Baby Arrival Brief · Week 6

Night nurse: pricing, options & interview questions

Monday, November 2 – Sunday, November 8, 2026 · Possession week

37 days to Dec 9 ≈ week 35 Movers Nov 10

⚖️ Decisions due

Book the night nurse. This is the deadline. Holiday-season availability is the known constraint and lead times run 2–4 months — waiting past this week risks having no coverage for December/January. Due: Friday, Nov 6.
Pediatrician — confirmed done. Carried from last week: intake paperwork started, first-visit timing known. Due: Wednesday, Nov 4.
Night-nurse schedule shape: how many nights/week and which weeks (the 8–12 week window). Due: Friday, Nov 6.

This week's actions

Interview and book the night nurse

Run 2–3 interviews using the question list in the deep dive. Check references. Sign and pay the deposit by Friday — holiday coverage is the thing most likely to evaporate if you wait.

Lev + BlairDue Fri, Nov 6

Order freezer containers + set the batch-cooking menu

Souper Cubes platinum-silicone freezer trays — BPA-free, dishwasher-safe, steel-reinforced so they don't bow, portion-sized for reheating exactly what you'll eat. soupercubes.com. Batch 1 cooks the week of Nov 16, batch 2 the week of Nov 23 — plan both menus now while you have a kitchen routine.

LevDue Fri, Nov 6

Lock Toby's hospital-stay care plan

Who takes the 55 lb sheepadoodle for the 2–4 hospital days: name, phone, keys, feeding schedule, vet contact. Confirm with the person directly — "probably my parents" is not a plan until someone says yes with dates.

Lev + BlairDue Sun, Nov 8

Hand out helper keys and codes at 134 Willow

Keyth Security rekeys at possession — after that, cut keys / share codes for the short list: both parents, whoever covers Toby, the night nurse (for December). Keep a written list of who has what.

LevDue Sun, Nov 8

Deep dive · Night nurse options, pricing & interview questions

The goal: overnight newborn care for the first 8–12 weeks so Blair recovers and both of you sleep in shifts. Book it this week — the holiday season thins supply exactly when you'd need it.

What the Chicago market looks like (observed Sept 2026 — treat as estimates, get quotes)

Tier	Rate observed	What it is
Newborn-care specialist (marketplace median)	~$40/hr (typical $30–$45)	Experienced overnight nannies; Bornbir's Chicago summary
Individual NCS listings	$35–$50/hr	Direct-hire specialists, e.g. via Kensington Nanny
Established overnight service	$45/hr, 8–10 hr shifts	Sleepytime by Lisa — singleton rate, 10-hour shifts available
RN-level overnight care	~$75–$80/hr	Licensed-RN services (e.g. 10-hr shifts packaged at $1,600/2 nights)

What it costs at each tier (planning math, not quotes)

Five 8-hour nights/week for 10 weeks at $45/hr ≈ $18,000. At the $40/hr median ≈ $16,000. Three nights/week at $45/hr ≈ $10,800. Most families start heavier (5 nights) and taper — structure the contract so nights can scale down without penalty.

Rates above are from public listings and marketplace summaries observed in September 2026 — not quotes, and holiday premiums may apply. Get 2–3 written quotes with the exact shift structure you want.

Agency vs. direct hire

Agency/service: vetted backup if your nurse is sick, handles payroll/taxes, usually higher hourly cost. Ask who the backup actually is — "we'll find someone" is not a backup plan.
Direct hire: lower rate, you choose the person, but you handle the agreement, payment, and backup coverage. Same interview questions apply.

Interview questions (bring this list)

How many newborns, and how many families, in the last two years? References from the last three — will you call them? (Yes, you call.)
Certifications: newborn-care specialist training? Infant CPR/First Aid current? Safe-sleep training?
Background check — who ran it, when? (If direct hire, run one yourself.)
Feeding: experience supporting breastfeeding (bringing the baby to Blair vs. bottle-feeding expressed milk/pumped backup)? How do you handle the 2am "just give formula" moment — whose call is it?
Overnight duties, precisely: diapers, soothing, bottle washing, logging feeds/sleeps/diapers, baby laundry — what's included and what isn't?
Sleep philosophy and swaddle/sound-machine familiarity (you'll have the Hatch Rest).
Sick/cancellation policy, backup provider, minimum nights per week, holiday availability and holiday rates (Christmas/New Year's weeks are the crux).
Contract terms: deposit, payment schedule, termination notice on both sides, confidentiality.
RN vs. NCS vs. doula vs. nanny — know which one you're hiring; the title tells you the training.

Red flags

No references, no backup plan, vague on safe sleep, pushes a rigid schedule on day one, or can't articulate what happens when they're sick. Trust the interview — this person is alone with your newborn at 3am.