Trusted Chicago Night Nannies

Yes. A baby nurse traditionally refers to a medically trained professional (like an RN or LPN). In common parlance, many families use “baby nurse” to mean a newborn care specialist or night nanny — even when the person is not medically licensed.

A night nanny provides non-medical overnight care such as feeding, diapering, soothing, monitoring wake windows, and helping establish healthy sleep routines. Many have newborn care and sleep training certifications but do not offer medical services.

Some Apiari providers may have prior nursing experience, but all bookings on Apiari are strictly non-medical. Review each provider’s profile and certifications to find the best fit for your family.

Night nannies understand that babies arrive on their own schedule. Just stay in contact with your night nanny if you are heading to the hospital early or if you expect a later delivery.

We suggest scheduling your initial booking based on your due date.

• If you deliver later, you can cancel unneeded sessions with 24-hour notice.

• If you deliver earlier and your booked night nanny is unavailable, you can book a night nanny for just a couple of days until your original nanny’s start date.

All Apiari night nannies complete a nationwide background check including:

• Social Security validation

• National and county-level criminal searches

• Sex offender registry checks

They must also have at least 1 year of professional newborn or childcare experience before joining the platform.

Night nannies are also subject to ongoing reviews by parents who book them on Apiari. Learn more about our vetting process here.

You may pay night nannies directly or use Apiari’s automated payment platform.

Like a hotel reservation system:

• The upcoming week’s sessions are pre-authorized on Saturday afternoon.

• Only completed hours are charged the following Saturday.

Using Apiari’s payment system allows you to earn credit card rewards and receive automatic weekly receipts that can be used for FSA or tax filings. There are no extra fees for using Apiari payments.

Night nannies typically handle feeding (breastmilk or formula), diapering, burping, soothing, swaddling, logging sleep and feeding patterns, and keeping the baby settled so parents can sleep.

Some also support pumping, washing bottles, or prepping for the next day. We recommend that parents discuss their needs directly with their night nannies.

All services are non-medical.

Many night nannies are trained in gentle newborn sleep routines. They can help establish age-appropriate patterns, but full sleep training usually begins at 12–16 weeks.

Check each nanny’s profile for sleep training certifications and experience. You should also discuss your preferred method with your night nanny.

Most families book during the second or third trimester to secure availability.

On Apiari, you can also book a night nanny on-demand. For all bookings that occur in under 48 hours, you can send your request to multiple night nannies of your choice, and the first to accept will confirm your booking.

Most families book a night nanny for 10–12 hours overnight.

Typical shifts start between 6–8 p.m. to help with the evening routine and run through the early morning, but the exact hours depend on your baby’s feeding schedule and how much overnight support you want.

In terms of duration, most parents book 2–4 weeks of night support, usually 5–7 nights per week during the newborn stage. Some families book longer for sleep support, multiples, or recovery needs — it’s truly up to your preferences and your baby’s needs.

Apiari does not have any minimum day or hour requirements. You’re free to book the number of nights, hours, and weeks that make the most sense for your family’s schedule.

You can customize shift length, start/end times, and the overall booking period with your night nanny to fit what works best for you.

Most families book between 5–7 nights a week for the first few weeks, then taper down as their baby’s sleep stretches lengthen.

Apiari does not have minimum requirements — you can book the number of nights that fit your needs and budget.

Send us your question here and we will get back to you as soon as possible!