As parents start looking for a newborn care specialist for those early days, weeks, or months of life with a new baby, they’re not only considering the right personality fit, but each candidate’s credentials and expertise.
Having the right combination of skills and training helps build trust with families and sets you apart in a competitive hiring landscape.
Here, we’ll cover the most important must-have certifications for professional newborn care specialists.
Certifications to Obtain
Newborn Care Specialist Certification
First and foremost, obtain your newborn care specialist certification from a reputable training organization like the NCSA.
These programs allow experienced nannies to take their skills to the next level, honing in on newborn and infants specifically.
NCS training will cover important topics like newborn development and behavior, feeding techniques, soothing techniques, sleep practices, and more.
CPR and First Aid
Any professional nanny should be up to date with first aid and infant/child CPR certification. This is a non-negotiable, and every family looking to hire an NCS will want you to have it.
These skills give you important training on performing CPR on infants and details on how to handle common medical scenarios like choking.
In the event of an emergency, families need to be able to rely on their newborn care specialist to stay calm and provide assistance until help arrives.
Sleep Training
Sleep is one of the biggest challenges for parents of new babies. Many newborn care specialists have completed classes or have studied in greater detail on sleep training.
By learning more about newborn and infant sleep patterns, researching and listening to current pediatrician guidelines and studies, you can help parents create a safe sleep plan that helps instill healthy sleep patterns.
You will also be able to share age-appropriate sleep expectations and step in when they are feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.
Infant and Parent Health
Some newborn care specialists enjoy learning more about the medical side of the newborn phase.
There are a variety of materials online, including some courses, that help newborn care specialists understand common conditions that impact new parents and babies like postpartum recovery, brain development, infant reflux, food allergies, best practices on working with premature babies, and more.
This extra level of training allows for a deepened knowledge base with a new level of expertise that can be very appealing to families onboarding an NCS.
Lactation Training
Getting lactation consultant certification is a huge asset when it comes to your job search. This additional training will give you the tools you need to support mothers navigating the world of breastfeeding.
You’ll learn tips on teaching them how to get their babies to latch, what positions are best, and also be able to help them recognize important feeding signals.
Why Certification Matters
Families feel more confident and a greater sense of trust with newborn care specialists who have put in the time to learn the innerworkings of the newborn stage.
In fact, for many new parents, certifications are not just a want, they are a must-have. So, consider how you can dive in deeper to your ongoing career education.
Having the right amount of training, compassion, and dedication to your field is important to securing a role that you’ll thrive in.
Education and training are key ways to make your resume stand out and demonstrate your professionalism and commitment to your job and to the families you have the honor of working with.
