The arrival of a newborn brings joy, excitement, and significant changes to any household. For many families in Singapore, hiring a confinement nanny has become an essential part of postpartum recovery. But what exactly should you expect from your confinement nanny? This comprehensive guide outlines the nanny responsibilities, skills, and support to new mothers and their babies.
Understanding Confinement Nanny
A confinement nanny, also known as a postnatal caregiver, plays a crucial role during the traditional confinement period (typically 28-40 days after childbirth). Nanny responsibilities revolve around two key areas: supporting the mother’s postpartum recovery and providing expert newborn care.
What Should I Expect from My Nanny
| Duties | Description |
| Postpartum mother care | Assisting mother to recover physically after childbirth, and provide emotional support during the challenging postpartum period |
| Household chores and confinement meal preparation | Preparing nutritious confinement meals using specific ingredients believed to promote healing and lactation. Manage light household chores, including washing baby clothes, sterilizing milk bottle, etc. |
| Newborn Care | Taking care of newborn needs and requirements |
Preparing Nutritious Confinement Meals
One of the most valued services a confinement nanny provides is preparing specialized meals that promote healing and recovery. According to the Singapore General Hospital’s Department of Dietetics, proper nutrition is crucial for postpartum recovery.
Postpartums mums require a balanced and nutritious diet to boost healing, improve immunity and regain strength. However, it can be quite a challenge remembering what foods to take and what to avoid during confinement as things sometimes differ greatly from the pregnancy period. For instance, women who are trying to conceive or are expecting should stay away from unripe papayas during pregnancy. However, do you know some of the fruits, such as avocado is beneficial to those doing confinement? (Read more about eating avocados during confinement)
A confinement nanny will be well-versed in what ingredients to use and what dishes to prepare. This is especially important if you require a tailored diet to tackle a particular issue, such as increasing breast milk production, staving off the postpartum blues or recovering from a C-section.
Breastfeeding Support and Guidance
Breastfeeding can be challenging for many new mothers. A skilled confinement nanny provides:
- Practical advice on positioning and latching techniques
- Guidance on increasing milk supply
- Support for common breastfeeding challenges
Confinement Angels’ nannies are trained to equip with knowledge of guiding mommies on latching positions and techniques, so that can help to ensure Singapore mummies are able to have a proper latching tip for babies. However, if there is any issue regarding lactation where may need assistance from lactation expert (IBCLC), Confinement Angels has worked with TCM partner to get a discounted lactation consultation rate.
Postpartum Care and Recovery
Beyond nutrition, confinement nannies assist with:
- Preparing traditional herbal baths
- Ensuring adequate rest periods for optimal recovery
Daily Baby Care Routines
A professional confinement nanny handles all aspects of newborn care, including:
01. Feeding and Nutrition
- Assistance with breastfeeding or bottle feeding
- Proper formula preparation (if applicable)
- Burping techniques
- Feeding schedules and monitoring intake
02. Hygiene and Bathing
- Safe bathing procedures for newborns
- Umbilical cord care
- Proper diapering techniques
- Skin care and rash prevention
03. Sleep Support
- Creating healthy sleep routines
- Swaddling techniques
- Soothing methods for fussy babies
- Safe sleep practices in line with recommendations from the Singapore Hospital practices
04. Health Monitoring
Confinement nannies keep vigilant watch over:
- Jaundice symptoms
- Signs of common newborn conditions
Confinement Angels’ nannies are trained to know when to alert parents about potential concerns and when to recommend medical attention.
Household Management During Confinement
While not housekeepers, nanny responsibilities are also typically assisting with light household tasks:
- Preparing meals for the mother (and sometimes the family)
- Basic kitchen cleanup after meal preparation
- Assistance with grocery shopping for necessary supplies
- Wash mommy and baby’s clothes
Additional Support Services
01. Emotional and Mental Wellbeing
The postpartum period can be emotionally challenging. A good confinement nanny provides:
- Emotional support and companionship
- A listening ear for new mother concerns
02. Education and Knowledge Transfer
Many nanny responsibilities see their role as educational, teaching parents:
- Baby care skills they’ll need after the confinement period
- Traditional confinement practices and their benefits
- Newborn development milestones to watch for
- Practical tips for managing common baby challenges
Finding a Qualified Confinement Nanny in Singapore
When seeking a confinement nanny, look for:
- Proper training received and assessments
- Experience working with newborns and postpartum mothers
- Knowledge of both traditional practices and modern childcare techniques
- Good references from previous clients
- Clear communication skills
“We are very happy to have Auntie Lee Poi Poi come to help take care of our newborn. Auntie Lee is very patient, caring, proactive, and has good temperament. She is very easy to communicate with. She treats the baby with great patience and gentleness. She is very experienced. If there are any questions or requests, you can discuss them with Auntie Lee, and she will actively cooperate. Additionally, Auntie Lee is skilled at cooking. During my postpartum confinement, she helped prepare red date tea and made delicious confinement meals. I’d like to thank her for taking such good care of the baby and actively assisting me. Whenever I had questions, Aunt Lee provided detailed answers and guidance,” said Mommy Zhu Li, recent review after using Confinement Angels’ service.
P.S – Known as the celebrities’ choice, Confinement Angels provides parents with complete peace of mind and maximum comfort by attending to every single aspect of the confinement experience. All of our confinement nannies undergo rigorous training based on an 108+ hour syllabus, before being subject to another round of stringent evaluation to determine if they are ready to be deployed for assignments. Because at Confinement Angels, we go above and beyond to bring you only the best.
