Reliever. Safety is of our utmost concern and many hazards can occur in the dark.
- You do not need to provide a bed for the Mommy Reliever but we do have a few suggestions for room arrangements.
- Provide a monitor for the Mommy Reliever to use so she can be in an area where there is light and a television. As soon as the Mommy Reliever hears the baby, she will attend to him or her.
- Have the Mommy Reliever bring the baby or babies with her into a family room area. She can, with lights dimmed, keep the babies with her, fold laundry, watch tv with low volume, etc., without disturbing you.
- Provide a comfortable chair in the baby’s room with a light the Mommy Reliever can use for folding laundry, reading, needlepoint, knitting, etc.
It is not as ideal to have a parent and infant in the same room as the Mommy Reliever. The parent will be sleeping and the Mommy Reliever will be awake. The Mommy Reliever will worry that you will awaken, and the goal of you getting a good night sleep may not happen as easily. The Mommy Reliever will also not feel as free to move around, get up, etc., in case she’s feeling sleepy due to the lack of light in the room. However, if this is the only option you have, it can work; just let us know in advance so we may find the right person who will be comfortable with the arrangement.
W ill the Mommy Reliever sleep while she’s at my house?
No, the Mommy Reliever will not sleep unless you have approved sleeping as in the instances below. Generally, she will care for your baby, and if time permits, fold a load of laundry, sterilize bottles, etc. There are circumstances where the some clients want the night Mommy Reliever to be able to sleep. That can be when sleep training occurs, and there are more hours between each time the baby awakens (i.e., 5 to 6 hours), or the parents are out of town and the Mommy Reliever is caring for the child while the parents are away, and various other instances. In any of these situations, you will be the one to let the Mommy Reliever know it is okay to sleep or doze.
I am breastfeeding. How will a Mommy Reliever help me at night?
When you are breast feeding you have to get up, get the baby, nurse the baby, change the baby’s diaper, and get the baby back to bed. When you hire Mommy Relief to assist you, your Mommy Reliever will bring the baby to you, let you feed your baby and then come get the baby, change your infant, and put him or her back to bed. So, yes, you would still be getting up at night, but if your baby is gassy or has difficulty getting back to bed or if you have difficulty getting back to bed after standing up and moving around, Mommy Relief can be a lifesaver!
Alternatively, if you have a steady milk flow (i.e. your milk is in and is stable) and you have a supply of pumped milk, check with your doctor to see if you can skip a feeding or two during the night, on an occasional basis so that you may get a full night’s sleep while a Mommy Reliever cares for your baby. We have spoken with some nurses and lactation consultants who have said it is possible but also advise that you should speak with your physician.
If you should chose to use an alternative method of feeding please be sure to tell us so we can educate our Mommy Reliever on what to expect in your specific situation.
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