-Jessica White, B.S., Elite™ NCS, PPD, FLE: The Tiny Human Tamer
You really should take a newborn care specialist training. Yes, you. I’m not just talking to the night nanny here, either. I strongly believe that anyone and everyone who will be caring for a newborn should take a newborn care specialist training in order to be prepared to confidently care for a newborn, or multiple newborns! This means you, parent; you, grandparent; and most definitely you, childcare provider. NICU nurse? Take the training. Doula? Take the training. Preschool director? Take the training. Nanny agency or sitting service? Take the training. Anyone and everyone can benefit from being well-prepared to care for a newborn.
Why do I feel so strongly about this?
First, I am a new parent. I needed a sitter for two hours to attend a Zoom meeting. Was that sitter confident to step in and say, “I’ve got this, you do what you need to do.”? Yes, they were confident. Were they competent? No. No, they absolutely were not. Not even a little bit. I had to teach them how to swaddle and how to change a diaper! Did that only add to my load as a parent? Yes, very much so. I was so disappointed, I couldn’t focus on my meeting, and I felt like I had let my child down by not giving him the best care possible.
Second, I am a professional Newborn Care Specialist and postpartum doula. It is my job to meet families where they are, care for their newborn, and even teach them how to care for their newborn. How do I do this? I come prepared with knowledge, skills, and abilities. You know? Those three most important things on any resume.
“Well, Jessica, I’ve taken care of my siblings and cousins, so I know how to take care of a baby.”
I hear you, you feel you know enough and have enough experience. That’s amazing, it really is!
But, can you really say you are done learning what you can? Do you have the confidence, and the competence? Tonya Sakowicz, owner of Newborn Care Solutions®, says, “The day I stop learning, is the day I should retire.” Why? Because that makes for dangerous situations. The American Academy of Pediatrics is constantly updating, and changing, their recommendations on what is considered safe for newborns. For example, we used to put babies to sleep on their tummies, now we put them on their backs. In my case, the sitter could have left my son in an unsafe sleep situation… very dangerous!
So, you are going to go sign up for a training, but now you’re wondering, “What makes a training, a quality training? What should I be looking for? What matters when I’m looking?” Let me tell you.
A quality training will be backed up by third party oversight. In other words, they will be accredited.
Accreditation by dictionary definition is: official certification that a school or training has met standards set by external regulators. We are likely more familiar with this term when we think about higher education and universities. Accreditation is achieved by submitting training courses within an institution to a board or council to be reviewed and deemed credible. Accreditation is a way to standardize the quality of education. We want that! We want standards! Standards indicate mastery of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for that training. They are necessary for successful resume-building! Also, if it’s accredited, the training likely meets qualifications to be considered for CEUs, or Continuing Education Units. These are essential for nurses, doulas, and early childhood educators.
When you visit a newborn care specialist training website, they should have a page specifically addressing whether their program is accredited. If you can’t find it, then stay away! There are many trainings on the internet, but less than a handful have done the work to be accredited. Again, accreditation sets standards for training, it’s important! Accredited training courses also often offer a path to certification.
Certification? What’s that?
If a training itself offers a certificate at the end of training, you are not certified! The certificate that you completed the course itself is necessary for becoming certified, but certification goes above and beyond the training level. Certification requires: certificate of completion of an approved training course PLUS extensive verifiable hours in the field, CPR and First Aid certification, verifiable references, continuing education, and passing a NCS exam. The training you take should educate you on how to become certified.
If you will be caring for any newborn (or multiple newborns), please get trained from an accredited institution. You will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to make you able, confident, and competent to care for that baby. If you are going to be professional in newborn care, work toward and acquire your certification. Training gives you the knowledge and skills; certification proves you have the abilities.
Learn from my mistake. Don’t be the caregiver that stresses a parent out.
Newborn Care Solutions® is a great resource to consider if you are looking to take an newborn care specialist training. Their Foundational Course is Accredited by CACHE, International, the home of the iconic British NNEB nanny and the gold standard worldwide for childcare training programs. It is also a requirement for certification through all available third party certifications available to the industry. It is the only program approved by all of them. In addition, it is approved by CAPPA International for CEU’s for ongoing certification for postpartum doulas.
And INA members get a discount as Newborn Care Solutions is a Member Advantage Provider.