Becoming a Newborn Care Specialist (NCS) helps parents with sleep, feeding routines, newborn development, and overnight care in the first several weeks. After completing specialized training, NCS can stand out as a candidate to families who need care.
Families are looking for a true expert to help them manage the first few months of their infant's life and make them feel secure and at ease in their own parenting abilities.
Newborn Care Specialists are a strong area of placement, and structured continuing education is essential to stand out from the crowd and give parents confidence in hiring them.
Here are five steps you should do to increase your knowledge of newborn care.
1. Determine knowledge gaps in newborn care.
The International Nanny Association Newborn Care Specialist Basic Skills Assessment is a 40-question multiple-choice test designed to test a candidate's understanding of the fundamentals of child development, safety, nutrition, professionalism, and health.
2. Look into training and certification opportunities.
A short Google search will reveal a variety of programs that claim to provide caregivers with the training required to obtain NCS certification, which is offered by the Newborn Care Specialist Association (NCSA). It is essential for nannies to conduct their research, as not all programs are made equal. Many of them are blatantly false. Before committing funds, individuals must exercise caution and conduct extensive research.
3. Enroll in more focused child care training
Following your NCS certification, you may like to pursue more specific training, such as infant/child CPR and first aid. Anybody who works with children should have it and keep it up to date.
4. Find a knowledgeable mentor.
Whether you meet your mentor through your newborn skills class, nanny agency, or a professional group such as INA. Anybody developing their talents is urged to look for a mentor who can help them with their studies. Mentoring is crucial for fostering growth and success among younger people.
5. Set a pay rate that reflects your new skills
Similar to any other industry, increased education and experience result in a higher salary. Generally, parents are prepared to pay more to a newborn care specialist who has received superior training because they have a higher level of trust in them.
