Unifying Terminology: Elevating Newborn Care Specialists to Promote Professionalism

Hello, everyone! Today we're diving into a discussion about the terminology used in our industry. As an organization committed to professionalism and legal standards, we've taken significant steps over the past nine years to establish clarity regarding the proper title for infant caregivers who specialize in the first few weeks of life.

We proudly adopted Newborn Care Specialist as the recognized term back in 2007. Since then, our efforts have been dedicated to defining this profession comprehensively, setting trning standards at our annual conferences since 2011, and instituting guidelines for professionalism across agencies and caregivers. We've even taken it upon ourselves to develop an assessment and credentialing program for Newborn Care Specialists.

While we are pleased that many caregivers are now using the term Newborn Care Specialist as a sign of their professional status, there is still confusion among some in our industry. Some families refer to this professional as a Baby Nurse, which was once common but now carries the risk of legal issues due to its potential misuse.

The issue arises because:

1 The term was historically used but has become confusing and sometimes illegal. RNs and other licensed professionals were sometimes incorrectly referred to as Baby Nurses, leading to misunderstandings.

2 Not everyone fully understands what a Newborn Care Specialist does or the level of trning they require.

3 Agencies might not be fully informed about the specifics of this profession.

It's time for us - as a community - to come together and ensure that our industry operates with uniform terminology. We need to educate ourselves, each other, and others outside our field on what Newborn Care Specialists are, their duties, trning requirements, and professional standards. This is akin to the effort we put into eradicating the term babysitter in favor of nanny. But now, let's move towards making Newborn Care Specialist synonymous with professionalism.

By doing so:

1 We reinforce our commitment to legal compliance.

2 We highlight our profession's expertise and responsibilities during this critical period for families.

3 We ensure a unified message among caregivers, clients, and the public regarding newborn care professionals.

To join us in these efforts, contact Tonya Sakowicz, who serves as the Mentor Chr for Newborn Care Specialists at International Nanny Association. She can provide guidance on education, responsibilities, and industry standards specific to this field.

Tonya Sakowicz is a Credentialed Nanny and Newborn Care Specialist with expertise in sleep conditioning, teaching seminars through local organizations, agencies, and mentoring new Newborn Care Specialists. Together with her husband Todd, she founded Newborn Care Solutionsa website med at educating families about newborn care from both the trning of Newborn Care Specialists and assisting parents in adjusting to their newborn's arrival.

So let's take this step together. We'll continue our efforts towards professionalism and legal standards as an organization but need your help to ensure that everyone understands what a Newborn Care Specialist is and does. Join us in promoting this title, spreading awareness about the profession's specifics, and collectively enhancing our industry's reputation.

For inquiries about trning or professional guidelines for Newborn Care Specialists, please reach out to Tonya Sakowicz at [email protected].

Thank you for your dedication to professionalism and excellence in childcare! Let’s make sure that the title we use reflects this commitment accurately.

Best regards,

Your Organization

International Nanny Association

P.O BOX 70895

Milwaukee, WI 53207

888.878.1477

[email protected]

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