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A clear, friendly guide to the family-support professionals who help new and expecting parents—what they do, how they differ, and how to choose the right fit.
Becoming a parent is exciting, emotional, and sometimes overwhelming—especially when you start exploring the many types of family-support professionals available. Who does what? Which role fits your family best? How do you know what you truly need?
We’re here to make it simple.
For over two decades, we’ve worked exclusively with new and growing families, thoughtfully matching them with exceptional caregivers. This experience has shown us that the right support can transform the early parenting journey into a more confident, calm, and joyful experience.
This guide will help you understand the differences between each type of caregiver and feel confident choosing the support that’s right for your family. No matter their title, every caregiver shares the same goal: to care for you, your baby, and your growing family with compassion and expertise.
No matter which title you use for an in-home infant care provider, the heart of the role is the same: caring for your baby while supporting the well-being of the entire family.
The terms below often overlap and can vary by region or agency, and many are used interchangeably. Each, however, reflects a slightly different level of training, schedule, and scope of responsibilities.
Think of this guide as your starting point. When you’re ready to talk through your family’s unique needs, our placement team will help you find the professional who’s the perfect fit.
A labor doula, also known as a birth companion or birth supporter, is a non-medical but highly trained person who assists a woman before and during childbirth — as well as her partner and family — by providing physical assistance and emotional support. A labor doula can help with the birth plan and uses the power of touch and massage to reduce stress and anxiety during labor.
A baby nurse, also known as a night nurse, postpartum doula, or newborn care specialist, is a caregiver trained and skilled in newborn care. While the term “nurse” is widely used, these caregivers are not providing medical care, nor are they registered nurses. The responsibilities of a baby nurse encompass the needs of the baby, mom, and the wider family. A baby nurse may stay with you for a few days, a week, or even months depending on your needs — they require a room and meals and remain with you 24/7 while helping you settle in with your new baby.
A newborn care specialist, also known as a baby nurse, is a newer term for a caregiver who specializes in helping parents care for their newborns during the day and/or night. They help parents develop healthy eating, sleeping, and care routines for the baby and allow new parents to rest. A newborn care specialist typically works 6-to-24-hour shifts and is responsible for all the tasks related to baby care.
A postpartum doula is an in-home caregiver available for daytime or nighttime assignments. They help parents understand their baby’s needs and transition into motherhood and fatherhood — providing educational, emotional, and physical support to the newborn, mom, and the whole family. Unless there are issues such as postpartum mood disorders, multiples, or a baby with special needs, a postpartum doula typically works only within the first 12 weeks after birth — the “fourth trimester.”
A night nanny is a caregiver who helps parents with the baby at night. They may be hired for a week, several months, or just a few nights a week. A night nanny must have experience with newborns, but most do not provide sleep training, breastfeeding support, or scheduling help. They will typically feed, burp, change diapers, and bathe the baby as needed at night.
A family assistant is a multifaceted role that combines childcare, personal assistance, and household management. The assistant is responsible for organizing the household, planning and preparing meals, running errands, and providing child care. Duties vary based on the family’s specific needs, but the goal is the same: to ease the workload on parents so they can focus on the rest of their lives. Finding the right fit takes a personalized approach — experience, education, personality, and work style all matter.
A nanny is a person, usually with special training and experience in early childhood development, employed to care for children in a household on a daily part-time or full-time basis. Nannies may live in or out of the home depending on circumstances. The duties of a nanny might include nurturing infants and toddlers, designing engaging developmental activities, scheduling playdates, helping with homework, and driving to and from after-school activities.
A lactation consultant is a professional breastfeeding specialist who helps moms — and dads — learn the basics of breastfeeding and how to get off to the best possible start. They teach techniques like latching on and different ways to hold the baby during feedings, and provide customized individual consultations in-home, in hospital, or at the Motherhood Center. Some insurance providers cover the cost of a lactation consultant.
A babysitter is hired to take care of children while parents are temporarily away — usually after school or during an evening event such as a date night, or on an as-needed basis. A babysitter may also help with daily household tasks, school drop-off and pick-up, bath time, and dinner. The role is one of temporary custodial care: keeping the child safe and entertained while parents are away.
A sleep trainer, also known as a sleep coach, helps your baby or toddler learn how to sleep through the night and take regular, consistent naps. A sleep trainer has expertise in guiding older babies to sleep through the night by calmly implementing consistent methods so the baby understands what is expected. They also guide parents on how to help their child fall asleep without assistance, tailoring strategies to your specific needs.
Whether you’re looking for a doula, a night nanny, family assistant, nanny, or a babysitter, the Motherhood Center can match your family with highly qualified, trained professionals — making the transition into parenthood easier.
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